LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 2–4, 2012, Page 22

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5.1.2 Communicant members are those baptized members who have been instructed and are familiar
with the contents of Luther’s Small Catechism, have been confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and
accept the confessional standard of Section _______ of this Constitution.
5.1.3. Voting members are communicant members who have reached the age of ______ years.
5.2 The members of this congregation are received in the following manner:
5.2.1 Baptized members are received through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism or through the consent of
one or both parents in the case of children who have been baptized in another Christian
congregation.
5.2.2 Adult members are received through the rite of confirmation and Sacrament of Holy Baptism as
appropriate, through transfer from a sister congregation, or through profession of faith or
reaffirmation of faith.
5.2.3 Eligible communicant members may be received as voting members upon application for such
privilege upon approval of the voters assembly.
5.2.3 (Alternate) All communicant members who have reached the age of ________ are voting
members.
5.3 Members of this congregation shall conform their entire lives to the authority of God's Word and to
that end shall make diligent use of the means of grace, exercise faithful stewardship of God's many
gifts and talents, impart and accept fraternal admonition as the need of such admonition becomes
apparent, and be readily available for service in the kingdom of Christ within and beyond the
congregation. Membership in organizations whose principles and conduct conflict with the Word of
God is prohibited.
5.4 Membership in this congregation shall be terminated as follows:
5.4.1 Membership shall be terminated by transfer to a sister congregation, by joining a congregation
outside the fellowship of this congregation, by excommunication or self-exclusion, or by death.
5.4.2 Communicant members who conduct themselves in an un-Christian manner shall be
admonished according to Matthew 18:15.20 and the congregation’s stated and adopted
guidelines 19. If they remain impenitent after proper admonition, they shall be excommunicated.
Each case of excommunication or self-exclusion shall be presented to the voters assembly for a
decision. A two-thirds majority vote of the voters assembly shall be required.”
6.0 CALLED CHURCH WORKERS
Member congregations of the Synod are required to call and be served only by ordained ministers who are
members of the Synod, candidates for the pastoral ministry who have satisfied the qualifications and
requirements for assignment of first calls by Synod, or ordained ministers who are members in good standing of
church bodies that have been formally recognized to be in altar and pulpit fellowship with the Synod when
agreements for such calls are in place (Bylaw 2.5.2) 20. They may also only call commissioned workers who are
members of the Synod, candidates of LCMS colleges and universities who have satisfied the qualifications and
requirements for assignment of first calls by the Council of Presidents, commissioned ministers who are
members in good standing of church bodies that have been formally recognized to be in altar and pulpit
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The matter of termination of membership is of great importance since it involves the larger subject of church discipline. It is
therefore advisable that congregations prepare and adopt separate guidelines to address this topic, especially keeping in mind the
following:
1. Be consistent in applying discipline.
2. Carefully follow disciplinary guidelines.
3. Do not allow unsubstantiated charges to be circulated by the church.
4. Base decisions on clearly stated biblical grounds.
5. Guidelines should state the desired outcome of church discipline, to call a fellow Christian to repentance.
20
“Congregations that are members of the Synod shall call and be served only by (1) ordained ministers who have been admitted
to their respective ministries in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth in these Bylaws and have thereby become
members of the Synod; (2) candidates for the pastoral ministry who have satisfied the qualifications and requirements for
assignment of first calls by the Council of Presidents acting as the Board of Assignments; or (3) ordained ministers who are
members in good standing of church bodies that have been formally recognized to be in altar and pulpit fellowship with the
Synod when agreements for such calls are in place.” (Bylaw 2.5.2)

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