LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 400

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400 THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

CTCR Response to Expressions
of Dissent (2004—2006)

Introduction

During the past triennium, the CTCR has received a number of
letters and statements from members of the Synod expressing dis-
sent from doctrinal resolutions adopted by the Synod. Some of these
letters and statements contain expressions of dissent from more than
one doctrinal position and/or resolution of the Synod. Others con-
tain expressions of dissent that echo concerns raised by other dis-
senters. The majority of these expressions of dissent deal with one
or more of the following issues as they have been officially ad-
dressed by the Synod in convention:
1. Participation in Civic Events (2001 Res. 3-07A; 2004 Res. 3-06A)
2. Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution (2004 Res. 8-01A;
2004 Res. 7-02A)

3. The Service of Women in Congregational and Synodical Offices
(2004 Res. 3-08A)

4. Laymen Performing Functions of the Pastoral Office (1989 Res. 3-05B;
2004 Res. 5-09)

Because these various expressions of dissent are directed toward
one or more of these specific issues, and because many of them
voice similar concerns and employ similar arguments, the CTCR
has prepared the following composite response to these expressions
of dissent. In this response, the CTCR seeks to identify and sum-
marize the key concerns and arguments set forth by various
dissenters regarding each of these issues. It also offers its own eval-
uation, based on Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, of the
arguments offered by the dissenter(s) in support of their claim(s)
that the doctrinal position of the Synod on a given issue is in error
and in need of revision. In preparing this response, the CTCR is also
mindful of the fact that a number of district conventions (held in
2006) debated and/or adopted resolutions addressing the issues
raised by the dissenters in these four areas and the synodical reso-
lutions listed above.

Before dealing specifically with the expressions of dissent re-
garding these issues, it may be helpful to offer a preliminary word
about the nature and purpose of the Synod’s provision for expressing
dissent, and the CTCR’s process and policy for handling expressions
of dissent.

The Right and Responsibility
of Expressing Dissent

Walking Together under Scripture Alone: The Crucial Role of
Expressing Dissent

The Lutheran church has always affirmed the right and responsi-
bility of expressing dissent from teachings and practices believed to
be at odds with God’s Word. Luther’s posting and publication of the
95 Theses was, at least in part, an expression of dissent from com-
monly-held theological views of his day. His “Here I Stand” and his
refusal to recant at the Diet of Worms were even more firmly and
clearly articulated expressions of dissent. Although the Augsburg
Confession was genuinely intended as a conciliatory document, both
its contents and its presentation in 1530 made it clear that those who
supported this confession were dissenting in significant ways from the
official teachings and practices of the established church.

The right and responsibility of expressing dissent is based on the
premise that Scripture alone is the infallible and authoritative “rule
and norm” for faith and practice in the life of the church (cf. Arti-
cle I of the LCMS Constitution), Sinful human beings—both as in-
dividuals and as a group—can and do err in their understanding of
what the Bible teaches. History is replete with examples and re-
minders of this fact. No individual, group, office, organization, or
church body on earth is above and beyond the need to examine con-
tinually its doctrine and practice to ensure that it is teaching no more

2007 Convention Workbook

and no less than what God’s Word alone teaches. Only by preserv-
ing and protecting the right and responsibility of its members to
express dissent can a church body retain a proper sense of humil-
ity, integrity, and accountability to God and to each other under the
guidance of “Scripture alone.”

Pastors, congregations, and church workers of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod have agreed together that “all those who
wish to be and remain members” of the Synod must subscribe to
“the confessional position of the Synod...set forth in Article Tf of
its Constitution” (2004 Handbook, Bylaw 1.6.1). Article II says that
“the Synod. and every member of the Synod, accepts without
reservation...the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the
written Word of God and the on/y rule and norm of faith and prac-
tice” and the Lutheran Confessions “as a true and unadulterated
statement and exposition of the Word of God (emphasis added).”

Members of the Synod have agreed, furthermore, that

The Synod, in seeking to clarify its witness or to settle doctrinal con-

troversy, so that all who seek to participate in the relationships that ex-

ist within and through the Synod may benefit and may act to benefit
others, shall have the right to adopt doctrinal resolutions and statements
which are in harmony with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

(Bylaw 1.6.2)

Doctrinal resolutions

..-may be adopted for the information, counsel, and guidance of the

membership. They shall conform to the confessional position of the

Synod as set forth in Article IT of its Constitution and shall ordinarily

cite the pertinent passages of the Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions,

and any previously adopted official doctrinal statements and resolutions
of the Synod. (Bylaw 1.6.2a)
Such resolutions “are to be honored and upheld until such a time as
the Synod amends or repeals them” (Bylaw 1.6.2a).

Doctrinal statements “set forth in greatcr detail the position of
the Synod especially in controverted matters” and require a more
complex process of ratification (see Bylaw 1.6.2b). Such adopted
and ratified doctrinal statements

.. Shall be regarded as the position of the Synod and shall be “accepted

and used as helpful expositions and explanations” (FC SD Rule and

Norm 10). They shall be honored and upheld (“to abide by, act, and teach

in accordance with” [1971 Res. 2-21]) until such 1ime as the Synod

amends or repeals them. (Bylaw 1.6.2.7)!

The repeated use of the words “amend or repeal” shows that the
Synod clearly recognizes that its collective understanding of what
the Scriptures teach is not infallible. Only God’s Word itself is in-
fallible. Specific processes exist in the Synod, therefore, for amend-
ing, repealing or clarifying the position of the Synod—including the
process of expressing dissent. The process of dissent serves the crit-
ical and beneficial purpose for which it was intended when there is
a commitment not only to God’s Word but also to our “life together
within the fellowship of the Synod.” Thus, the first agreement re-
garding “dissent” to which the members of the Synod have pledged
themselves is the following: “While retaining the right of brotherly
dissent, members of the Synod are expected as part of the life to-
gether within the fellowship of the Synod to honor and uphold the
resolutions of the Synod” (Bylaw 1.8.1). The Synod may be in er-
ror on some point of doctrine or practice—but the dissenter may
also be in error. The process seeks to protect not only the conscience
of the dissenter but also the consciences of those who believe that
the position of the Synod is nor in error (or who are still deliberat-
ing the matter). It upholds the necessary right and responsibility of
expressing dissent, while also seeking to ensure that our “life to-
gether within the fellowship of the Synod” is preserved with as great
a degree of peace and unity as possible.

Bylaw 1.8.2 continucs as follows‘

Dissent from doctrinal resolutions and statements is to be expressed first

within the fellowship of peers and then brought to the altention of the

Commission on Theology and Church Relations before finding expres-

sion as an overture to the convention calling for revision or recision.