LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 28–29, 2023, Page 2

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

of work under specified authority, to be published upon completion) or to a requirement that the Synod has
adopted and placed in the Bylaws. For example, Bylaw 3.1.10.1 requires CPH to send the official
Convention Proceedings to every congregation of the Synod and to all delegates, voting and advisory.
Similarly, Bylaw 3.6.3 (a) requires CPH to “supply publishing and distribution services for the agencies of
the Synod as required, unless this is deemed detrimental to the agency involved.”
Question 4:

What is the scope of the approval required by the words, “shall be approved through the
Synod’s prescribed procedure for doctrinal review” in Bylaw 3.6.3 (d)?

Opinion:
The purpose of doctrinal review is described in Bylaw 1.9.1: “Doctrinal review is the
exercise of the Synod’s responsibility to determine that every doctrinal statement made in its or any of its
agencies’ or auxiliaries’ materials is in accord with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.” Bylaw
3.6.3 (d) reads, “All materials of a religious or theological nature shall be approved through the Synod’s
prescribed procedure for doctrinal review before publication,” which specifically states that everything
published by CPH that is of a religious or theological nature is subject to doctrinal review as described in
Bylaw Section 1.9. However, the bylaws provide three exceptions to the requirement of doctrinal review:
The first is “study documents and exploratory material published by boards, commissions, or other
subordinate groups of the Synod,” so long as these are clearly marked as “being released for study and
discussion purposes, etc.” (Bylaw 1.9.1.1 [b]; the commission intends to treat the scope of materials
included in this exception in Op. 23-3010 and does not do so here). The second is “broadcasts over the
Synod’s radio station by other than staff members” (Bylaw 1.9.1.1 [f]). The third is “official reports of the
boards, commissions, task forces, and committees of the Synod prepared in response to directives of the
Synod” (Bylaw 1.9.1.1 [g]).
Unless the material that is of a religious or theological nature falls under one of the three categories
referenced above, it is subject to the process of doctrinal review as described in the Bylaws.
Question 5:

What differentiates an “official report” under Bylaw 1.9.1.1 (g) from a study document or
exploratory material or other work of general work of authorship?

Opinion:
See answer to Question 4. Bylaw 1.9.1.1 speaks for itself as to the distinguishing features
of the various categories described.
Question 6:

What qualifies as a “response to directives from the Synod” under Bylaw 1.9.1.1(g)?

Opinion:
phrase.

See answers to Question 4 and Question 3, where “instructed by the Synod” is a comparable

175. Service of a Synod Congregation (23-3009)
By an email of April 4, a district president requested an opinion on the following two questions:
Question 1:

Is a congregation in violation of Constitution Article VI 3 and Bylaw 2.5.2 if it has as its
worship leader a pastor, not called by the congregation, who is Lutheran and has promised
to teach completely in line with Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) teaching but
is on neither the roster of the Synod nor that of a church body in altar and pulpit fellowship
with the Synod?

Question 2:

Does a district president have the authority to authorize a pastor who is a member of a
church body with which the LCMS is not in altar and pulpit fellowship to proclaim the
Word and administer the Sacraments on a regular basis to a congregation of the Synod?

Background:
Constitution Article VI lists the conditions of membership in the Synod. The first three of these conditions
are pertinent for the questions raised, and read:
1. Acceptance of the confessional basis of Article II.
CCM Minutes – April 28–29, 2023 – Page 141