LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 133

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SYNOD REPORTS
system of supervision among church workers promotes harmony and
unity, prevents divisions that arise from self-love and ambition on the
part of lower-level (niedrigerer) church workers and curbs the presumption of those who want to destroy the tranquility of the church.”
Pieper made this statement concerning visitation:
Through it [visitation] we work to assist one another so that the Word
of God and nothing but the Word of God rules in our midst. The visitors
see to it that in their circuits everything is done in the congregations
according to God’s Word; the district presidents have a similar duty in
the entire district, and the synodical president, with certain limitations,
in the entire Synod. For this very purpose we do not elect visitors and
presidents from among such people who are well schooled in official
resolutions and especially in the synodical Handbook, but from among
people who have had rich experience in the Word of God and, above
all, who have the ability to present it and to apply it in regard to specific
situations. These offices of supervision which have been established by
our synodical Constitution are not to enlarge upon God’s Word, but to
serve God’s Word, that is, to set God’s Word in operation and motion.
(1896 Convention Proceedings)

The ecclesiastical supervisor conducts his office on the basis of
God’s Word as the only rule and norm of faith and of practice in the
church. Thus the outward means of assistance in the office of visitation is giving evangelical counsel, care, guidance, protection and
support and to convince and teach—marks of our life together in the
Synod (cf. Constitution Art. III 8, 9). Visitation has no dictatorial or
coercive authority and control, nor is visitation a policing or enforcing function and activity. The visitor is not a law enforcement agent.
Outside of the Word, the visitor has no authority. The office of visitation is driven by the Gospel and centered in Christ. Visitation exists
to encourage and build up the congregations and ministers and to
strengthen their participation in God’s mission.
What was originally conceived as a highly spiritual office instituted for the proper supervision of doctrinal and moral standards of
the Synod gradually emerged over the years into that of a Synod agent
in the lowest level of the administrative structure (Suelflow, Synodical
Survey Commission, 1962).
The 2001 Synod convention resolved “To Clearly Delineate [the]
Ministry of Visitation in [the] Bylaws” (Res. 8-01), now reflected in
Synod Bylaw 4.4.4:
a) He shall arrange in advance for an official visit to each congregation of his district at least once every three years and otherwise as he
deems it necessary. He may call upon the circuit counselors and vicepresidents to assist him with the triennial visitation of congregations.
(b) In his official visits, he shall seek to bring about to the greatest
possible degree the achievement of the Synod’s objectives as expressed
in Article III of its Constitution.
(c) He shall conduct his official visits in an evangelical manner.
(d) He shall come to the pastor and the congregation as a brotherly
advisor, reminding them of the joy of serving in the mission and ministry of the church.
(e) In his visits, he shall include fraternal discussion in regard to
worship and communion attendance; participation by the congregation
in missions and the work of the church at large; the congregation’s evangelism and education endeavors; its cultivation of sound stewardship

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principles; all aspects of compensation for professional church workers;
the need for maintenance of purity of doctrine; the strengthening of the
bond of Christian fellowship; and the provision of resources, opportunities, and assistance so God’s people can grow in their faith, hope, and
love. (emphases added)

The same 2001 resolution resolved that the Council of Presidents
develop guidelines to define the intent and purpose of congregational
visits and to provide a foundation for training the visitors.
The 2004 convention made clear the essence of ecclesiastical
supervision as provided in Bylaw 1.2.1 (g):
The responsibility, primarily of the President of the Synod and district presidents, to supervise on behalf of the Synod the doctrine, life,
and administration of its members, officers, and agencies. Such supervision, subject to the provisions of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws,
and resolutions, includes visitation, evangelical encouragement and
support, care, protection, counsel, advice, admonition, and, when necessary, appropriate disciplinary measures to assure that the Constitution,
Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod are followed and implemented.
Thus, ecclesiastical supervision is also the presenting, interpreting, and
applying of the collective will of the Synod’s congregations. Ecclesiastical supervision does not include the responsibility to observe, monitor,
control, or direct the day-to-day activities of individual members of the
Synod, whether in the conduct of their work or in their private lives (cf.
Bylaw 2.14.1 [a]). Further, those constitutional articles and bylaws pertaining to ecclesiastical supervision shall determine the full definition of
ecclesiastical supervision.
C. Urgency

Luther’s 1528 Preface to “Instructions for Visitors of Parish
Pastors in Electoral Saxony” stated:
While we cannot issue any strict commands as if we were publishing
a new form of papal decrees, but are rather giving an account or report
which may serve as a witness and confession of our faith, we yet hope
that all devout and peaceable pastors who find their sincere joy in the
gospel and delight to be of one mind with us will act as St. Paul teaches
in Phil. 2[:2], and will heed our prince and gracious lord. We hope they
will not ungratefully and proudly despise our love and good intention,
but will willingly, without any compulsion, subject themselves in a spirit
of love to such visitation and with us peacefully accept these visitors
until God the Holy Spirit brings to pass something that is better, through
them or through us.” (emphasis added)

“Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same
love, being in full accord and of one mind” (Philippians 2:2).
Notes
1. In the broad sense, the word “visitation” can be understood to mean the
overall ecclesiastical responsibility of oversight or supervision (episcope—cf.
preface to Visitation Articles). In the narrow sense the word can be understood to mean an official formal visit as a part of the office of ecclesiastical
supervision.
2. Luther’s Works, vol. 40, pp. 262–319.
3. Cf. 2010 Handbook Constitution Art. III 8–9, XI B, XII; Bylaws 3.3.1.1–
3.3.1.1.1, 3.3.1.2–3.3.1.3, 4.4.4–4.4.6.
4. Much of the content in this and the two preceding paragraphs was
gleaned from Synodical Survey Commission, Suelflow, 1962.

2013 Convention Workbook