LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 26 – 27, 2014, Page 9

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

requirements of membership in the Synod (Constitution Art. VI), they “obligate themselves to fulfill such
requirements and to diligently and earnestly promote the purposes of the Synod by word and deed.” They
also agree to uphold the Synod’s confessional position (Constitution Art. II), and to carry out the
objectives of the Synod (Constitution Art. III), “which are objectives of the members themselves” (Bylaw
1.3.4).
This self-limitation carries over to the Bylaws, which according to Constitution Art. XIV are “binding
regulations for the Synod and its conduct and governance” (2013 Handbook, p. 22), including Bylaw
1.3.4.1 (p. 27):
1.3.4.1 Thus, while congregations of the Synod are self-governing (Constitution Art. VII), they, and also
individual members, commit themselves as members of the Synod to act in accordance with the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod under which they have agreed to live and work together and which
the congregations alone have the authority to adopt or amend through conventions.

This self-limitation has been further extended by convention action to the resolutions of the Synod, as
articulated in Bylaw section 1.7 “Agreements” (2013 Handbook, p. 36):
1.7.1 The Constitution, Bylaws, and all other rules and regulations of the Synod apply to all congregational
and individual members of the Synod.
1.7.2 The Synod expects every member congregation of the Synod to respect its resolutions and to consider
them of binding force if they are in accordance with the Word of God and if they appear applicable as far
as the condition of the congregation is concerned. The Synod, being an advisory body, recognizes the
right of a congregation to be the judge of the applicability of the resolution to its local condition.
However, in exercising such judgment, a congregation must not act arbitrarily, but in accordance with the
principles of Christian love and charity.
1.7.3 The Synod expects congregations that have not been received into membership, but are served by the
Synod, and whose ministers of religion, ordained and commissioned, hold membership in the Synod, to
honor its rules and regulations.

Accordingly, congregations submit to requirements for membership (Bylaw section 2.1), agree to use the
Synod’s dispute resolution process to resolve most disputes (Bylaw section 1.10), honor the Synod’s
requirements and restrictions for calling ministers of religion (Bylaw section 2.5), accept their district
presidents’ ecclesiastical supervision (Bylaw 2.12.1), etc. Member congregations also submit to the
Synod’s expectations with regard to foreign mission work as delineated in Bylaw 3.8.3.
Such interest in the coordination of mission activity was demonstrated with the adoption of 2010 Res. 107A “To Encourage Inter-District Dialogue in the Establishment of New Church Starts, Satellite Worship
Sites, and Specialized Ministries across Geographic District Lines” (2010 Proceedings, p. 106). Here,
addressing a matter of national mission, the Synod addressed congregations and districts regarding local
mission efforts, noting that failure to coordinate mission efforts “can cause strained relations and impact
work that is being planned for that area by local congregations or the geographical district.” With the
adoption of the resolution by a 875 to 169 vote, the Synod
…Resolved, That congregations interested in expanding their Gospel outreach into an area that crosses
district lines be encouraged to discuss their intent first with their own district officials, followed by the
appropriate district officials and the local congregations impacted by such work; and be it further
Resolved, That any such expansion of Gospel outreach across district lines shall require the concurrence of
both the president of the receiving geographical district and the board or committee responsible for mission in
that district….

Similar issues surface if congregations take upon themselves the responsibility for calling and/or sending
mission workers and/or funding to foreign mission areas. Proper supervision (Bylaw 1.2.1 [i] and [t],
CCM Minutes – September 26–27, 2014 – Page 39