LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 6

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6 SYNOD REPORTS

stitutional Matters of the Synod unlawfully restricted the au-
thority of the Synod’s Board of Directors.

In February of 2006, at the initiative of the Board of Directors,
a four-member committee of the Board met and conferred with a

four-member committee of the plaintiffs. After a series of meet-
ings, an agreement was reached (see separate news release,
“Anderson Lawsuit Agreement”).

In the weeks after agreement was reached, the Agreement was
signed by a large majority of the plaintiffs. However, prior to
the court date for presenting the Agreement and advocating dis-
missal of the lawsuit, four members of the Board of Directors
filed a Motion to Intervene as a result of concerns associated
with that portion of the lawsuit pertaining to Board of Directors
and Commission on Constitutional Matters authority issues.

Subsequent discussions resulted in the withdrawing of the Mo-
tion to Intervene paving the way for a final dismissal of the An-
derson suit.

Again, I encourage you to read the Special Report in this Con-
vention Workbook to understand more fully the details of this
lawsuit.

In the future, it is my prayer that matters such as these will be
settled among us, not with lawsuits in the civil courts, but in ac-
cord with the covenants of love to which we have agreed to live
and work together as a Synod. It is God’s will that we live and act
in the spirit of the love of Christ, in accord with the exhortation of
the Word of God, especially as written in 1 Corinthians 6:1-11:

“If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before
the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you
not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to
judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more
the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such
matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the
church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is no-
body among you wise enough to judge a dispute between be-
lievers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another—
and this in front of unbelievers!

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have
been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged?
Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and
do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual
offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slan-
derers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is
what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sancti-
fied, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and
by the Spirit of our God.”
As delegates will see in the Special Lawsuit Report included as
a supplement to this Part I of the President’s report, our Synod’s
Commission on Constitutional Matters has responded to questions
submitted to it regarding this matter. The following question and
response is of particular significance:

109. Proper Dissent and Dispute by Members of the Synod (05-2444)

Question 1: Is it in harmony with the Constitution and Bylaws
(1.3, 1.4.1, 1.7, 1.8, 1.10, 3.1.1, and 3.1.6.2) of the
Synod for any member of the Synod or any group
within the Synod as an avenue or form of dissent or
dispute to engage in promoting non-compliance with
the resolutions of the Synod and making charges
against the Synod, the President, and others of the
Synod by use of lawsuits, publications, letters, or
meetings and conferences that are not in keeping with
the polity of the Synod as set forth in the Constitution
and Bylaws?

2007 Convention Workbook

Qpinion: No. Every member of the Synod (individual and congre-
gation) joins the Synod voluntarily and in doing so agrees to re-
late to, live, and serve together with one another (“walk together” }
in harmony with the Constitution and Bylaws...

In their agreement to live and work together in harmony (in har-
mony with the Constitution and Bylaws) the members of the Synod,
when and where disputes exist, are required, subject to limited ex-
ceptions, to use the avenue provided by the Synod to settle disputes,
as set forth in Bylaw section 1.10, “Dispute Resolution of the
Synod,” which in part states:

The Holy Scriptures (1 Cor. 6:1-7) urge Christians to settle their
differences by laying them before the “members of the brotherhood.”
Therefore, the Synod in the spirit of 1 Corinthians 6 calls upon all par-
ties to a disagreement, accusation, controversy, or disciplinary action to
rely exclusively and fully on the Synod’s system of reconciliation and
conflict resolution. The use of the Synod’s conflict resolution proce-
dures shall be the exclusive and final remedy for those who are in dis-
pute. Fitness for ministry and other theological matters must be
determined within the church. Parties are urged, in matters of a doctri-
nal nature, to follow the procedures as outlined in Bylaw section 1.8.
(Bylaw 1.10.1.1)

Therefore, all members of the Synod are required to resolve all
matters of dissent or all disputes by the avenues and structures
available to them as set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod without resorting to secular courts and without resorting to
avenues, means, structures, or communications that are foreign or
contrary to the synodical agreements and which are not in har-
mony with the polity of the Synod.

Dear friends in Christ, I truly hope and fervently pray that
God’s Spirit will touch the hearts of everyone in the LCMS, that
all would work and walk together in a way that builds harmony and
peace in our Synod, not divisiveness and contention.

‘Response of the Synod to South Asia Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina,

and Hurricane Rita

As ONE people proclaiming the ONE message of Christ, we
love one another and bear one another’s burdens. We respond with
open hearts and caring hands to the needs of our neighbors, “espe-
cially to those of the household of faith.” This was exhibited across
the Synod in a tremendous way during the past two years in re-
sponse to the natural disasters and catastrophes that struck our na-
tion and world. Our Synod responded as Christ’s ambassadors to
the world. As president of this church body, I could not have been
more humbly proud of our response:
¢« LCMS World Relief and Human Care continues to coordinate

people and gifts, which exceeded $13.4 million for hurricane re-
lief and over $5.7 million for tsunami aid in South Asia.

LCEF granted special consolidation loans and other concessions
to congregations, schools, and professional church workers.
Concordia Plan Services waived premiums, fees, and deductibles
for congregations, schools, and professional church workers.

Synod districts have partnered with and supported congregations,
schools, and professional church workers in the Southern Dis-
trict and other affected districts.

Congregations and individuals have given generously of finan-
cial resources, have volunteered unselfish amounts of time for
clean-up efforts, and have lifted up countless hours of prayer on
behalf of those whose lives were impacted by these natural dis-
asters.

¢ And, so much more was done and continues to be done.

We are called to live out our faith in such charitable and selfless
ways for the sake of the Gospel.

In many areas of our country and world that were so devastated
by disaster, many are still in need. As a Synod, we will continue to
care for our brothers and sisters unti! those needs are met and the
mission and ministries of our sister congregations are renewed. We