LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 9–11, 2013, Page 7

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confusion with regard to the doctrine of church and ministry and issued (in 1851) his Theses on Church
and Ministry. These theses were read to the 5th convention of the Synod meeting that year, over eight
sessions. After discussion, they were declared to be the positions of the Synod.
The issue of the proper consideration of various doctrinal formulations of the Synod has been an ongoing
question. In 1971 Res. 5-24 “To Define Status of Synodically Adopted Doctrinal Statements,” the
preamble described the dilemma:
The Synod faces a serious dilemma. On the one hand it is firmly committed to the proposition that it has no
desire to alter the second article of its Constitution, which measures pure doctrine by nothing more or less than
the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and the Lutheran Confessions. On the other hand the Lutheran
Confessions are not an all-inclusive compendium of Biblical doctrine. They speak primarily to the articles of
faith in controversy in the days of the Reformation. There are significant articles of faith which are not
specifically treated in the Confessions. Scriptures are, of course, “the only rule and norm of faith and practice.”
A problem arises, however, when persons differ over the teaching of Scripture in areas where the Confessions
are silent on the controverted point. How then can the Synod ever speak authoritatively to these modern
theological issues? How then can the Synod ever effectively cope with new errors not dealt with in the Lutheran
Confessions of the 16th century? Short of formulating new confessions, can The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod take a definite stand on such doctrinal issues? Is our church in effect reduced to the position of declaring
such topics to be open questions on which each person may interpret Scripture as he independently understands
it and so teach and preach? Synodical conventions from San Francisco in 1959 through Denver in 1969 have
sought in vain the solution to this dilemma. We pray the Holy Spirit that the resolution herewith submitted will
represent at least a step toward the solution.

The resolution’s third resolve paragraph reads, “That the Synod distinguish between resolutions
concerning doctrine formulated and adopted at a convention and more formal statements of belief which
are produced by officially authorized groups, and which are then presented to the congregations and
clergy of the synod for study and discussion, and which are subsequently adopted by a synodical
convention.”
1973 Res. 2-12 provides a history and the reasons for the Synod to consider and adopt formulations on
doctrinal matters. The preamble to that resolution traces the need of the Synod to explain its
understanding of the Augsburg Confession as the need arose:
At Augsburg in the year 1530 A. D. the first generation of Lutherans promised, “If anyone should consider that
[our Confession] is lacking in some respect, we are ready to present further information on the basis of the Holy
Scripture.” (Tappert, Book of Concord, p. 96:7)

The preamble continued:
Anticipating the possibility that future circumstances might necessitate even other “doctrinal statements,” the
authors of the Formula of Concord insisted “we do not intend, either in this or subsequent doctrinal statements,
to depart from the aforementioned [Augsburg] Confession or set up a different and new confession.” (502:5)

The preamble makes specific reference to Church and Ministry, describing it as a way for the Synod to
“state its position on a controversial issue on the basis of the Scriptures and the Symbols, and a way for
the Synod to express its acceptance of and adherence to the scriptural and confessional doctrine.”
Following a continued period of vigorous debate within the Synod regarding doctrinal issues and how
members of the Synod relate to one another regarding doctrinal matters, and the role of various doctrinal
formulations, 1977 Res. 3-07 established definitions for the Synod’s future use of the terms “doctrinal
resolution” and “doctrinal statement,” and for the first time established a formal procedure to distinguish
between doctrinal resolutions, which can be adopted by a simple majority, and doctrinal statements,
CCM Minutes – August 9-11, 2013 – Page 385