LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 2–4, 2012, Page 20

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and the world the good news of salvation and to nurture the faith of those who already believe, by teaching
them to observe all that He has commanded.
III. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTITUTIONS
The following are subjects that ordinarily should be addressed in a congregation's constitution. Instructive
comments are provided together with sample paragraphs. For ease of reference, a numeral and decimal
numbering system is also recommended.
1.0 NAME
Legal counsel should be consulted to make certain that this paragraph follows the requirements for
ecclesiastical corporations established by the state in which the congregation is located. In addition, 1995 Synod
convention Res. 3-13A resolved that “all congregations and mission stations in our Synod boldly profess in
their official title and/or name that they are ‘Lutheran.’” 12
Example:
“The name of this congregation shall be [Name] Lutheran Church of [City,] [County,] [State].”
2.0 MISSION
In the constitution of a Christian congregation it is desirable to state the mission or purpose for which it exists.
Such a paragraph should contain the fundamental purposes included in the following example.
Example:

“The purpose of this congregation shall be to give honor and glory to the Triune God, to
carry out His will, to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world, to nurture the faith of its
members, to manifest the unity of our faith in Jesus Christ as God and Savior, to foster Christian fellowship
and love, to extend a helping hand to human need, and to achieve its objectives by the preaching of the
Word of God, by the administration of the sacraments, and by the religious instruction of all its members
according to the confessional standard of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.”
3.0 CONFESSIONAL STANDARD
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod requires that its member congregations accept the confessional standard
of the Synod. It is recommended that Article II of the Synod’s Constitution be adapted for inclusion in
congregations’ constitutions. A congregation's confessional standard cannot go beyond that of the Synod. 13
Example:
12

“WHEREAS, We have been called Lutheran since the formation of our Synod (and since reformation times) and are thankful
for our doctrinal background and heritage; and
WHEREAS, The name Lutheran clearly identifies what the member congregations and The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod believe, teach and confess; and
WHEREAS, Basic Christian honesty and integrity require that no deception of any sort be used in declaring the truth of the
Gospel before all the world, as St. Paul declares: ‘Rather we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use
deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to
every man’s conscience in the sight of God’ (2 Cor. 4:2); therefore be it
Resolved, That all congregations and mission stations in our Synod boldly profess in their official title and/or name that they
are ‘Lutheran’; and be it further
Resolved, That all congregations and mission stations of our Synod state in their materials (bulletins, newsletters, etc.) that
they belong to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and be it finally
Resolved, That all LCMS congregations gladly proclaim our great doctrinal heritage to a world that needs the clear
proclamation of the truth.” (1995 Res. 3-13A, “To Use the Name Lutheran”)
13
Historically, The Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope is not listed in Article II of Synod’s constitution, but it is
included in the Book of Concord of 1580, and is therefore one of the confessional writings of the Synod. Because it is not listed
separately in Synod's constitution, it does not have to been listed separately by a congregation, but a congregation may chose to
do so.

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