LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 11–13, 2011, Page 21

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

To the extent that love controls their conduct, Christians seek fellow believers in Jesus Christ in order to
build them up and to be built up by them (Rom. 1:11–12). Love rejoices with those who rejoice, it weeps those
who weep (Rom. 12:15; 1 Cor. 12–13). It works to strengthen weak, encourage the strong, and admonish the
erring (Gal.6: 1–2). Above all, it seeks to help fellow believers remain faithful to Christ and to His Word. This
love may in certain situations lead members of the church to separate themselves from fellow Christians and
even to exercise church discipline although it be with many tears (1 Cor. 5:5; 2 Cor. 2:4).

And finally, for an application of Synod’s fellowship with one another, Resolution 2-21 of the 1971
convention (1971 Proceedings, pp. 118–119) states in its Preamble:
The provision that allows a member to reject a doctrinal resolution of the Synod is that such a resolution is “not in accordance with the Word of God” (Article VII of the Constitution). The Synod, therefore,
holds that every member, by virtue of his agreement when he voluntarily joined the Synod and freely
placed himself under the provisions of the Synod's Constitution and Bylaws, is bound by the Word of God
expressed in the Synod's resolutions until it can be demonstrated that a resolution is in fact “not in
accordance with the Word of God.” Otherwise the Synod holds that its resolutions are to be considered “of
binding force if they are in accordance with the Word of God” (Bylaw 1.09 b), and the Synod permits no
member to teach or practice in violation of a resolution simply on the grounds that he does not agree with
it or that it is in conflict with his private persuasion.
The object of the Synod, as stated in Article III, 1, of the Constitution, is (1) to conserve and promote a
unity in which all are “united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Cor.1:10), and (2) to avoid schism
caused by contrary doctrine (Rom.16:17). This purpose of the Synod is defeated when individuals are permitted
to teach in accordance with their private views, for then there can be no such thing as a synodical position, and a
meaningful corporate confessional commitment is impossible. Formal commitment of the Synod to a
confessional base is pointless unless the Synod has the right as a synod to apply its confessional base definitively to current issues and thus conserve and promote unity and resist an individualism which breeds schism…
If a member cannot for conscience' sake accept a doctrinal resolution of the Synod, he has the obligation
and opportunity through mutually approved procedure to challenge such a resolution with a view to effecting
the changes he deems necessary. Failing in that, he is completely free by reason of his wholly voluntary
association with the Synod to obey his conscience and disassociate himself from the Synod. Meanwhile every
member of the Synod is held to abide by, act, and teach in accordance with the Synod's resolutions” [Emphases
added].

Question 2: Along with it: Has this always been the self-understanding of the LCMS?
Opinion: Yes. See answer to question 1.
It has always been the self-understanding of the LCMS that the members of the Synod (walking together)
are in fellowship (koinonia and its cognates) with one another. The members of the Synod were and are
“having part in a common thing.” The nature and concept of “fellowship” has also been described as
association, one together, oneness, unity, agreement, participation, partaking, partnership, etc.
The members of the Synod joined with one another together to form a “walking together” union. As
believers unite in a congregation, like-minded congregations band together to form a church body, a
“Synod” united in the bond of love.
An October 16, 1969 opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters states in part:
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

215