LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 252

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252 PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION

son(s) from office, including actions such as, but not limited to,
conduct not in accord with the objectives and practice of the Synod,
action detrimental to the welfare of the Synod, the assumption of
rights not expressly conferred upon them by the Synod, or the per-
formance of those rights that have been conferred upon them in a
manner contrary to the biblical principles of Christian faith and life
or contrary to the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the
Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Bylaws of the Synod do not set forth a proce-
dure for the removal of an officer(s) of the Synod from office be-
tween conventions of the Synod, apart from, where applicable, re-
moval from the roster of Synod; and

WHEREAS, For the sake of the life and well-being of the Synod
such procedure could serve to protect the Synod from harm and in-
jury; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention establish a procedure
for removing an officer from an office in the Synod, including in-
dividual members of the collective office of the Board of Direc-
tors; and be it further

Resolved, That this procedure be the same as that established
for dispute resolution of the Synod (Bylaw 1.10); and be it further

Resolved, That this procedure be incorporated into the dispute
resolution process described in Bylaw 1.10 by inserting the fol-
lowing as the second sentence in Bylaw 1.10.2: “This procedure is
further established to resolve whether an officer of the Synod, in-
cluding individual members of the collective office of the Board of
Directors, shall be removed from office,” so that Bylaw 1.10.2
reads as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

Purpose

1.10.2 This procedure is established to resolve, in a God-pleasing
manner, disputes that involve as parties, (1) members of the Synod, (2)
the Synod itself, (3) a district or an organization owned and controlled
by the Synod, (4) persons involved in excommunication, or (5) lay
members of congregations of the Synod holding positions with the
Synod itself or with districts or other organizations owned and con-
trolled by the Synod. This procedure is further established to resolve
whether an officer of the Synod, including individual members of the

j B f Directors, shall be removed from of-
fice. It shall be the exclusive remedy to resolve such disputes that in-
volve theological, doctrinal, or ecclesiastical issues except those cov-
ered under Bylaw sections 2.14—-2.17 and except as provided in Bylaw
1.10.3. It is applicable whether the dispute involves only a difference
of opinion without personal animosity or is one that involves ill will
and sin that requires repentance and forgiveness. No person or agency to
whom or to which the provisions of this dispute resolution process are
applicable because such person or agency is a member of the Synod
may render these provisions inapplicable by terminating that member-
ship.

and be it further

Resolved, That this procedure be further incorporated into the
dispute resolution process described in Bylaw 1.10 by altering
Bylaw 1.10.8.5 (a) to read as follows:

PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING

1.10.8.5 The final decision of the Review Panel shall

(a) be binding upon the parties to that dispute and not be subject to
further appeal, except in the case of the removal of an officer of the
shall be binding until the Synod in convention shall affirm or overturn

(b) have no precedential value;

(c) be carried out by the appropriate person, group, or member of
the Synod; and

(d) be publicized as deemed appropriate under the circumstances by
the district president or the President of the Synod;
and be it further
Resolved, That this procedure to request removal of an officer
of the Synod may only be initiated by and with the authority of
two-thirds consent of at least two of the following collective groups
of the Synod: the Praesidium, the Council of Presidents, or the

Board of Directors of the Synod, with proceedings to be initiated
by the chairs of those two respective groups; and be it further

Resolved, That if an officer is removed from his or her position,
the vacancy caused by removal from office shall be filled in accor-
dance with the procedures outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws
of the Synod, and if the case results in the removal from office of a
full-time salaried officer, that person shall receive compensation in
accord with the current Human Resources policy of the Synod for
compensation of a worker whose position is terminated; and be it
finally

Resolved, That if a removed officer is reinstated at the subse-
quent convention, he or she shall resume service in the office pre-
viously held unless term limits prohibit that person from continued
service in that position.

Trinity
Roselle, IL

7-47

To Examine Theological Requirements
for Office of President

Rationale:

The current LCMS Constitution and Bylaws date back to a time
when all (or nearly all) pastors on the Synod roster of ordained
ministers had been through a residential seminary education.

Current routes leading to ordination include a variety of theo-
logical requirements, but most of them do not require a full resi-
dential seminary education.

We desire our chief supervisor of the doctrine that is taught and
practiced to have a thorough theological education.

The current Bylaws make no such distinction (de iure) where a
distinction in reality (de facto) currently exists.

Wuereas, There are currently at least eight different routes
leading to ordination in the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, Not all of them include a thorough theological edu-
cation at one of the Synod’s seminaries; and

WHEREAS, Any route leading to ordination results in a single
roster classification: minister of religion—-ordained; and

WHEREAS, The only roster requirement for serving as Synod
President or vice-president(s) or district president or vice-presi-
dent(s) is to be an ordained minister of the LCMS; and

WuEREAS, The chief ecclesiastical responsibility of these offices
is to supervise doctrine and practice in the church; and

WuereEAsS, The church has always placed a value on theologi-
cal preparation for doctrinal and practical supervision; and

WHEREAS, The current Constitution and Bylaws have not kept
pace with changes in theological training in the Synod; therefore
be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention appoint a task force to examine the theological require-
ments for President of the Synod (Art. X B 1); and be it further

Resolved, That the differing levels of theological training in the
various routes leading to ordination be considered in this matter;
and be it finally

Resolved, That this task force report back to the LCMS con-
vention in 2010 with suggested actions.

Pacific Circuit Forum
Northwest District

7-48

To Amend Bylaw 3.3.1.3
re Powers and Duties of President

WuereaS, Art. XI B 1 of the Synod’s Constitution gives the
President of the Synod the following duties regarding supervision
of doctrine and administration: