LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 17, 2005, Page 2

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supervision of his or her conduct? Is the congregation—and their Voters Assembly in
specific—responsible for the supervision of his or her conduct? Is this a shared
responsibility between the pastor and congregation as members of Synod?
Question 6:

If a local pastor refuses to remove an uncertified church worker who persists in "offensive
conduct," is the District responsible for assuring the removal of the uncertified church
worker? If the pastor refuses to "deal with him in accordance with the Word of God," is the
pastor open to expulsion for the Synod or does he forfeit his membership in Synod?

Question 7:

If the local congregation refuses to remove an uncertified church worker—including its
uncertified pastor—who persists in "offensive conduct," is the District responsible for
assuring the removal of the uncertified church worker? If the congregation refuses to "deal
with him in accordance with the Word of God," does the congregation forfeit its
membership in the LCMS in accordance with Article XIII?

Question 8:

If the congregation has "called" an uncertified church worker—including its pastor—does
this change the situation? If the local congregation refuses to remove its "called" uncertified
church worker—including its "called" uncertified pastor—who persists in "offensive
conduct," is the District responsible for assuring the removal of the "called" uncertified
church worker? If the congregation refuses to "deal with him in accordance with the Word
of God," does the congregation forfeit its membership in the LCMS in accordance with
Article XIII?

Question 9:

Most congregations have a clause in their Constitution and Bylaws which allow for the
removal of an ordained or commissioned church worker for one of the following reasons:
persistent adherence to false doctrine, scandalous life, willful neglect, or inability to
perform the duties of the office. If it is not specifically stated, does the same process and
reasons for "removal from office" follow for church workers who are not certified by the
LCMS?

Question 10: If a congregation has an uncertified church worker in its employ who persists in adherence
to false doctrine, lives a scandalous life, willfully neglects his or her work, or is unable to
perform the duties of his or her office, is the local pastor responsible for supervision of this
worker in doctrine and practice? Is the congregation—and its Voters Assembly in
specific—responsible for supervision of this worker in doctrine and practice? Is this a
shared responsibility between the pastor and congregation as members of Synod?
Question 11: If the uncertified church worker is a pastor who persists in adherence to false doctrine, lives
a scandalous life, willfully neglects his work, or is unable to perform the duties of his
office, is the local congregation—and its Voters Assembly in specific—responsible for his
supervision in doctrine and practice?
Question 12: If a local pastor refuses to remove an uncertified church worker who persists in adherence
to false doctrine, lives a scandalous life, willfully neglects his or her work, or is unable to
perform the duties of his or her office, is the District responsible for assuring the removal
of the uncertified church worker? If the pastor refuses to "deal with him in accordance with
the Word of God," is the pastor open to expulsion from the Synod himself or does he forfeit
his membership in Synod?
Question 13: If a local congregation refuses to remove an uncertified church worker—including its
pastor—who persists in adherence to false doctrine, lives a scandalous life, willfully
neglects his or her work, or is unable to perform the duties of his or her office, is the
District responsible for assuring the removal of the uncertified church worker? If the
congregation—and its Voters Assembly in specific—refuses to "deal with him in

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