LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 165

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SYNOD STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE
WHEREAS, Neither the words of Jesus in Matt. 18 nor the
words of Luther in the Large Catechism prevent or preclude talking to a brother or sister who has caused offense,
even with a public sin, but both Scripture and the Confessions teach the importance of reconciliation and winning
the brother or sister; therefore be it
Resolved, That we affirm that Matt. 18 does not apply
directly in cases of public sin; and be it further
Resolved, That we affirm the bylaw requirement of faceto-face meetings, even in the case of public sin, toward the
goal of reconciliation and winning the brother or sister; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Constitutional Matters be directed to bring the Handbook of the Synod into
harmony with the understanding that Matt. 18 does not directly apply to cases of public sin (Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3); and be
it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage its
congregations, clergy, commissioned ministers, laity, circuits, and districts to study the CTCR document Public Rebuke of Public Sin and the section on “Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution” in the CTCR Response to
Expressions of Dissent document (CW, pp. 402–405) to address the uncertainty of some in the church related to 2004
Res. 8-01A and the public rebuke of public sin (2004 Res.
8-01A; 2004 Res. 7-02A).
Action: Adopted (10)
(The resolution was read in its entirety as it was introduced by
the committee. During the discussion that followed, the committee agreed to replace recognize with affirm in the first resolve and
to add and to Amend the Synod’s Bylaws Relating to Matthew 18
to the resolution’s title. When a lengthy amendment was offered
expressing concern regarding the ecclesiastical supervisory responsibility of district presidents (printed in Today’s Business, p.
377), the chair was supported in ruling that the amendment was
not germane to the resolution. The resolution was adopted as
changed by the committee [Yes: 950; No: 122].)

To Recommend Further Study
of Composition of Hearing Panels
in Bylaws 2.14, 2.15, and 2.17
RESOLUTION 8-06
Overtures 8-11–30 (CW, pp. 261–272)
WHEREAS, In 2004 Res. 8-01A, the Synod adopted new
procedures for ecclesiastical supervision and dispute resolution; and
WHEREAS, This process has been a blessing to the Synod
in resolving disputes and cases of ecclesiastical supervision
that have arisen since its adoption and in better stewardship of the time and other resources of the Synod; and
WHEREAS, Concerns have been expressed by some regarding the composition of the Hearing Panel under current Bylaws 2.14, 2.15, and 2.17 which makes decisions for
or against an accused member who is facing expulsion from
membership in the Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention call for a special
task force to study further the composition of the Hearing
Panel under Bylaws 2.14, 2.15, and 2.17; and be it further
Resolved, That this special task force be comprised of
two members appointed by the Commission on Constitu-

165

tional Matters, one of whom shall be a commissioned minister; two members appointed by the Commission on Structure, one of whom shall be a layperson who is a hearing facilitator; and two district presidents appointed by the
Council of Presidents; and be it finally
Resolved, That this special task force report the results
of its study, and any recommendations that may result
from its study, no later than the 2010 64th Regular Convention of the Synod.
Action: Adopted (10)
(During discussion of the resolution, an amendment to replace
the reference to the 2010 convention in the final resolve with a
reference to the 2009 special convention was offered and then
withdrawn. The resolution was adopted as presented by the committee [Yes: 654; No: 89].)

To Call Special Convention to Amend
Synod Structure and Governance
RESOLUTION 8-07S
Overture 8-67 (CW, p. 283)
WHEREAS, We, the delegates of the 63rd Regular Convention of the Synod, stand ready to meet our responsibility
to serve throughout our three-year term of service; and
WHEREAS, Our Synod has over its history changed its
structure many times in order to meet its changing needs;
and
WHEREAS, Former Synod Presidents Bohlmann and
Kuhn, other current elected leaders, as well as our Council
of Presidents all support having a special convention; and
WHEREAS, Constitution Article XIV 1 states: “Changes
in the Constitution and amendments thereto may be made
provided they do not conflict with the provisions laid down
in Article II and in Article VI”; and
WHEREAS, A two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the
congregations of the Synod is required to ratify any changes
to the Constitution of the Synod for them to become effective (Art. XIV 4); and
WHEREAS, Article VIII B 2 allows for the President of the
Synod with the consent of two-thirds of the district presidents to call special sessions of the Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That we as delegates of this convention direct
President Kieschnick to meet with the Council of Presidents within the next 90 days, after consulting with our two
seminary presidents, the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations, the Board of Directors, the Vice-President–Finance—Treasurer, other officers of the Synod, and
the Commission on Constitutional Matters; and be it further
Resolved, That if President Kieschnick and two-thirds of
the district presidents determine at that time to call a special convention, we stand ready to serve; and be it finally
Resolved, That no proposed changes to the structure and
governance of the Synod will conflict with Article II and Article VI of the Constitution.
Action: Adopted (10)
(The committee introduced the Res. 8-07A version of this resolution (TB, pp. 213–214) in Session 7, at which time an amendment to insert a new second resolve That since Articles II, VI, and
XIV do not pertain to structure and governance, amendments
thereto are specifically prohibited failed to be adopted. Discussion
continued during Session 9, when the committee presented a sub-

2007 Convention Proceedings