LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 255

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Structure and Ecclesiastical Matters
teachers, and other church workers in the performance of their official
duties and the maintenance of their rights” (Art. III 9); and
Whereas, Members of Christian congregations are not to “walk
in darkness” (John 8:12) and are to recognize that “he who says he is
in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now” (1 John
2:9); and
Whereas, It is possible for a congregation member to foster a private vendetta against his pastor because the Lutheran doctrine that
the pastor teaches is rejected; and
Whereas, A congregation member with a private vendetta against
a faithful pastor could contact the district president at any time and
bring accusations against his pastor; and
Whereas, Any such accusations may not be truthful or charitable to the pastor; and
Whereas, Any such accusations may still be received by the district president, even without the pastor’s knowledge; and
Whereas, The pastor has no way to defend himself from such
accusations that are brought against him secretly, even though his reputation is slandered; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention lament all power plays,
acts of hostility, and accusations made in secret from members of
Christian congregations to the district office (whether from individual laypeople or pastors); and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention insist that the district
offices hold to 1 Timothy 5:19 by not receiving any accusations
against pastors from less than two or three witnesses (i.e., including one-on-one phone calls from an individual congregation member
complaining to the district office); and be it further
Resolved, That individuals who bring accusations against his or
her pastor to the district office be rebuked for not following 1 Timothy
5:19; and be it further
Resolved, That district presidents should not offer to meet with a
member or other members of the congregation without the presence
of the pastor; and be it further
Resolved, That any time that members of a pastor’s congregation
communicate with the district office, the pastor should be informed
as to which member initiated the contact, to whom he or she spoke,
the issue at hand, along with any other things that would be helpful
for him to know; and be it further
Resolved, That the district office use the pastor’s e-mail and/or a
brief telephone call to inform him immediately after one of the district
staff is contacted about a congregational issue by one of his congregation’s members; and be it finally
Resolved, That the pastor be supported by the district office if he
has to put an erring member under church discipline for not repenting of his sins against his pastor, following the steps of admonition
given in Matthew 18:15–20.
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Albany, Oregon
7-17

To Provide Process for Placement of Candidates
Whereas, The 2013 Lutheran Annual lists 217 ordained ministers as holding the status of “Candidate,” indicating that they are
“Candidates for the Reverend Ministry” but currently not serving a
call; and
Whereas, The church has a responsibility to care for all, especially those who have given of their time and talents to full-time
service in the church; and

255

Whereas, When graduating from the seminary, candidates have
a formal process for placement; and
Whereas, There is no similar placement process for those who
are candidates at some point after their initial placement; and
Whereas, Candidates may wish to serve a parish, but have no formal process for doing so; and
Whereas, Congregations that might wish to call those who are on
candidate status have no official mechanism to do so; and
Whereas, The district presidents already handle placements for
seminary and university candidates and so could administer a formal
process for seeking to place those who are currently on candidate status but willing to serve a congregation; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Bylaws of the Synod be amended thusly:
2.11.2.2 A “candidate” member is one who is eligible to perform
the duties of any of the offices of ministry specified in Bylaw section
2.11 but who is not currently an active member or an emeritus member.
(a) A candidate may be continued on the roster for a period not to exceed four years by act of the president of the district through which
the person holds membership.
(b) The candidate shall, by January 31, make an annual report to the
district president, who shall evaluate the member’s eligibility for
remaining on candidate status. The candidate’s report shall include
current contact information and address the criteria for remaining on
candidate status.
(c) Among criteria for determining whether candidate status should be
granted or continued are
(1) The health of the applicant;
(2) A spirit of cooperation in any efforts to address any
unresolved issues involving fitness for ministry;
(3) The extent of current involvement on a part-time and
assisting basis in his/her respective ministry; and
(4) A demonstrated willingness to consider a call or
appointment to any of the offices of ministry specified in
Bylaw section 2.11.
(d) To assist candidates in resolving issues involving fitness for ministry, the president of the district through which the person holds
membership. or at his request the president of the geographical district in which the candidate resides, shall meet at least annually with
the candidate to asses any outstanding issues and to evaluate fitness
for ministry.
(1) The candidate may request a report, in writing, detailing
specific steps to be taken to address any unresolved issues.
(2) The candidate will have the opportunity to report quarterly
on steps taken as recommended in the report.
(3) In the case of disputes regarding fitness for ministry, the
candidate may request dispute resolution as outlined in
Bylaw 1.10. Such a request can be made no more than once
every two years.
(e) Candidates who do not have unresolved issues regarding fitness for
ministry may apply for assignment as if they were receiving their
first call, as outlined in Bylaw 2.9, with the following changes:
(1) Any candidate requesting placement under this bylaw will
consult with the president of the district through which
the person holds membership, or at the request of that
president, the president of the geographical district in which
the candidate resides. Such consultation shall take the place
of consultation with the placement officer of the respective
institution.
(2) Candidates will be informed of their placement by the
district office in which they are placed, or of the failure of
the Synod to place them by their own district president.
(3) Candidates may request placement under this bylaw
according to the schedule for placements of the institution
through which their first placement was made.

2013 Convention Workbook