LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 21−22, 2007, Page 7

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When a congregation becomes a member of the Synod and thereby subscribes to the Synod’s
Constitution, it also subscribes to the confessional basis of the Synod as articulated in the Synod’s
Constitution, Article II (see Constitution Art. V, “who confess and accept the confessional basis
of Article II,” and Article VI [1], “Acceptance of the confessional basis of Article II”). In Bylaw
1.6.1, the same is referred to as the “confessional position of the Synod [as] set forth in Article II
of the Constitution, to which all who wish to be and remain members of the Synod shall
subscribe.” In Bylaw 1.3.4, the same is again referred to as the “confessional position of the
Synod.” The intent of Opinion 06-2477 was to reiterate from prior commission opinions the
important point that this confessional “basis” or “position” may not be added to or subtracted
from by a member congregation. Subscription to Article II of the Synod’s Constitution is a
condition of membership in the Synod.
If, therefore, a congregation wishes to restate this “confessional basis” in its own Constitution, it
should do so (as the Commission’s guidelines suggest) by staying as close as possible to the
language of the Synod’s “Article II Confession,” so that its confessional basis is demonstrated to
be the same as that of the Synod. There is, however, no essential need for the congregation to
reiterate this confessional basis, since this is already established by its membership in the Synod.
Congregations may and often wish to, however, include in their official documents a confessional
statement of their own, perhaps using words like “inspired” and “inerrant” to emphasize
important aspects of their confession. This is appropriate so long as such statements, as well as all
of the content of their Constitutions and Bylaws “are in harmony with the Holy Scriptures, the
Confessions, and the teachings and practices of the Synod” (Bylaws 2.2.1 [b]; 2.4.1 [b]). Care
should therefore be taken in congregational documents that terminology used properly
differentiates between a confessional “basis” paragraph which may be included and which
mirrors the Synod’s Article II and confessional “statement” paragraphs that may be included to
emphasize certain aspects of the confession of the congregation but must be in harmony with the
Holy Scriptures, the Confessions, and the teachings and practices of the Synod.
It is the responsibility of district constitution committees to review constitutions and bylaws when
a congregation initially applies for membership (Bylaw 2.2.1) and when a congregation revises its
official documents (Bylaw 2.2.1). The committees should pay careful attention to terminology
that is used, to differentiate between “confessional basis” paragraphs and “confessional
statement” paragraphs, and to advise congregations accordingly as part of their review process.
For its part, the Commission recognizes the need to revise its Guidelines for Constitutions and
Bylaws of a Lutheran Congregation as follows:
3.0 CONFESSIONAL BASIS OR STATEMENT
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod requires that its member congregations accept the
confessional basis of the Synod. Congregations do so when they become members of the
Synod, which includes subscription to the Synod’s Constitution (Constitution Art. V and VI
[1]; Bylaws 1.3.4 and 1.6.1). If a congregation chooses to reflect this confessional basis in its
own constitution, it is recommended that Article II of the Synod’s Constitution be adopted for
inclusion in congregations’ constitutions. A congregation’s confessional basis must not go
beyond that of the Synod.
Example:
This congregation accepts without reservation:
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