LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 304

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

304 ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Resolved, That the Atlantic District assembled in convention
encourage delegates to the 2004 national convention of the LCMS
to affirm the appropriate decisions reached by the CCM.

Atlantic District

8-31

To Amend Bylaws to Clarify Role
of Ecclesiastical Supervision

WHEREAS, There has been confusion of late among the mem-
bers of the Synod as to the role ecclesiastical supervision is to play
in the life and ministries of its members; and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters has
tuled on this matter (Opinions 01-2240, 02-2296, 02-2309, and 02-
2320), and a number of District conventions during 2003 have
passed resolutions seeking to have these opinions set aside; and

WHEREAS, Among the objectives of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod as set forth in Art. III of its Constitution are as fol-
lows:

“8. Provide evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pas-
tors, teachers, and other professional church workers of the Synod
in the performance of their official duties;

9. Provide protection for congregations, pastors, teachers, and
other church workers in the performance of their official duties and
the maintenance of their rights”; and

WHEREAS, There is a need not only for individuals to be held
accountable for their actions, but also for the Synod to provide ec-
clesiastical supervision upon which individuals may rely for guid-
ance; and

WuereEaS, When there are doctrinal disagreements and disputes
there are within the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod proce-
dures for discussion of these disputes (Bylaws 1.09 and 2.39) other
than the bringing of charges and threats of expulsion from the
Synod, which are not conducive to calm and careful discussion and
tends to bring further discord and division; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm the process of
ecclesiastical supervision as contained in the Bylaws of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and as explicated in the opin-
ions of the CCM (Opinions 01-2240, 02-2296, 02-2309, and 02-
2320); and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention clarify and strengthen
the procedures for ecclesiastical supervision by District Presidents
by adopting the following amendment to the Bylaws:

PROPOSED WORDING
4.76 Ecclesiastical Supervision

The President of the Synod is charged with the duty of su-
pervising the doctrine taught and practiced in the Synod. In the
Districts of the Synod, he is to carry out his ecclesiastical duties

h the District’s Presi Bylaw 3.1 1 rd-
ingly, the District President is to supervise the doctrine taught
and practiced in his District and by those placed under his ec-
clesiastical supervision (see Bylaw 2.41), subject to the super-
vision of the President of the Synod, who is the District Presi-

dent’s ecclesiastical supervisor (Bylaw 3.101 A 1).
a. The District President shall ided in his vision of
h ine, life, and official ini i f j

his ecclesiastical supervision by the confessional standards of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as stated in Art. II of
the Constitution and as further explicated and applied by the
synodically adopted doctrinal statements and doctrinal resolu-
tions. He is to advise, admonish, and Teprove those entrusted to

his supervision. He shall i | hi
command to promote and maintain unity of doctrine and prac-

tice within the District of which he is the President.

b. Congregational an: ividual members of the District

and all 1S W iasti Tvision of
District President (see Bylaw 2.41) are urged to request his

counsel and advice in all matters where there is uncertainty or
there may be dispute as to the proper course of action. While re-

taining the right of brotherly dissent. members are expected to
be_ guided by the counsel and advice of their ecclesiastical su-
pervisor. Failure to heed his counsel and advice could form the
basis for disciplinary action as provided in Art. XIII.

c. If the member dissents from the counsel given by the ec-
cleslastical supervisor, he may appeal the matter to the appro-
riate ission of the fe lin ling to the

Commission on Theology and Church Relations if the matter is
doctrinal in nature or the Commission on Constitutional Matters
if it concerns procedures or polity. The President of the Syno

ecclesiastical supervisor of the District President, Bylaw 3.101
A 1) should also be consulted. Until such time as a ruling is is-
sued, the member is to heed the counsel and advice of his ec-
clesiastical supervisor and both supervisor and member are to
heed the ruling of the appropriate commission and the Synod
President. Further dissent should be expressed according to the

roper procedures asset forth in the Constitution an law

(see Bylaws 2.39 c and 109 d).

d. If another member of the Synod objects to actions taken
after consultation with the ecclesiastical supervisor, he should
first discuss his concerns with the ical member le-
siastical supervisor. If the matter remains unresolved, he may
appeal the matter to the appropriate commission of the Synod
and the President of the Synod. While retaining the right of
brotherly dissent, members are expected to accept the rulings of

the commissions and President of the Synod, Fu: issen'
should be expressed according to the proper procedures as set
forth in the Constitution and Bylaws. Where members of the
Synod have doctrinal disagreements and disputes, mechanisms
are provided to allow for dialogue and discussion and the adop-
tion of doctrinal positions (see Bylaws 1.09 and 2.39). Such dis-
agreements or disputes, however, are not intended to lead to the

bringin h: er Bylaw 2.27 or the implementation of
ispute resol ‘ocess under Chapter VIII of the Bylaws:
and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention clarify and strengthen
the procedures for ecclesiastical supervision by the President of the
Synod by adopting the following amendment to the Bylaws:

3.101 Powers and Duties

A. Ecclesiastical

The President shall

1. supervise the doctrine taught and practiced in the Synod,
including all Synodwide corporate entities. In the Districts of
the Synod, he shall carry out his ecclesiastical duties through
the District’s President. The President of the Synod has ecclesi-
astical supervision of all officers of the Synod and its agencies,
the individual Districts of the Synod, and all District Presidents;

PROPOSED WORDING

a. The President shall be guided in his supervision of the
doctrine, life, and official administration of those subject to his

clesiasti 1 Tvision b th nfession ni

Luth h—Mi ted i lof
Constitution and as further explic, Li -
dically ad inal mi rin: luti
He is to advi dmonish, and reprove those en! to his su-
pervision. He shall conscientiously use all means at his com-
m: maintain uni f trine an tice
within the Synod.

b. Those who are under the ecclesiastical supervision of the
President are urged to request his counsel and advice in all mat-
ters where there is uncertainty or there may be dispute as to the
proper course of action. In the case of District Presidents, the
President is also to be consulted when in the course of their ec-
clesiastical supervision their counsel is disputed. While retaining
the right of brotherly dissent. they are expected to be guided by

counsel an vice of their eccl ical Falun
heed hi: | advi 1 i rm _the basi isf ipli-
ni jon TOV in Art. XIL
¢. If the member dissents from the counsel given by the
President, he m: al the matter to the appropriate commis-
ion of th for a rulin lin he Commission on
| ‘Church elations if the matter is inal in na-
re or th mmission on Constitutional M sifi mm: