LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 21-22, 2002, Page 22

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Resolved, That the Synod distinguish between resolutions concerning doctrine
formulated and adopted at a convention and more formal statements of belief which are
produced by officially authorized groups, and which are then presented to congregations and
clergy of the Synod for study and discussion, and which are subsequently adopted by a
synodical convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the resolutions of recent conventions that the Synod
“honor and uphold the synodically adopted statements as valid interpretations of Christian
doctrine” (1969 Proceedings, p. 91); and be it finally
Resolved, That in the case of the aforementioned more formal and comprehensive
statements of belief that the Synod declare –
1) its position that these statements, together with all other formulations of doctrine,
derive their authority from the Word of God which they set forth from the Holy
Scriptures;
2) its insistence that the ministry of the church regard these formulations with special
seriousness and that those who disagree with these formulations in part or in whole
be held to present their objections to them formally to those officials whom the
Synod has given the immediate supervision of their doctrine;
3) its conviction that as a result of joint study of the Word of God the Holy Spirit will
lead the Synod into all truth, that possible errors in the aforementioned statements
will be discovered and corrected, that instances of failure to submit to the clear
teaching of the Holy Scripture will be evangelically dealt with on an individual
pastoral basis, and that the Synod can speak with a voice that is Scriptural, Gospel
oriented, truly Lutheran, and that we will continue to “walk together” as a true
Synod.
1975 Resolution 3-05, reaffirming that A Statement [of Scriptural and Confessional Principles] is in
accord with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions and contains nothing contrary to them, offers
additional insight into the use of Commission on Theology and Church Relations statements in its first
resolve: “That the Synod commend to its members for reference and guidance the report titled ‘Guiding
Principles for the Use of A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles with Special Reference to
the Expression of Dissent’ (1975 CW, pp. 468-470, the closing sentences of which read:
A Statement is not to be used mechanically or legalistically to discipline members of the
Synod, but it is to be honored, upheld, and used fraternally and evangelically throughout the
Synod in an effort to assist the Synod in remaining faithful to its confessional position. Used
in this way, A Statement may, with the blessing of God’s Holy Spirit, serve the ‘conservation
and promotion of the unity of the true faith’ (Constitution, Article III) and aid the Synod in
the faithful proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world.”
After also commending the document titled “Report on Dissent” to the members of the Synod “for
reference and guidance” and instructing the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to make
several revisions to A Statement, the Synod not only reaffirmed that “A Statement is in accord with the
Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, and contains nothing contrary to them, and is in accord with the
doctrinal position of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as it has been taught historically and
expressed in the official doctrinal statements of the Synod,” but it also adopted the following opinion of
the Commission on Constitutional Matters:
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