LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 18−19, 2015, Page 3

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Synod’s Constitution, to admonish all who in any way depart from it, and, if such admonition is not
heeded, to report such cases to the Synod. The President has and always shall have the power to advise,
admonish, and reprove. …” (Const. Art. XI B 2–3; see also Bylaw 3.3.1.2 [b]–[c]).
In response, therefore, to the question asked, the President of the Synod exercises his authority to
supervise doctrine and practice in the districts of the Synod as the Constitution (Art. XII 8) and Bylaws
(2.14, etc.) specify, namely, through his supervision of district presidents. “In the districts of the Synod,
[the President of the Synod] shall carry out his ecclesiastical duties through the district’s president”
(Bylaw 3.3.1.1.1[b], emphasis added).
Question 2: May the President of the Synod, following the parameters of Bylaw 2.13.2 (Restricted Status
and Limitations), along with Bylaw 2.13.3 (Removal of Restricted Status and Limitations)
and Bylaw 2.13.4 (Suspended Status and Limitation), discipline a member of Synod?
Opinion: Only the district president having ecclesiastical supervision of an individual member (not the
President of the Synod) may impose restricted status (Bylaw 2.13.2). Suspended status is imposed only in
connection with the expulsion procedures delineated in Bylaw sections 2.14–2.17 (Bylaw 2.13.4;
Constitution Art. XIII 2). Bylaws 2.13.2–2.13.4 grant the President of the Synod no authority to impose
suspended status apart from the authority granted him under Bylaws 2.15.1 and 2.17.1 to suspend those
under his direct ecclesiastical supervision (district presidents and officers of the Synod).
Question 3: May the President of the Synod, following Bylaw 2.14 (Expulsion of Congregations or
Individuals from Membership in the Synod), seek to terminate the membership of a member
of the Synod in accord with Article XIII (Expulsion from the Synod)?
Opinion: There is no provision in the Bylaws of the Synod for the President of the Synod to assume the
responsibility of the district president of the accused to commence the Bylaw section 2.14 process. “The
action to commence expulsion of a congregation or individual from membership of the Synod is the sole
responsibility of the district president who has the responsibility for ecclesiastical supervision of such
member” (Bylaw 2.14.1[b]).
130. Trail Life USA Statement of Faith and Values (15-2774)
With the decisions of the Boy Scouts of America to permit homosexual leaders, some congregations are
exploring alternative organizations for youth, including Trail Life USA for boys and American Heritage
Girls. The Commission on Constitutional Matters received questions from a parish pastor regarding the
Trail Life USA Statement of Faith and Values and whether chartering a Trail Life USA troop, agreeing
to, and signing their Statement of Faith and Values would constitute a conflict with Article II and Article
VI of the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The pastor requested a theological
review of Trail Life USA’s Statement of Faith and Values by the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations.
It is beyond the purview of the Commission on Constitutional Matters to review the theological content of
the Trail Life USA Statement of Faith and Values. Since this falls within the assigned responsibility of
the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, and since that commission currently is reviewing the
Trail Life organization and Statement of Faith and Values, it would be premature for the Commission on
Constitutional Matters to render any opinion at this time.
131. Review of English District Bylaw Changes (15-2775)
With a May 2015 communication, the chairman of the English District Board of Directors notified the
Secretary of the Synod that the 2015 English District convention would be considering an amendment to
the district bylaws concerning term limits for district officers. The amendment was subsequently
CCM Minutes – September 18–19, 2015 – Page 101