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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 256

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

256

Structure and Ecclesiastical Matters
(4) Congregations who are calling a candidate will specify
if they wish to call a candidate under this bylaw or under
Bylaw 2.9.
(5) In the event that there are not sufficient calling
congregations to place all candidates, those candidates
who are seeking placement under Bylaw 2.9 will receive
priority.
(6) The Council of Presidents shall report at least annually
in an official periodical of the Synod: the number of
candidates who have requested placement under this
bylaw, the number of placements made, and the number of
candidates who have requested placement but have not yet
been placed.
(7) Congregations are encouraged to request candidates under
this bylaw when such candidates are qualified and available.

Trinity
Wheatland, WY

Handbook’s bylaw amendment solutions to the 2013 convention of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

(A) Requests for CCM/CTCR Opinions
(Bylaw 2.14.7.8 [k])
Rationale
It is important that all time requirements provided by bylaw in
the Synod’s expulsion processes be honored, including the 30-day
requirement for the provision of Commission on Constitutional
Matters and Commission on Theology and Church Relations opinions requested as part of the process. To underscore the need for these
commissions to make such arrangements as are necessary to fulfill
this requirement, the Commission on Handbook advocates the following bylaw changes.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

7-18

To Create and Share List of Emeritus Clergy
Willing to Serve
Whereas, God has given us the Holy Ministry that the Word may
be preached and the Sacraments administered rightly; and
Whereas, God has also blessed the Northwest District with many
varied congregations both large and small, the small becoming an ever
increasing factor; and
Whereas, Many of the congregations, especially rural and coastal
congregations, are not large enough to support a full-time pastor but
are still viable and necessary in their communities; and
Whereas, There are retired pastors who are willing to serve these
congregations on a part-time basis, even relocating to that community, if given the opportunity; and
Whereas, There are congregations willing to call such pastors if
a list were available; and
Whereas, There is now no such formalized list; therefore be it
Resolved, That the offices of the Northwest District, specifically
the office of the president, compile such a list, and that he make it
known to interested congregations; and be it further
Resolved, That circuit counselors ask pastors about to retire if they
are interested in such a ministry to make the information available on
their SET; and be it further
Resolved, That retiring pastors make it known to the district office
that they are willing to enter into such an arrangement; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Northwest District memorialize the Synod to
encourage other districts to also compile such a list and share it across
district lines.
Northwest District

2.14.7.8 (k) If any part of the dispute involves a specific question
of doctrine or doctrinal application, each party shall have the right to
an opinion from the Commission on Theology and Church Relations
(CTCR). If it involves questions of constitution or bylaw interpretation,
each party shall have a right to an interpretation from the Commission
on Constitutional Matters (CCM).
(1) The request for an opinion must be made through the panel, which
shall determine the wording of the question(s).
(2) The request for an opinion must be made within 30 days of the final
formation of the panel. If a party does not request such an opinion
within the designated time, such a request may still be made to the
panel, which shall, at its discretion, determine whether the request
shall be forwarded. The panel shall also have the right, at any time,
to request an opinion from the CCM or the CTCR.
(3) Any opinion so requested shall be rendered within 30 days or such
greater time as the panel may allow. The CCM and the CTCR shall
have in place procedures for responding within this 30-day time
frame to such requests for opinions.
(4) When an opinion has been requested, the time limitations will not
apply until the parties have received the opinion. The panel must
follow any opinion received from either the CCM or the CTCR.

(B) Composition of Hearing and Final Hearing
Panels
(Bylaws 2.14.7.2; 2.15.7.2; 2.17.7.2)
Rationale
In order to broaden district representation and to avoid the
appearance of unfairness or the potential for undue influence, the
Commission on Handbook proposes the following changes to the
bylaws governing the composition of dispute resolution and appeal
panels for adoption by the 2013 LCMS convention.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

7-19

To Address Handbook Issues re Expulsion
Processes
(Bylaw Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 2.17)
Background
During the triennium, concerns related to Bylaw sections 2.14,
2.15, 2.16, and 2.17 (expulsion from Synod membership) were
brought to the attention of the Commission on Handbook. This
overture identifies those concerns and proposes the Commission on

2013 Convention Workbook

2.14.7.2 A Hearing Panel selected as follows, consisting of two
district presidents (excluding the involved district president[s]) and
one reconciler who is a layperson, but excluding the involved district
president(s) selected as follows, shall conduct the hearing:
(a) One district president shall be selected by the accused.
(b) One district president shall be selected by the ecclesiastical supervisor who imposed the suspended status (a district president may not
choose himself).
(c) One reconciler who is a layperson shall be chosen by blind draw
from the Synod’s roster of reconcilers, with the blind draw administered by the Secretary of the Synod and audited by witnesses.
(d) Each Hearing Panel shall be assisted by a nonvoting hearing facilitator selected according to Bylaw 2.14.2 (j).