LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 29, 2003, Page 11

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synodically established procedures: (1) Express the dissent within the fellowship of peers; (2) Then, bring
the dissent to the attention of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations; (3) Following these
first two steps, dissent may find expression as an overture to the convention for revision or recision
(Bylaw 2.39 c).
Thus, those who have joined the Synod voluntarily agree to the basis of the fellowship, the common
commitment and “walking together” as well as the synodically established procedure for the Synod to
express its fellowship and unity with one another, to express its common confession, and to clarify its
common witness or to settle doctrinal controversy. Any member who disregards the above agreement,
including the synodically established procedure for the expression of dissent, and seeks to establish,
teach, practice and promote a “confessional statement” or statement of belief within the fellowship that
has not been adopted by the Synod itself, violates the very purpose, fellowship, and unity of the Synod, is
not acting in accordance with the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws, is guilty of “offensive conduct”
(Article XIII) and is subject to the disciplinary procedures specified in the Constitution and Bylaws.
Among the resolutions that the members of the Synod are to honor and uphold is Resolution 2-21 of the
1971 synodical convention (1971 Proceedings, pp. 118–119), which states in its Preamble:
The Synod, therefore, holds that every member, by virtue of his agreement when he
voluntarily joined the Synod and freely placed himself under the provisions of the
Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws, is bound by the Word of God expressed in the Synod’s
resolutions until it can be demonstrated that a resolution is in fact “not in accordance with
the Word of God.” Otherwise the Synod holds that its resolutions are to be considered “of
binding force if they are in accordance with the Word of God” (Bylaw 1.09 b), and the
Synod permits no member to teach or practice in violation of a resolution simply on the
grounds that he does not agree with it or that it is in conflict with his private persuasion.
The object of the Synod, as stated in Article III, 1, of the Constitution, is (1) to conserve
and promote a unity in which all are “united in the same mind and same judgment” (1
Cor. 1:10), and (2) to avoid schism caused by contrary doctrine (Rom. 16:17). This
purpose of the Synod is defeated when individuals are permitted to teach in accordance
with their private views, for then there can be no such thing as a synodical position, and a
meaningful corporate confessional commitment is impossible. Formal commitment of the
Synod to a confessional base is pointless unless the Synod has the right as a synod to
apply its confessional base definitively to current issues and thus conserve and promote
unity and resist an individualism which breeds schism….
If a member cannot for conscience’ sake accept a doctrinal resolution of the Synod, he
has the obligation and opportunity through mutually approved procedure to challenge
such a resolution with a view to effecting the changes he deems necessary. Failing in that,
he is completely free by reason of his wholly voluntary association with the Synod to
obey his conscience and disassociate himself from the Synod. Meanwhile every member
of the Synod is held to abide by, act, and teach in accordance with the Synod’s
resolutions.
Note: The complete text of the October 16, 1969 opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters,
“An Opinion Regarding Dissenting Groups and Activities Within the Synod,” follows:

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