LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 18–19, 2016, Page 7

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

(3) The extent of current involvement on a part-time and assisting basis in his/her
respective ministry; and
(4) A demonstrated willingness to consider a call or appointment to any of the offices of
ministry specified in Bylaw section 2.11.

The purpose behind the creation of non-candidate status was to “establish appropriate designations for
those who for some reasons are not desirous of a call, or are in some way unable to fulfill a call” (Synod
Board of Directors minutes June 1–3, 2000 re: agenda item 190 – Adoption of Bylaw Change re Roster
Status). The “Whereas” portions of the resolution creating non-candidate status indicated that candidate
status should be “. . . reserved for those qualified individuals who are desirous of receiving a call and are
ready to reenter the active roster. . .” (1998 Res. 7-16A).
Though an inactive member with non-candidate status and in good standing had been “eligible to receive
a call” (CCM Op. 09-2546), the service of such members in ministry situations was subject to the
requirement that
Non-candidate members are eligible to serve in ministry situations upon approval of their
district presidents and according to guidelines established by the Council of Presidents.
(ibid., cited in 2016 Res. 12-03, referring to Synod Bylaw 2.11.2.3 [c])
Several overtures were combined and subsumed within Res. 12-03 (Ov. 12-07, originating from Circuits
16 and 17 of the Southeastern District; Ov. 12-08, from Our Savior Lutheran Church, Carmi, IL [2016
Convention Workbook, p. 418]; and Ov. 12-10 and 12-43, from Emmaus Lutheran Church, South Bend,
IN [idem, p. 418 and 436].) as presented for consideration by the Synod in Convention. None of these
overtures gave any suggestion that the criteria for candidate status should be deleted or changed, nor did
they give any suggestion that non-candidate status should be eliminated. Rather, the focus of the overtures
dealt with allowing the extension of time for remaining in candidate status. Overture 12-07 specifically
asserted a level of unfairness in the amount of time then allowed to remain in candidate status:
WHEREAS, Eligibility for candidate status for many inactive pastors who have patiently
waited, hoped, and prayed for a call back into active ministry and who otherwise meet the
criteria enumerated in Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (c) expires through no fault of their own; and
WHEREAS, Expiration of eligibility for candidate status for no other reason than the
passage of time spent faithfully waiting, hoping, and praying is very demoralizing and
discouraging for the pastor and his family (his wife in particular); and
WHEREAS, Reclassification to non-candidate status unnecessarily compounds the very
real and unjustifiable stigma already suffered by the pastor and his family associated with
candidate status, incorrectly implying to prospective call committees that the pastor fails
to meet the criteria for continued candidate status (Bylaw 2.11.2.2 [c]); and
WHEREAS, Non-candidate status should be reserved only for those pastors who, given the
option of continuing candidate status, instead choose non-candidate status or who fail to
meet the criteria for continuing candidate status (Bylaw 2.11.2.2 [c]), and not for those
pastors who have patiently waited, hoped, and prayed for a call back into active ministry
and who otherwise meet the criteria for continuing candidate status (Bylaw 2.11.2.2
[c])… (Overture 12-07, 2016 Convention Workbook, p. 418).
It is apparent that the overtures giving rise to Resolution 12-03 asserted no requirement that the criteria
contained in 2.11.2.2 (c) should be altered or removed. In fact, clear statements within the overtures
acknowledged and made reference to the criteria such that there were individuals within the noncandidate status who, given the option for candidate status, might not meet the criteria.
With the removal of non-candidate status for inactive members, the effect of Res. 12-03 is to place each
of these individuals immediately into candidate status. Both individuals in candidate status at the time
Res. 12-03 was passed and non-candidate individuals brought into candidate status at the passage of
CCM Minutes – November 18–19, 2016 – Page 13