LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 273

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Structure and Ecclesiastical Matters
Whereas, A district is “the Synod itself performing the functions
of the Synod” (Bylaw 4.1.1.1); and
Whereas, “Each district is at liberty to adopt such bylaws and
pass such resolutions as it deems expedient for its conditions, provided that such bylaws and resolutions do not conflict with the
Constitution and the Bylaws of the Synod” (Art. XII 2); and
Whereas, Districts might find it expedient to require that their
nominations for officers be from within that district and/or its regions
to foster their local connections with the congregations in that district; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Mid-South District, meeting in convention,
memorialize the 2013 Synod convention to amend Bylaws 4.3.1 and
4.3.3 to allow districts, if they so desire, to restrict nominations for
such district offices as outlined in Bylaw 4.3.1 to the clergy roster
from that district and/or its own geographic regions; and be it further
Resolved, That the Mid-South District, meeting in convention,
request that the Commission on Handbook, according to Bylaw
3.9.4.2 (e), review Bylaws 4.3.1 and 4.3.3 together with Bylaws
3.12.2.5 and 3.3.4.1 and propose bylaw amendments to the 2013
Synod convention to allow districts, as they find expedient, to restrict
nominations for any or all of these clergy positions from the clergy
roster or, similarly, commissioned or lay positions on boards of directors, to be from within that particular district and/or its own regions.
Mid-South District
7-29

To Grant Representation at District Conventions
to Each Congregation of Multipoint Parishes
Whereas, Congregations which form multipoint parishes (dual,
tri-point, etc.) do so for the purpose of having a called pastor serving
the congregations of the multipoint parish; and
Whereas, Congregations of a multipoint parish do not merge
together to form one congregation; and
Whereas, Each congregation of a multipoint parish is the Church
in that location because Christ is there giving His gifts through Word
and Sacrament; and
Whereas, Each congregation of a multipoint parish operates with
its own constitution and bylaws; and
Whereas, Each congregation of a multipoint parish elects its
own officers; and
Whereas, The restructuring of the LCMS now allows each congregation of the Synod through its delegate to the district convention
to cast a vote for the election of the Synod President; and
Whereas, The CCM has ruled that multipoint parishes are
allowed only one delegate and only one alternate delegate to represent the multipoint parish at district conventions; and
Whereas, This CCM ruling has disallowed some congregations
representation at district conventions; and
Whereas, This CCM ruling now denies some congregations the
ability to cast a ballot for the election of the Synod President; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS consider granting suffrage to all congregations of the Synod for the purpose of delegate representation at
district conventions, which thereby permits all congregations to cast
a ballot for the election of the Synod President.
Indiana District

273

7-30

To Amend Constitution to Grant a Lay Vote
to Every Congregation at District Conventions
Preamble

When Jesus directs those attempting to admonish an erring
brother, He states that the final attempt of such admonition is to take
the matter before the church (Matt. 18:17). To that assembly Jesus
predicates the authority to exercise the Office of the Keys saying,
“And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as
a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind
on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 18:17b–18 ESV). This God-given
authority is not limited by the size of a congregation, for Jesus goes
on to add a clear promise to be with even the smallest assembly or
congregation: “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about
anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among
them” (Matt. 18:19–20 ESV).
The Lutheran Church in general and the LCMS in particular have
always held the autonomy of the congregation in high esteem. The
Confessions of the Lutheran Church testify to the authority given
by Christ to the church as recorded in the Scriptures. Particularly,
the above-mentioned verses of Matthew 18 are cited in the Treatise
on the Power and Primacy of the Pope defending the church’s right
of calling ministers (Tr. 24, Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions).
Later, it is made clear that this authority comes down to each congregation: “Therefore when the regular bishops become unwilling to
administer ordination, the churches retain their own right [to ordain
ministers]. Wherever the church is, there is the authority to administer the Gospel” (Tr. 66–67).
When the question of church and ministry was raised in the early
days of our Synod’s history, Pastor C. F. W. Walther expressed the
urgency of clarifying the scriptural position on the matter, in part
because of its implications for church polity (cf. Walther’s preface
to the first edition of Church and Ministry, especially page 10 in J.
T. Mueller’s translation published by CPH in 1987). Because of the
divine institution of the church and the Office of the Holy Ministry,
the LCMS has consistently upheld the temporal right of a congregation to have a say in the business of the Synod, and this say is not
limited to pastoral representation but has also included the laity. In
recent times, the voice of the congregation has been heard through
the voting of two delegates appointed by a congregation to represent
her at district conventions as well as at circuit forums, where representatives to Synod conventions are elected.
However, even though we acknowledge the God-given authority
of each congregation, our Synod has not allowed certain congregations to be represented equally in the affairs of our Synod. As we
walk together we have muted the voices of many congregations by
calling a “dual or multiple congregation arrangement served by the
same pastor” a parish and limiting each parish in such a context
to one pastoral and one lay vote (CCM Opinion 03-2327, “Voting
Rights of Congregations”). In one extreme case, four congregations served jointly by two pastors have been allowed a total of two
votes at district meetings (CCM Opinion 09-2545, “Voting Rights of
Congregations”).
By disenfranchising certain congregations who hold membership
in the Synod, we have acted inconsistently on a number of levels.
• Though we confess no divinely appointed form of church polity, denying some congregations the right to the same representation that other

2013 Convention Workbook