LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 303

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ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION 303

WHEREAS, The 2001 opinion also went on to state, “There have
been four synodical conventions since that opinion was issued, and
no action has been taken to overrule it”; and

WHEREAS, The structure of the Synod is not of a hierarchical
nature, but rather of a congregational one; and

WHEREAS, The Preamble to Chapter VIII of the Bylaws states,
“Conflicts which occur in the body should be resolved promptly
(Matt. 5:23-24; Eph. 4:26-27)”; and

WuereaS, Having only the Synod in convention as the sole av-
enue for dealing with ecclesiastical supervision of a Synod President
does not allow for prompt or thorough dealing of ecclesiastical mat-
ters nor appropriate means for a process of appeal; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention set aside all opinions
of the Commission on Constitutional Matters in regards to this
issue of the ecclesiastical supervision of the President; and be it
further

Resolved, That the President be placed under the same process
for supervision as any other rostered worker or congregation of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Vice-Presidents of the Synod shall, as a
whole, determine whether ecclesiastical supervision is warranted
in each particular situation with regards to charges filed against the
President; and be it further

Resolved, That the matter of ecclesiastical supervision of the
President rest with the Board of Directors of the Synod only insofar
as they are to facilitate the process outlined in Chapter VIII of the
Bylaws (2001 Handbook), and be it finally

Resolved, That changes in the Handbook reflect this procedure.

St. Paul
Wilson, TX

To Affirm Opinion 01-2240
re Ecclesiastical Supervision of President

WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters was
asked to provide an opinion on CCM Opinion 98-2122 concerning
the ecclesiastical supervision of the President of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, Two separate opinions of the CCM, one dating from
1992 and the other from 1998, concerning which person or entity
has the ultimate ecclesiastical supervision of the President of the
Synod, treat this subject; and

WHEREAS, In the 1998 opinion (98-2122) the CCM stated that
“The President of the Synod is under the ecclesiastical supervision
of the President of the Missouri District” and based its opinion on
Bylaw 2.41 d; and

WHEREAS, The CCM, in issuing its 1998 opinion, overlooked
the 1992 opinion, which, after careful study, came to the conclu-
sion that the President of the Synod is not under the ecclesiastical
supervision of the President of the Missouri District; and

WHEREAS, The 1992 opinion was based primarily upon the
Synod’s Constitution rather than upon any Bylaws; and

WHEREAS, The correctness of the 1992 opinion was not over-
ruled by a convention of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, Opinion 01-2240 correctly calls attention to the 1992
opinion that only the Synod itself, in convention, can exercise au-
thority over the Synod’s President; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in con-
vention, concur with Opinion 01-2240 of the CCM, which places
the ultimate supervision of the Synod’s President in the hands of
the Synod in convention.

Christ Our Savior, Coppell, TX; Board of Directors, Texas
District

8-29

To Clarify Expectations of Ecclesiastical Supervision
WHEREAS, No human is above the will and Word of God; and

WHEREAS, No human-made thought, declaration, proclamation,
law, or ordinance is above or superior to the Word of God; and

Wuereas, No human is without need of pastoral advice, coun-
cil, and guidance; and

WHEREAS, No pastor ranks higher than any other (Acts 20:17,
28; Titus 1: S~7; S.A. Power, 65, Triglot, p. 523; S.A.-IL IV 9,
Triglot, p. 473), or has lesser needs than another; and

WHEREAS, No human is without need for the care, comfort,
compassion, and knowledge of the true Word of the true triune
God; and

WuereAsS, No pastor should be without a flock or be assigned
duties that cause him to lose his connection with his office of the
public ministry; therefore be it

Resolved, That all pastors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod, immediately, publicly, and unequivocally recommit them-
selves to their ordination vows as a servant of the Word of the true
triune God, and continue to do so on a regular basis; and be it further

Resolved, That all men chosen for positions of responsibility in
the Synod immediately, publicly, and unequivocally recommit them-
selves to their ordination vows as a servant of the Word of the true
triune God, and continue to do on a regular basis; and be it further

Resolved, That every officer or official of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod who is an ordained minister shall preach
and administer the sacraments in an LCMS member congregation
at least once per month; and be it further

Resolved, That an ecclesiastical supervisor is entrusted with the
duties and responsibilities of the pastoral advice, council, and guid-
ance of another pastor—which includes the obligation of the care,
comfort, compassion, and strengthening in the true knowledge of
the Word of God; and be it further

Resolved, That the temporal ecclesiastical supervisor of the pas-
tor elected as President of the Synod will be the Chairman of the
Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and
be it finally

Resolved, That for any act or deed done under the auspices of,
or with permission from an ecclesiastical supervisor that violates
the Confessions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, or is
otherwise at odds with the Word of God, both the actor and super-
visor shall be accountable to the Council of Presidents and the
Synod in convention.

Bethel
Lander, WY

8-30

To Affirm CCM Decisions re Ecclesiastical Supervision
WHEREAS, Decisions of importance regarding

¢ doctrinal supervision through the office of the Synod President,

* honoring and upholding Synod resolutions, and

* decisions made by the Praesidium of the LCMS

were made by the Synod’s Commission on Constitutional a
ters early in 2003; and

WHEREAS, These decisions support the polity and governance
of the Synod constitutionally authorized in the Handbook of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, These decisions strengthen ecclesiastical supervision
and our “walking together” as a Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Atlantic District, assembled in convention,
thank and reaffirm the Commission on Constitutional Matters in its
decisions of Jan. 20-21, 2003 (02-2294, 02-2296, 02-2320,
02-2309, 02-2310, 02-2311, and 02-2313); and be it further