LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 9–11, 2013, Page 8

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which reflect a more rigorous and considered position of the Synod. Doctrinal resolutions are to be used
“for the information, counsel, and guidance” of members of the Synod.
The same resolution recognized that there are times when the Synod needs to unequivocally establish a
doctrinal statement not simply for information, counsel, and guidance, but to be formally regarded as the
corporate position of the Synod. A much more rigorous process was established for the adoption of
doctrinal statements, which are to be “accepted and used as helpful expositions and explanations” (FC SD
Rule and Norm 10). Res. 3-07 was originally incorporated into the Bylaws as Bylaw 1.02 and is currently
reflected in Bylaw 1.6.2:
Doctrinal Resolutions and Statements
1.6.2

The Synod, in seeking to clarify its witness or to settle doctrinal controversy, so that all who seek to
participate in the relationships that exist within and through the Synod may benefit and may act to benefit
others, shall have the right to adopt doctrinal resolutions and statements which are in harmony with Scripture
and the Lutheran Confessions.
(a) Doctrinal resolutions may be adopted for the information, counsel, and guidance of the membership.
They shall conform to the confessional position of the Synod as set forth in Article II of its Constitution
and shall ordinarily cite the pertinent passages of the Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and any
previously adopted official doctrinal statements and resolutions of the Synod. Such resolutions come
into being in the same manner as any other resolutions of a convention of the Synod and are to be
honored and upheld until such time as the Synod amends or repeals them.
(b) Doctrinal statements set forth in greater detail the position of the Synod especially in controverted
matters. A proposed statement or a proposal for the development of such a statement shall be
(1) submitted by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations or submitted to the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations by a convention of the Synod (including that of a
district), a faculty of the Synod, or an official district conference of ordained and/or commissioned
ministers for evaluation, refinement, development, or recommendation, as the case may be;
(2) submitted by the commission, if it acts favorably, to the colleges, universities, seminaries,
congregations, and other members of the Synod for study and suggestions for no more than one
year (failure by the commission to submit a proposed doctrinal statement within a year may be
appealed to the Synod in convention through a proper overture);
(3) refined further by the commission on the basis of suggestions received;
(4) submitted by the commission to the Synod in convention for further consideration and possible
adoption by majority vote; amendments shall require a two-thirds affirmative vote of those present
and voting;
(5) resubmitted to the congregations for ratification in its final existing form;
(6) ratified and operative if a two-thirds majority of the member congregations which respond
within six months registers an affirmative vote on a ballot supplied by the Secretary of the Synod
for that purpose. Failure to ratify makes the statement inoperative, and this fact shall be reported by
the Secretary to the members of the Synod through an announcement in an official periodical;
(7) Such adopted and ratified doctrinal statements shall be regarded as the position of the Synod
and shall be “accepted and used as helpful expositions and explanations” (FC SD Rules and Norm
10). They shall be honored and upheld (“to abide by, act, and teach in accordance with” [1971 Res.
2-21]) until such time as the Synod amends or repeals them;
(8) An overture to amend such an adopted ratified doctrinal statement shall follow the same
procedure as listed in (1–6) above;
(9) An overture to repeal such an adopted and ratified doctrinal statement shall require a majority
vote of the Synod in convention in answer to an overture properly submitted and be subject to the
procedure of congregational approval set forth in paragraph (6) above;
(10) In the interim, those who submit overtures to amend or to repeal shall, while retaining their
right to dissent, continue to honor and uphold publicly the statement as the position of the Synod,
notwithstanding further study and action by the Synod in convention.

CCM Minutes – August 9-11, 2013 – Page 386