LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 268

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268 SYNOD STRUCTURE AND GOVERANCE

so that everyone may know how to guard against it” (Kolb-Wengert, p.
424),
and

WHEREAS, Testifying and reproof are particularly important in
our day when social, political, and religious “correctness” often
place an overwhelming amount of pressure on pastors, congrega-
tions, and various church leaders to compromise the Word or over-
look the exclusivity of the Gospel and the Sacraments in the public
arena; and

WHEREAS, The second table of the Law, “Love your neighbor
as yourself” (Matt. 22:39) demands that out of love we must warn
against anything that could nudge our neighbor even closer to eter-
nal hellfire, and not to warn him is a sin of omission against him as
Jesus points out in Matt. 18:6 (compare Ezek. 33:6; Gal. 1:6—-9;
etc.); and

WuerEAS, Res. 8-01A unwittingly, yet actually, mandates in-
terference with this need by requiring public silence when public
censure and warning is what love calls for; therefore be it

Resolved, That, out of humility before God’s saving Word, faith
in our sinless Savior, love for our neighbors throughout the world,
our guia subscription to the Lutheran Confessions, and respect for
the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod, this convention declares
that Res. 8-01A is unintentionally contrary to the Scriptures and
the Lutheran Confessions and, therefore, rescinded and of no ef-
fect; and be it further

Resolved, That the issues raised by Res. 8-01A and pointed out
previously be submitted for study and response by a joint meeting
of the two seminary faculties in time for inclusion as a report and
an overture in the 2010 Convention Workbook, and be it further

Resolved, That in any contemplated word or action the people
of God, in sincere love for the Gospel of Christ, must always be
reminded to ask the question in all seriousness, “What would this
do to or imply about Jesus, our only Savior?”; and be it finally

Resolved, That the President of the Synod and the presidents of
all the districts are mandated to regularly remind their respective
agencies, boards, commissions, councils, conventions, floor com-
mittees, other committees, praesidiums, task forces, staff members,
seminaries, colleges, auxiliaries, recognized service organizations,
pastors, congregations, and all who are in any way under their care
always to ask in all seriousness, “What would this proposed plan,
procedure, action, decision, etc., do to or imply about Jesus, our
Lord and Savior?”

Shepherd by the Lakes
Syracuse, IN

8-24

To Amend Bylaws on Dispute Resolution

WHEREAS, In 2004 Res. 8-01A the Synod adopted new proce-
dures for ecclesiastical supervision and dispute resolution; and

WHEREAS, The new bylaws adopted under 2004 Res. 8-01A es-
tablish panels to hear cases in which members of the Synod might
be expelled from Synod membership and these panels are com-
posed entirely of district presidents; and

WHEREAS, A basic element of wise jurisprudence, trial by a
group of one’s peers, has thus been significantly removed from our
Synod’s process for handling expulsion cases; and

WHEREAS, With the adoption of 2004 Res. 8-01A, and for the
first time in the history of our Synod, there can be no lay vote
within the tribunals that make the decisions on cases of false doc-
trine at the Synod level (namely, these panels); and

WHEREAS, At its 2001 convention the Synod reaffirmed its first
doctrinal statement, C. F. W. Walther’s Church and Ministry,
which says: “To the ministry of the Word, according to divine
right, belongs also the duty to judge doctrine, but laymen also pos-
sess this right. Therefore, in the ecclesiastical courts and councils
they are accorded both a seat and vote together with the clergy”
(thesis 10 on the Ministry); and

WHEREAS, Additional thinking on these matters seems neces-
sary; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod rescind 2004 Res. 8-01A and the by-
laws adopted as a result of it and reinstate all the previous bylaws
superseded by Res. 8-01A in 2004; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod assign the Commission on Structure
to review the composition of dispute resolution panels, as well as
the entire matter of ecclesiastical supervision, and report any rec-
ommendations for change to the Synod in convention; and be it fi-
nally

Resolved, That the Commission on Structure propose to the
2010 Synod convention any bylaw changes that its recommenda-
tions may necessitate.

Carrollton Circuit Forum
Missouri District

8-25

To Rescind 2004 Resolution 8-01A and Restore
Previous Bylaws

WHEREAS, The 2004 convention adopted Res. 8-01A, “To
Amend Bylaws on Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolu-
tion”; and

WHEREAS, The resulting new bylaws now require a private face-
to-face meeting, even in matters of public error in doctrine and
practice; and

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture provides the examples of the Old
Testament prophets, John the Baptist, our Lord Jesus Christ, and
St. Paul, all of whom rebuked public error publicly (e.g., Paul’s
public rebuke of Peter Gal. 2:11—14); and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions, likewise, teach the pro-
priety of rebuking public error publicly, for example, in the Large
Catechism:

All of this refers to secret sins. But where the sin is so public that the
judge and everyone else are aware of it, you can without sin shun and
avoid those who have brought disgrace upon themselves, and you may
also testify publicly against them. For when something is exposed to
the light of day, there can be no question of slander or injustice or false
witness. For example, we now censure the pope and his teaching, which
is publicly set forth in books and shouted throughout the world. Where
the sin is public, appropriate public punishment should follow so that
everyone may know how to guard against it (Eighth Commandment);

and

WHEREAS, The resulting new bylaws now further limit the abil-
ity of ordinary pastors, congregations, and laypeople to commence
disciplinary actions, and they place more power in the hands of dis-
trict presidents and the President of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Missouri District, for example, at its 2006 con-
vention (Res. 2-05A) likewise has memorialized the Synod to
amend these new bylaws on dispute resolution; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod rescind 2004 Res. 8-01 A, remove the
pursuant bylaw changes, and restore the previous bylaws that were
in place.

St. Matthew, Bonne Terre, MO; Faith In Christ, Portales, NM

8-26

To Rescind LCMS 2004 Res. 8-01A

WHEREAS, Art. II of the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod says that “the Synod, and every member of the
Synod, accepts without reservation: 1. The Scriptures of the Old
and the New Testaments as the written Word of God and the only
rule and norm of faith and practice; 2. All the Symbolic Books of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated state-
ment and exposition of the Word of God...”; and

WHEREAS, Art. III says, “The Synod, under Scripture and the
Lutheran Confessions, shall—1. Conserve and promote the unity
of the true faith (Eph. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 1:10; work through its official
structure toward fellowship with other Christian church body; and