LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 2, 2022, Page 2

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Conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor. 1:10), work through its official structure
toward fellowship with other Christian church bodies, and provide a united defense against schism,
sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy;
Strengthen congregations and their members in giving bold witness by word and deed to the love and work
of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and extend that Gospel witness into all the world;
Provide evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pastors, teachers, and other professional church
workers of the Synod in the performance of their official duties;
Provide protection for congregations, pastors, teachers, and other church workers in the performance of their
official duties and the maintenance of their rights;

Article VI of the Constitution lists conditions for membership in the Synod, two of which pertain:
Article VI Conditions of Membership
Conditions for acquiring and holding membership in the Synod are the following:
1. Acceptance of the confessional basis of Article II.
3. Regular call of pastors and any commissioned ministers and regular election of lay delegates by the
congregations, as also the blamelessness of the life of such.

C.F.W. Walther presented a series of theses in 1879 at the first convention of the Iowa District of the Synod
which are illustrative of this constitutional material. At this time, a large number of the pastors who were
members of the Synod were serving independent congregations, and one of the purposes of Walther’s essay
was to convince these independent congregations that it was safe and in their best interest for them to join
the Synod. The first three of Walther’s theses on “The Duties of an Evangelical Synod” expand on the
articles of the Constitution mentioned above and focus on the duty of the Synod toward its member
congregations. The congregations can expect to receive from the Synod the following: help in remaining
faithful to the Scriptures and the Confessions; assistance in obtaining faithful pastors; and protection from
pastors who would cause harm to the congregation. The pastors, in turn, can expect to be supported
(protected) as well, as they faithfully carry out their duties within the congregations.
Thesis I
Its primary duty is to be faithful to the Confessions in word and deed, and therefore it must
a. without reservation confess the creeds of the Evangelical Lutheran Church;
b. accept only pastors, teachers, and congregations that are faithful to the Confessions;
c. supervise the confessional faithfulness of its members;
d. practice fellowship only with church bodies that are faithful to the Confessions.
Thesis II
A second major duty is that it faithfully treat its congregations in an evangelical way, and therefore
a. not assume a dictatorial role over them but only help them in an advisory way;
b. assist them in acquiring upright pastors and teachers;
c. protect them against pastors who err in doctrine, follow an offensive lifestyle, and are
domineering in their office.
Thesis III
A third major duty is that it supports its pastors and teachers, and therefore
a. counsel them;
b. support them in the proper conduct of their office;
c. defend them against unjust treatment.
Article VII of the Constitution, finally, speaks of the advisory nature of the Synod:

CCM Minutes – May 2, 2022 – Page 106