LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 29, 2003, Page 13

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The Synod was organized and is maintained to carry out these objects. The
congregations, pastors, and teachers who by their own free decision have joined the
Synod have done so with the determination that the important functions described in
Article III (and we would stress especially Objects 1, 7, and 8 in view of the questions
which have been raised) should be carried out by the Synod. Any assumption of these
responsibilities by secret or open, voluntary or auxiliary, new or established groups is
disruptive of the synodical purpose and cannot be tolerated.
Christians as well as non-Christians expect differences of opinion and judgment to arise
when people walk together. The Synod has provided for forums in which such
differences can be discussed and evaluated beyond the confines of the local congregation.
The pastors and teachers conferences; the circuit meetings; the synodical and District
board, commission, and committee meetings; the doctrinal supervision and appeals
procedures; and above all the conventions of the Districts and of the Synod provide the
proper channels through which the issues of opinion and judgment are to be discussed
and decided. In the absence of a clear word of God issues must be decided by the
majority principle, applied in Christian love and with Christian restraint (Article VIII C).
When the majority will has been determined, it must be respected. Otherwise life together
(synod) becomes all but impossible. Discussion may indeed continue; but it needs to be
carried on with full respect for the majority will and within the forums established by the
Synod for the preservation of the synodical unity. If additional channels for discussion
are needed the Synod can provide for the same in its Bylaws through appropriate
convention action.
It is incongruous for separate groups to organize for the purpose of policing the members
of the Synod; it is equally incongruous for groups to organize for the purpose of either
shaping or nullifying a decision in an area of concern in which the Synod has reserved to
itself the right of making decisions. Where the Synod has not reserved this right to itself
(e.g., the decision to establish orphanages, high schools, old folks homes, hospitals),
congregations and individuals have the right to effect an organization so long as its
objectives and operations do not interfere with the purposes and functions of the Synod.
However, where the Synod has reserved this right to itself (e.g., the administration of its
colleges and seminaries; the supervision of doctrine; the declaration of fellowship with
other church bodies), congregations and individuals have no right under the Constitution
of the Synod without the express approval of the Synod to effect organizations to achieve
purposes for which the Synod itself exists or to carry on activities which rightfully belong
to the duly elected or appointed officials of the Synod. Under these circumstances such
organizations become divisive and schismatic and therefore subversive of the very
purposes of the Synod.
In this opinion the Commission is not attempting to limit the right of individuals to speak
their own minds. Before and after the passage or rejection of synodical resolutions
individuals must be free to express their concerns, especially to their peers. Frank and
open discussion, carried on in a spirit of Christian love and forbearance, must be part of
our life together in the Synod. It can be proper and salutary. However, in this opinion the
Commission is addressing itself to the organizing of groups, to the calling of meetings,
secret or open, to attempted manipulation of existing groups, to circularizing activities,
and to a wide scale of joint actions, all of which by their very nature tend to polarize or
fragment the constituency of the Synod, and thus have the effect of disrupting the
synodical unity.
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