LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 305

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

OPINIONS OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
district and different place. While there may be instances where a mission outreach effort in one district has crossover impact into another
district, the very organizational structure of the Synod contemplates
that each district will operate in its own geographical area.
(Adopted Nov. 11–13, 2011)

Fellowship within the Synod (11-2610)
In a letter dated August 17, 2011, a pastor of the Synod submitted
three questions pertaining to fellowship with one another through
membership in the Synod. The letter, which was also sent to the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR), contained
some background material.
Question 1: Is it the self-understanding of the LCMS that all of its
pastors and parishes are in fellowship with one another?
Opinion: Yes, it is the self-understanding of The Lutheran
Church―Missouri Synod that all of its congregational members
(congregations that have joined the Synod) and individual members
(ministers of religion―ordained and ministers of religion―commissioned on the roster of the Synod) are in fellowship with one
another.
First, the Synod’s Bylaws not only reflect such a self-understanding, but describe the agreements of the members and the requirements
of the members’ fellowship with one another:
1.3.4

Congregations together establish the requirements of membership in the Synod (Art. VI). In joining the Synod, congregations and other members obligate themselves to fulfill such
requirements and to diligently and earnestly promote the purposes of the Synod by word and deed. Members of the Synod,
compelled by love for each other, accept the responsibility to
support financially the work of the Synod and provide annual
statistical information to enable the Synod to plan current and
future ministry efforts based upon an accurate picture of the
results of current ministries within its churches, communities,
and world [emphasis added]. (Cf. also Bylaws 1.3.1 and 1.3.3)
1.3.4.1 Members agree to uphold the confessional position of the
Synod (Art. II) and to assist in carrying out the objectives
of the Synod (Art. III), which are objectives of the members
themselves. Thus, while congregations of the Synod are selfgoverning (Art. VII), they, and also individual members, commit themselves as members of the Synod to act in accordance
with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod under which
they have agreed to live and work together and which the congregations alone have the authority to adopt or amend through
conventions [emphasis added].
1.7.1 The Constitution, Bylaws, and all other rules and regulations of
the Synod apply to all congregational and individual members
of the Synod [emphasis added].
1.8.1 While retaining the right of brotherly dissent, members of the
Synod are expected as part of the life together within the fellowship of the Synod to honor and uphold the resolutions of the
Synod [emphasis added].
1.8.2 Dissent from doctrinal resolutions and statements is to be expressed first within the fellowship of peers and then brought
to the attention of the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations before finding expression as an overture to the convention calling for revision or recision. While the conscience
of the dissenter shall be respected, the consciences of others, as
well as the collective will of the Synod, shall also be respected
[emphasis added].

Second, the Constitution and Bylaws’ use of the word “fellowship” (and other words such as “common,” “unity,” “association,”
“walk together” and “agree” that are synonymous with or define and
describe “fellowship”) is helpful to the self-understanding of the fellowship with one another in the Synod:
• 2010 Constitution, Article III 1: “Conserve and promote the unity [i.e.,
‘oneness’; cf. unus (‘one’), unites (‘one, common’)] of the true faith
(Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor. 1:10), work through its official structure toward

305

fellowship with other Christian church bodies, and provide a united
defense against schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy”
[emphasis added; amended in 1979, effective 1980].
• 1847 Constitution: “The preservation and furthering of the unity
[Einheit (‘oneness’)] of pure confession (Eph. 4: 3–6; 1 Cor. 1:10) and
to provide common [gemeinsame (‘common, held jointly, mutual’)]
defense against separatism and sectarianism (Rom. 16:17).”
• 1854 Constitution: “The conservation and promotion of the unity
[Einheit (‘oneness’)] of the pure confession (Eph. 4: 3–6; 1 Cor.
1:10) and the common [gemeinsame (‘common, held jointly, mutual’)]
defense against schism and sectarianism (Rom. 16:17).”
• 2010 Handbook: “…confessional unity” (Article III 6); “…common
profession of faith” (Article III 7); “…common confession and mission, congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod join
with one another in the Synod to support one another and to work
together in carrying out their commonly adopted objectives…in
association with other member congregations through the Synod…”
(Bylaw 1.1.1); “Synod…Refers collectively to the association of
self-governing Lutheran congregations…” (Bylaw 1.2.1 [v]); “…
the bond of Christian fellowship” (Bylaw 4.4.4 [e]); “…to strengthen
the spirit of unity among circuit congregations to effect mission and
ministry and shall seek to strengthen and support the spirit of fellowship…” (Bylaw 5.2.3.1[b]); “…network of congregations that ‘walks
together’…” (Bylaw 5.1.1) [emphasis added].

Third, resolutions of the Synod provide the Synod’s self-understanding of “fellowship.” The 1965 convention of the Synod adopted
Theology of Fellowship as a Synod document for reference and guidance (Res. 2-13). It therefore serves the Synod’s understanding of
“fellowship” or koinonia. The following excerpts from this Synodadopted document prove helpful:
Being in fellowship with the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic
church entitled the layman to participate in the sacraments; it enabled
one cleric to officiate in the parish of another, with proper permission.
But above all things, church fellowship was altar fellowship. This understanding is still preserved centuries later by the prince of Lutheran
dogmaticians, John Gerhard, when he says in his Loci:
“So there is a threefold koinonia (fellowship) laid down by the
apostle: (1) the sacramental participation in Christ’s body and blood,
which takes place by way of the bread and wine that has been blessed, 1
Cor. 10:16; (2) the spiritual apprehension of the entire Christ and all His
benefits, which takes place by true faith, 1 Cor. 11:26; (3) the fellowship
of the church as a body (communio corporis ecclesiae), 1 Cor. 10:17:
‘We many are one bread, one body, for we all partake of the one bread.’
The first fellowship (koinonia) is the foundation of the others, because
the spiritual participation in Christ and His benefits is confirmed and
sealed in the believers through the sacramental fellowship (koinonia).
The fellowship of the church as a body can, for the sake of teaching, be
designated as twofold: namely, as external and as internal; the external
fellowship exists among all who embrace the same doctrine and make
use of the same sacraments; the internal fellowship exists among those
only who truly believe, who have the Spirit of Christ. The external fellowship of the church as a body arises from the sacramental fellowship
(koinonia); the internal, however, arises from the spiritual fellowship
(koinonia)” (Volume V, Locus XXI, Cap. XI, ed. Preuss, p. 98).

The 1981 convention of the Synod commended The Nature and
Implications of the Concept of Fellowship study of the CTCR along
with its previously adopted Theology of Fellowship to the members
of the Synod for their study and guidance (Res. 3-10). This Synod2013 Convention Workbook