LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 2–4, 2012, Page 23

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

fellowship with the Synod when agreements for such calls are in place 21 (Bylaw 2.5.3) 22. This article
establishes how the congregation extends such calls and should indicate who is eligible to be called, the manner
of removal from office, and how vacancies in called positions are to be handled (Bylaw 2.5.1) 23. The example
below reflects the way this is done in most congregations.
Example:
“The voters assembly of this congregation shall have the exclusive right to call ordained ministers. The
right to call commissioned ministers also belongs to the congregation and ordinarily shall not be delegated
to a smaller body and never to an individual.
6.1 The pastoral office shall be conferred only upon ordained ministers who are members of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri 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.
6.2 Only those commissioned ministers shall receive a call who adhere to the confessional standard set
forth in this constitution, who are qualified for the work of the ministry to which they are called, and
who have been endorsed by and are members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, who are
candidates of LCMS colleges and universities who have satisfied the qualifications and requirements
for assignment of first calls, and who are commissioned ministers in good standing from church bodies
that are in altar and pulpit fellowship with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
6.3 The right of calling ordained or commissioned ministers shall be vested in the voters assembly and
shall not be delegated otherwise.
6.4 Called ordained or commissioned ministers may be removed from office in Christian and lawful order
by a two-thirds majority ballot vote of the voters assembly for one of the following reasons: persistent
adherence to false doctrine, scandalous life, willful neglect of the duties of office, the inability to
perform those duties, or domineering in office.
6.5 When a vacancy occurs in an office of an ordained or commissioned minister, the congregation shall
notify the president of the district to receive assistance in temporarily filling the vacancy and to receive
his counsel in calling a new pastor, teacher, or other church worker (Bylaw 2.5.1).”
7.0 AUTHORITY OF AND WITHIN THE CONGREGATION
At times there is lack of clarity in a congregation regarding the extent of the authority within the congregation
to make certain decisions. It is therefore wise to include an article that will obviate this difficulty. The following
is one possible model.
Example:
“The voters assembly shall be the governing body of this congregation and shall be empowered to
administer and manage all its affairs.
7.1 The establishment and conduct of all organizations and societies within the congregation or related
directly to the congregation shall be subject to the overall authority and general oversight of the voters
assembly.
21

Ordained and commissioned ministers include pastors and all other church workers rostered by The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod. Commissioned ministers include teachers, directors of Christian education, directors of Christian outreach,
directors of family life ministry, directors of parish music, deaconesses, parish assistants, and certified lay ministers.
22
“Congregations that are members of the Synod shall call only (1) commissioned ministers who have been admitted to their
ministries in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth in these Bylaws and have thereby become members of the Synod;
(2) candidates of LCMS colleges and universities who have satisfied the qualifications and requirements for assignment of first
calls by the Council of Presidents acting as the Board of Assignments; and (3) commissioned ministers (or those holding
positions comparable to commissioned 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 2.5.3)
23
“Congregations shall seek the counsel of their respective district presidents when calling ordained or commissioned
ministers” (Bylaw 2.5.1).

330