LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 30-31, 1969, Page 7

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8. The protection of pastors, teachers, and congregations in the performance of their duties
anal-the maintenance of their rights."
The Synod was organized.and is maintained to carry out these objects. The congregations,
pastors, and teachers who by their own free decision have joined the Synod have done. so with the
determination that the important functions described in Article III (and we would. stress especially
Objects 1,; 7, and 8 in view of the questions which have been raised) should be carried out by the Synod.
Any assumption- of these responsibilities by secret or open., voluntary or auxiliary, new or established
groups is disruptive of the synodical purpose and cannot be tolerated.
Christians as well as non-Christians expect differences of opinion and judgment to arise when
people walk together.. The Synod has provided for forums in which such differences can be discussed and
evaluated beyond the confines of the local congregation. The pastors and. teachers conferences; the
circuit. meetings; the synodical and District board, commission, and committee meetings; the doctrinal
supervision and appeals procedures; and above all the conventions of the Districts and of the Synod
provide the proper channels through which the-issues of opinion and judgment are to be discussed and
decided. In the absence of a clear word of God issues must be. decided by the majority principle, applied
in Christian love and with Christian restraint (Article VIII,:C). When the majority will has been
determined, it must be respected. Otherwise life together (synod)-becomes all but impossible. Discussion
may indeed continue; but it: needs to be carried on with full respect for the majority will and within the
forums established by the Synod for the preservation of the synodical unity. If additional channels for
discussion are needed the Synod can provide for the same in. its Bylaws through appropriate convention
action.
It is incongruous for separate groups-to organize. for the purpose of policing the members of the
Synod; it is equally incongruous for groups to organize for the purpose of either shaping or nullifying a
decision in an area of concern in which the Synod has reserved to itself the right of making decisions.
Where the Synod has not reserved this right to itself (e .g., the decision to establish orphanages, high
schools, old folks homes, hospitals), congregations and individuals have the right to effect an organization
so long as its objectives and operations do not interfere with the purposes and functions of the Synod.
However, where the Synod has reserved this right to itself.(e.g., the administration of its colleges and.
seminaries; the supervision of doctrine; the declaration of fellowship with other church bodies),
congregations and individuals have no right under. the Constitution of the Synod without the express
approval of the Synod to effect organizations to achieve purposes for which the Synod itself exists or to
carry on activities which rightfully belong to the duly. elected or appointed officials of the Synod.. Under
these circumstances such organizations become divisive and.schismatic and. therefore subversive of the
very purposes of the Synod.
In this opinion the Commission is not attempting to limit the right of individuals to speak their own
minds. Before and after the passage or rejection of synodical resolutions individuals must be free to
express their concerns, especially to their peers. Frank and open discussion, carried on in a spirit of
Christian love and forbearance, must be part of our life together in the Synod. It can be proper and
salutary. However, in this opinion the Commission is addressing itself to the organizing of groups, to the
calling of meetings, secret or open, to attempted manipulation of existing groups, to circularizing
activities.,and to a wide scale of joint. actions, all of which by :their very nature tend to polarize or
fragment the constituency of the Synod, and thus have the effect of disrupting the synodical unity.
All members of the Synod. and of its congregations are to beware of the danger of, groups and
activities which divide and splinter the Synod. Synodical and District officers and board and commission
members have a special responsibility to identify divisive and subversive movements and to-avoid them..