LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — January 31−February 1, 2006, Page 10

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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On page 11, the explanatory material in the third column on the page for paragraphs f and g does
not line up with the proposed wording in the second column. The wording adjacent to paragraph f
pertains to paragraph g.

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The final third-column comment on page 13 regarding the ratification of advisory delegates for
national conventions by the district convention and the proposed bylaw wording in the top
paragraph of the center column requiring that the district “must approve the delegates” elected as
advisory delegates to national conventions adds a requirement to the advisory delegate election
process for national conventions that exceeds and therefore contradicts the requirements of the
Synod’s Bylaws. The process for electing advisory delegates to national conventions pertains
solely to national and not district conventions.

125. Congregational Hosting of Auxiliary’s Worship Service with Holy Communion (05-2454)
In a letter addressed to the Commission dated December 13, 2005, an ordained minister of the Synod
serving on the 2006 International Lutheran Laymen’s League (ILLL) convention committee asked a
series of questions regarding how a former Commission on Constitutional Matters opinion concerning a
circuit conference communion service (Ag. 1323, December, 1978) pertains to the authority of an
auxiliary such as the ILLL.
Question 1:

Does the board of governors have the authority to demand that communion be part of the
international convention?

Opinion: Commission on Constitutional Matters Opinion Ag. 1323, issued December 8, 1978, addressed
a similar issue. Thus, just as a circuit conference of the Synod can make no demand that a congregation
celebrate Holy Communion for the conference and prescribe to the congregation who could or could not
be admitted to that celebration (Ag. 1323), an auxiliary of the Synod (including its governing board)
cannot make such a demand. Article VII of the Constitution of the Synod spells out the relation of the
Synod to its members:
In its relation to its members the Synod is not an ecclesiastical government exercising
legislative or coercive powers, and with respect to the individual congregation’s right of
self-government it is but an advisory body. Accordingly, no resolution of the Synod
imposing anything upon the individual congregation is of binding force if it is not in
accordance with the Word of God or if it appears to be inexpedient as far as the condition
of a congregation is concerned.
Question 2:

Let’s say that a couple of years before an ILLL convention a congregation aggress to host a
communion worship service at a convention. The pastor is called elsewhere. A new pastor
is called. The new pastor expresses reservations about the appropriateness of hosting such a
communion worship service. Does the congregation have the freedom to remove
communion from the service?

Opinion: Yes. See the answer to question #1 above. Should the ILLL no longer wish to have the
congregation serve as host, it may respond accordingly.
Question 3:

Is the ILLL telling the host congregation who can and who cannot be admitted to
Communion?

Opinion: The Commission does not interpret what the ILLL might be communicating to a congregation.
If the question is, “Can the ILLL tell the host congregation who can and who cannot be admitted to
Communion?” the answer is “no.” See the answer to question #1 above.
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