LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 15-16, 2003, Page 2

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Question 1:

Is the “confessional position of the Synod…set forth in Article II of its Constitution, to
which all who wish to be and remain members of the Synod shall subscribe” (Bylaw 1.03)
exclusive? May individuals or congregations add to or remove items from it?

Opinion: Members of the Synod are required to accept without reservation and subscribe to the Synod’s
confessional position as set forth in Article II of its Constitution (Bylaw 1.03). Although the Synod has
provided for itself the right to adopt doctrinal resolutions and statements (Bylaw 1.09), even these are not
to be regarded as additions to the confessional basis for membership provided in Article II. Accordingly,
individuals or congregations may not add to or remove items from Article II.
The Commission calls attention to its earlier Opinion 03-2328, in which it stated:
Subscribing to or requiring a “confessional statement” in place of or in addition to the
confessional position of the Synod as set forth in Article II of its Constitution as a
condition for fellowship with one another in the Synod is a violation of the covenant
relationship in the Synod (Article VI 1; Bylaw 1.03).
Question 2:

May members of the LCMS subscribe to “confessional statements,” “confessions of faith,”
or “common confessions of the one Holy Christian and Apostolic faith, as set forth in Holy
Scriptures, as taught in the Book of Concord, and as presented above,” as “the correct
interpretation of our Lord’s teaching” in addition to those listed in Article II of the LCMS
Constitution?

Opinion: Other confessional statements, confessions of faith, or common confessions may in fact be
correct interpretations of our Lord’s teaching, but as a condition for acquiring and holding membership in
the Synod, acceptance of and subscription to the confessional basis described in Article II of the
Constitution alone is required for membership in the Synod (Article VI 1).
Question 3:

What are the consequences with regard to membership in The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod for those who subscribe themselves to “the correct interpretation of our Lord’s
teaching” on any subject and ask others to join in a confession that is not listed in Article II
of the LCMS Constitution?

Opinion: In joining the Synod, members willingly obligate themselves to fulfill the membership
requirements of Article VI and agree to accept without reservation the confessional position of the Synod
as described in Article II. Accordingly, individual members or congregation members of the Synod may
not add to or remove items from Article II. As noted above, other confessional statements, confessions of
faith, or common confessions may in fact be correct interpretations of our Lord’s teaching and may be
used for a variety of purposes, but such other confessions may not be used as a condition for acquiring
and holding membership in the Synod.
The Commission also calls your attention to the following portion of CCM Opinion 03-2328:
The question is unclear as to whether the ‘confessional statement’ proposed to be adopted
by a member is consistent with a doctrinal position of the Synod or is a doctrinal position
that has not been addressed by the Synod as a whole. If the ‘confessional statement’
which is proposed were consistent with a doctrinal position of the Synod, there would be
no reason for its separate adoption by the individual member or congregation. If the
‘confessional statement’ appears to be contrary to a doctrinal position of the Synod, the
action of the member, whether individual or congregation, is governed by Bylaw 2.39 c.
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