LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 283

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SYNOD STRUCTURE AND GOVERANCE 283

WHEREAS, Mark 8:38: ‘““Whoever is ashamed of Me and of My
words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son
of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father
with the holy angels”; and

WHEREAS, 2 Peter 1:19—21: “We have something more sure, the
prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a
lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning
star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy
of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no
prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke
from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit”; and

WHEREAS, Some behavior of constitutional review committees
and other Synod representatives has seemed to undermine such
scriptural truths; therefore be it

Resolved, That we once again affirm that the God-revealed in-
spired, infallible, and inerrant Scriptures are the sole source and
norm for Christian doctrine and life; and be it further

Resolved, That care be taken that answers given by our church
not be seen to rely on bylaws but on the scriptural truths which are
to be reflected in those bylaws; and be it further

Resolved, That we all be admonished to strive for clarity both in
our confession and in seeking to understand the questions set be-
fore us especially regarding contentious matters; and be it further

Resolved, That where constitutions and bylaws affirm that our
confessional standards affirm the inspired, inerrant, infallible, and
revealed qualities of the Scriptures that these be praised as good
right and salutary; and be it finally

Resolved, That efforts to limit such wording or hindering con-
gregations that so desire cease and desist.

Sangre De Cristo Circuit Forum
Rocky Mountain District

8-67

To Call Special Convention to Amend Synod Structure
and Governance
Whereas, The Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod states, “The Synod may under circumstances call a special
session if two-thirds of the voting representatives present so de-
cide” (Art. VII B 1); and
WHEREAS, The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and

Governance has been working with district and Synod leaders to
determine the best way for all entities of the LCMS to work to-

gether to accomplish the mission “vigorously to make known the.

love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communi-
ties, and the world” (Mission Statement, LCMS); and

Whereas, Such efforts may lead to significant discussion and
action toward amendment of our Synod’s structure and gover-
nance; therefore be it

Resolved, That under the provisions of Art. VIII of our Synod’s
Constitution, the Synod convention calls for a special session of
the Synod for the purpose of amending the structure and gover-
nance of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod at an appropriate
time following the district conventions in 2009; and be it further

Resolved, That the Bylaws be amended in order to provide the
necessary provisions for the implementation of holding the special
session in the most efficient and helpful way.

Board of Directors
Pacific Southwest District

8-68
To Schedule Presentations of Walther Theses

on Duties of an Evangelical Lutheran Synod

WHEREAS, Synod is not to be an ecclesiastical, centralized gov-
ernment, but rather “walking together” in Christian doctrine and
practice; and

WHEREAS, Maintaining agreement with bylaws, with rules, and
with regulations seems to have replaced doctrinal agreement as the
basis for voluntarily joining and being a member of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; and

Wuereas, Dr. C. F. W. Walther gave a distinctive approach to
the organization and government of Synod in his theses on “The
Duties of an Evangelical Lutheran Synod”:

Thesis I: Its primary duty is to be faithful to the Confessions in
word and deed, and therefore it must

a. without reservation confess the creeds of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church;

b. accept only pastors, teachers, and congregations that are faith-
ful to the Confessions;

c. supervise the confessional faithfulness of its members;

d. practice fellowship only with church bodies that are faithful to
the Confessions.

Thesis II: A second major duty is that it faithfully treat its congre-
gations in an evangelical way, and therefore

a. not assume a dictatorial role over them but only help them in
an advisory way;

b. assist them in acquiring upright pastors and teachers;

Cc. protect them against pastors who err in doctrine, follow an of-
fensive lifestyle, and are domineering in their office.

Thesis IH]: A third duty is that it support its pastors and teachers,
and therefore

a. counsel them;

b. support them in the proper conduct of their office;

c. defend them against unjust treatment.

Thesis IV: A fourth major duty is that it promote the growth of its
members in the knowledge of the truth in every way possible, and there-
fore

a. give priority to doctrinal discussions in arranging its conven-
tions/conferences;

b. arrange for both pastoral and teacher conferences, review
their minutes, and evaluate them;

c. make every effort to disseminate good literature.

Thesis V: A fifth major duty is that it strive for peace and unity in
the truth in its midst, and therefore see to it;

a. that all members are mutually submissive;

b. that each bear the other’s burden in brotherly love;

c. that no unnecessary disputes arise and are continued, whether
they have to do with doctrine or practice.

Thesis VI: A sixth major duty is that it not seek its own glory but
only the glory of God, being intent not so much on its own growth but
rather on the growth of Christ’s kingdom and the salvation of souls, and
therefore

a. not employ dishonest means, but above all be intent on using
the Gospel in all its purity and fullness to win souls and keep
them;

b. seek to produce in its members, not so much zeal for its par-
ticular community but rather living faith, unfeigned love, and
genuine godliness;

c. take an enthusiastic and, as much as possible, active part in
all God-pleasing organizations dedicated to the spread of
Christ’s kingdom in the world;

and .

WHEREAS, It would be essential for The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod to refresh itself in the original intent of the Synod
as expressed by Dr. C. F. W. Walther in his theses on “The Duties
of an Evangelical Lutheran Synod”; therefore be it

Resolved, That Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Billings, Mon-
tana, memorialize the 2007 LCMS convention to direct the Synod
President to schedule presentations and discussions of Walther’s
theses on “The Duties of an Evangelical Lutheran Synod” during
the Synod convention to be held in 2010.

Mount Olive
Billings, MT