LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 26 – 27, 2014, Page 8

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take place within and are the business of each district, so long as such administration “always serve[s] the
interests of the Synod” (Constitution Art. XII 12). But a district cannot call a pastor or other rostered
worker of the Synod to serve in a “foreign area” (defined as “located away from one’s native country” by
the American Collegiate Dictionary). The commission has already spoken on this subject in its Opinion
11-2607, where it stated in response to a related question regarding the calling and placement of
missionaries outside the district’s own borders: “The principles governing districts of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod are contained in Article XII of the Constitution as well as Bylaw 4.1. The
Synod itself has retained exclusive jurisdiction with respect to the placement of foreign missionaries
(Bylaws 4.4.3 [b]), 4.1.5, and 3.8.3)” (CCM November 11–13, 2011 Minutes).
C. Congregations and Foreign Missions
“Congregations, the basic units of the Synod, have joined together to form the Synod and relate to one
another through it” (Bylaw 1.3.1). “Committed to a common confession and mission,” congregations
“join with one another in the Synod to support one another and to work together in carrying out their
commonly adopted objectives” (Bylaw 1.1.1).
In its report to the 1981 Synod convention, Task Force II specifically identified the two basic reasons for
which the Synod was called into being, these two basic functions guiding the Synod in its restructuring at
that time:
1. In support of the congregations. The Synod was designed to help the congregations and their members to
preserve the purity of God’s Word and to assist the congregations in their mission and ministry right where they
are. Through the years the Synod has therefore provided many tools and helps in education, evangelism,
stewardship, and other phases of congregational life and ministry.
2. In behalf of the congregations. In this respect the Synod has reached out to other church bodies either to
establish or to maintain unity of confession and in that way to carry out the Scriptural directive to maintain the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The Synod has also served in behalf of the congregations by enabling
congregations to do together that which individual congregations could not do by themselves or could not do
very well, such as foreign mission work and the training of pastors and teachers at colleges and seminaries.

That identification of the two basic functions of the Synod is closely reflected in paragraphs (a) and (b) of
current Bylaw 1.1.1 (2013 Handbook, p. 23):
(a) The Synod functions in support of its member congregations by providing assistance as congregations
conduct their ministries locally, as well as their ministries at large.
(b) The Synod on behalf of its member congregations administers those ministries that can be accomplished
more effectively in association with other member congregations through the Synod. In this way member
congregations utilize the Synod to assist them in carrying out their functions of worship, witness, teaching and
nurture, service, and support.

Constitution Art. VII makes clear, however, that the Synod also respects its member congregations’ right
to self-govern (2013 Handbook, p. 16):
1.

2.

In its relations to its members, the Synod is not an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or
coercive powers, and with respect to the individual congregation’s right of self-government it is but an
advisory body. Accordingly, no resolution of the Synod imposing anything upon the individual
congregation is of binding force if it is not in accordance with the Word of God or if it appears to be
inexpedient as far as the condition of a congregation is concerned.
Membership of a congregation in the Synod gives the Synod no equity in the property of the congregation.

At the same time, member congregations by their adoption of other constitutional articles and by their
present-day subscription to such articles self-limit their right of self-government. By establishing the
CCM Minutes – September 26–27, 2014 – Page 38