LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 3-4, 2011, Page 10

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Issue 3: Under the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod, what authority does an individual
or congregational member of the Synod have in regard to ecclesiastical supervision in the
LCMS?
Opinion: No individual or congregational member or organization of members of the Synod has any
authority to provide ecclesiastical supervision in the Synod. The Synod has “indentified those responsible
for ecclesiastical supervision of its members, including such matters as advice and counsel, as well as
suspension of membership and forfeiture of it for failure to continue to meet membership requirements”
(Bylaw 2.1.2).
Bylaw 1.2.1 (g) defines ecclesiastical supervision in the Synod:
(g) Ecclesiastical supervision: The responsibility, primarily of the President of the Synod and district
presidents, to supervise on behalf of the Synod the doctrine, life, and administration of its members,
officers, and agencies. Such supervision, subject to the provisions of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws,
and resolutions, includes visitation, evangelical encouragement and support, care, protection, counsel,
advice, admonition, and, when necessary, appropriate disciplinary measures to assure that the
Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod are followed and implemented. Thus, ecclesiastical
supervision is also the presenting, interpreting, and applying of the collective will of the Synod’s
congregations. Ecclesiastical supervision does not include the responsibility to observe, monitor,
control, or direct the day-to-day activities of individual members of the Synod, whether in the conduct
of their work or in their private lives (cf. Bylaw 2.14.1 [a]). Further, those constitutional articles and
bylaws pertaining to ecclesiastical supervision shall determine the full definition of ecclesiastical
supervision.

The permissibility under the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod of establishing organizations whose
purpose might usurp responsibilities which the Synod has reserved to itself has been previously raised on
numerous occasions. A similar question was raised and answered in Opinion 05-2443, “Activity of Small
Groups Within the Synod”:
On October 16, 1969, the Commission on Constitutional Matters issued a landmark opinion on the subject
of “Dissenting Groups and Activities Within the Synod.” A portion of that opinion speaks directly to the
question above:
The very nature and purpose of a synodical fellowship need to be restated once again. A synod is a
"walking together." The choice of the word "synod," derived from the Greek, is significant because it
emphasizes the idea of unity. For good reason our church body has chosen for itself the name: "The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod." We are congregations, pastors, and teachers who have decided to
join hands and to walk together.
The Preamble of the Constitution has the sub-heading: "Reason for the Forming of a Synodical
Union." Union was the major concern in effecting the organization of the Synod. The concepts of
fellowship, togetherness, brotherhood, and "walking together" express the basic purpose of the Synod's
existence.
The reasons given in the Preamble for forming the union are "1. The example of the apostolic church,
Acts:15:1–31," and "2. Our Lord's will that the diversities of gifts should be for the common profit, 1
Cor. 12:4–31." Once again the emphasis falls upon the idea of unity.
In Article III, Objects, the fundamental thrust of the Synod is not only clearly stated but is given
preeminence. The first purpose of the Synod is listed as: "The conservation and promotion of the unity
of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor. 1:10) and a united defense against schism and sectarianism (Rom.

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