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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 175

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

Theology and Church Relations
level, that the church at large recognize the gift of the pastoral office
to the church by her Bridegroom, even her Lord Jesus Christ, all in
faithfulness to His words to her in Matthew 28:18–20.
Zion, Chippewa Falls, WI; Wadena Circuit Forum,
MN North District; Holy Cross, Albany, OR
4-25

To Suspend Implementation of COP
“Calls vs. Contracts” Document
Whereas, In February of 2009 the Council of Presidents (COP)
adopted the document, Calls vs. Contracts for Ministers of Religion—
Ordained, as guidelines for use by district presidents in accurately
maintaining the roster of members; and
Whereas, The changes adopted at the 2010 Synod convention,
especially the manner in which the President of the Synod is elected,
has caused the Synod (district presidents) to take particular care at
this time with the rostering of pastors; and
Whereas, The Calls vs. Contracts for Ministers of Religion—
Ordained document was revised in September 2011; and
Whereas, The implementation of Calls vs. Contracts for
Ministers of Religion—Ordained impacts the Synod, its congregations, and ministers of religion—ordained with the application of an
important point of doctrine; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Minnesota South District in convention direct
its board of directors to hold a district-wide theological conference on
the Doctrine of the Call—specifically referencing the Doctrine of the
Call in the document Calls vs. Contracts for Ministers of Religion—
Ordained; and be it further
Resolved, That the Minnesota South District memorialize the
Synod in convention to immediately suspend the implementation
and application of Calls vs. Contracts for Ministers of Religion—
Ordained until it has received further study by the Synod’s CTCR and
in other forums. This study should be completed by the next Synod
convention cycle.
Minnesota South District
4-26

To Reject the Temporary Call/Divine Disposal
Concept
Whereas, Some within our Synod are once again pushing a nonscriptural concept called a “temporary call”; and
Whereas, All false doctrine is divisive by its very diabolical
nature; and
Whereas, Recognized Lutheran scholar Dr. Kurt Marquart
commented on the CTCR document, The Divine Call, stating, “(1)
Specifically, the document abandons our Synod’s 150-years-long
opposition in principle to ‘temporary calls’ ”; and
Whereas, the 2001 LCMS convention adopted and reaffirmed
that Dr. C. F. W. Walther’s book Church and Ministry was and is
the Synod’s official position on the Doctrine of the Church and the
Ministry; and
Whereas, This official position of the LCMS stands in opposition
to any and all “temporary calls” as contrary to Scriptures, contrary to
the Lutheran Confessions, and contrary to the historic practice of the
Holy Christian Church; and
Whereas, Dr. Walther (in his Church and Ministry, which is
the Synod’s official teaching) condemns any and all concepts of the

175

“temporary call”: “Kromayer: ‘The minister may not be engaged by
those who call him through a contract for certain years or with the reservation to dismiss the freely called person. God nowhere has granted
or permitted those who call the right to make such a contract … ’”
(p. 311); therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS in its 2013 convention reject and condemn any resolution or position which supports a “temporary call”
as false and contrary to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, as
well as contrary to the official position of our Synod as it is found in
Dr. Walther’s Church and Ministry.
Salem Lutheran Church
Taylorsville, NC
4-27

To Establish Proper Order of Call Documents
vs. Congregation Bylaws
Whereas, Disparities exist regarding the duties of a pastor
between the constitution and bylaws (C & B) of congregations and a
pastor’s call documents with the C & B often understating a pastor’s
duties as compared to the call documents; and
Whereas, Different interpretations exist regarding the proper
succession of the call documents and the congregation’s C & B; and
Whereas, This dispute has caused unnecessary angst and turmoil
within some congregations; and
Whereas, The C & B are understood to be a congregation’s governing documents; and
Whereas, The voters assembly is given the sole right to call a pastor and is required by districts to use the established call document
since the LCMS is a calling body versus a hiring body; and
Whereas, The call documents normally contain more duties than
a congregation’s C & B, and therefore a valid call by a congregation
can then be argued to be in violation of a congregation’s C & B; and
Whereas, If a congregation’s C & B are considered as superseding call documents, then the call could be considered to be null
and void since the voters assembly could then be considered to have
exceeded its authority; and
Whereas, Since it can also be argued that a valid call postdates
a congregation’s C & B and therefore supersedes a congregation’s C
& B; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod’s Constitution or Bylaws be amended
to clearly establish the proper order or supremacy of the pastor’s call
documents and a congregation’s C & B; and be it further
Resolved, That if a Synod constitution or bylaw change is not warranted, that clear direction be given to congregations and districts to
correct or clarify the congregation’s C & B to standardize the proper
order and supremacy of the call documents and the congregation’s C
& B with respect to the duties of a pastor.
Shepherd of the Hills
Prescott, AZ
4-28

To Provide Sound Teaching for Small
Congregations
Whereas, Jesus calls disciples to leave their homes and follow
Him, and many more men are choosing Internet instruction over residential seminary training. Seminary training includes more than class
time, with chapel, interaction, and deep theological discussion with

2013 Convention Workbook