LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 15-16, 2003, Page 3

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If the ‘confessional statement’ is intended to address an issue that has not yet been
addressed by the adoption of a doctrinal resolution or a statement on part of the Synod,
the processes provided in the Constitution and Bylaws and particularly Bylaw 1.09
govern the action.
Question 4:

If members of the Synod subscribe to a confession other than or in addition to those listed
in Article II, are they making a “mixed confession” or serving a congregation of “mixed
confession” in violation of Article VI 2 a of the Constitution?

Opinion: If the allegation of a “mixed confession” is substantiated according to the procedures established
by the Synod in Bylaw 2.27, then that is the basis for the judgment on whether a member is in violation of
Article VI 2. It is not the responsibility of the Commission to make that judgment or interpret the content
of a given “mixed confession” or “a confession other than or in addition to those listed in Article II.” It is
recommended that the Commission on Theology and Church Relations be consulted concerning a
definition of a “mixed confession.”
Question 5:

If members of the Synod subscribe to a confession other than or in addition to those listed
in Article II, are they “act[ing] contrary to the confession laid down in Article II and to the
conditions of membership laid down in Article VI” and in violation of Article XIII 1 of the
Constitution of the Synod?

Opinion: As noted above, other confessional statements, confessions of faith, or common confessions
may in fact be correct interpretations of our Lord’s teaching, but they may not be regarded as a condition
for acquiring and holding membership in the Synod. To do so would be contrary to the confession laid
down in Article II and to the conditions of membership laid down in Article VI and in violation of Article
XIII 1 of the Constitution of the Synod.
Question 6:

If members of the Synod subscribed to a confession other than or in addition to those listed
in Article II, may they be seated as voting delegates in a District convention or in a
synodical convention?

Opinion: Members of the Synod may be seated as or represented by voting delegates in a District or
Synod convention except when an individual member of the Synod has been placed on suspended status.
In such case the member shall “1. be relieved of duties as a member of the Synod (e.g., as a delegate to a
District or synodical convention, as a member of any District or synodical board or commission)” (Bylaw
2.25 c 1).
Question 7:

If a member of the Synod subscribes to a confession other than or in addition to those listed
in Article II, may he/she be nominated for or elected to an office in the LCMS at the
Circuit, District, or synodical level?

Opinion: An individual member of the Synod may be nominated for or elected to an office of the Synod
at the Circuit, District, or synodical level so long as eligibility requirements have been satisfied. However,
if the member has been placed on restricted status and the elected office includes a new position of
service (Bylaw 2.23) or if the member has been placed on suspended status (Bylaw 2.25), he/she is
ineligible to accept a call to any other position of service in the Synod (Cf. Bylaw 2.15 d) and may not
serve in the office or perform the functions and duties of the office until the restricted status or suspended
status has been resolved in the member’s favor.
Question 8:

Have members of the Synod who have signed “That They May Be One” subscribed to a
confession in addition to those listed in Article II of the Constitution of the Synod?
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