LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 4–5, 2015, Page 7

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Secretary Raymond Hartwig reviewed the following overture for submission to the 2016 convention in
response to 2013 Res. 7-18. After discussion, a motion was introduced and carried to submit the overture
as follows.
To Provide Assistance to Lay Reconcilers Serving on
Dispute Resolution, Hearing, and Final Hearing Panels
Rationale
2013 Res. 7-18 “To Study Doctrinal Training for Reconcilers” responded to a request in Part 2 of the
Synod President’s Report “to consider doctrinal training for reconcilers” to assist them when they are
asked to serve on panels that are called upon to decide matters of doctrine or doctrinal application. The
resolution’s single resolve paragraph referred this request to the Council of Presidents, the Commission
on Constitutional Matters, and the Secretary of the Synod “for appropriate study and recommendations,
giving particular attention to Bylaw 2.14.7, especially 2.14.7.8 (k).”
After discussions during the current triennium that included the Council of Presidents and
Commission on Constitutional Matters, as well as the Commission on Handbook and the reconcilers
themselves during late-2014 regional training meetings, it was generally agreed that providing such
comprehensive doctrinal training for lay reconcilers as would be necessary to cover all potential doctrinal
issues would not be a reasonable solution.
The bylaws governing dispute resolution and suspension/expulsion processes already contain
resource assistance to the parties to a dispute to help them understand and apply the Synod’s confessional
Lutheran doctrines and practices (Bylaws 1.10.18.1 [h]; 2.14.7.8 [l]). The same resource opportunity is
available to a Dispute Resolution, Hearing, or Final Hearing Panel as a whole (Bylaws 1.10.18.1 [h];
2.14.7.8 [l]). In the interest of providing lay reconciler panel members with a resource for personal
assistance (i.e., to talk through a doctrinal matter with a knowledgeable person), the addition of a
subparagraph (3) to Bylaw 1.10.18.1 [h] and a subparagraph (5) to paragraph (l) of Bylaw 2.14.7.8, as
follows, will provide such opportunity.
Proposed Action
Therefore be it
Resolved, That the following bylaw changes be adopted by the 2016 convention of the Synod to offer
ready access to resources that may assist lay panel members in understanding confessional Lutheran
doctrines and doctrinal applications.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.10.18.1

...(h) If any part of the dispute involves a specific question of doctrine or doctrinal
application,...
(3) Any individual on the panel may also request resource materials and personal
assistance from the executive director of the CTCR or from a theologian recommended
by the executive director, this to provide opportunity to read about, discuss with a
knowledgeable person, and better comprehend doctrinal matters associated with the
dispute. The dispute resolution case itself shall not be discussed.

2.14.7.8

...(l) If any part of the dispute involves a specific question of doctrine or doctrinal
application,...
(5) The lay reconciler member of the panel may also request resource materials and
personal assistance from the executive director of the CTCR or from a theologian
CCM Minutes – December 4–5, 2015 – Page 110