LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — June 11-12, 1976, Page 10

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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"b.

Congregations which violate this requirement and persist in such violation shall after due
admonition forfeit their membership in the Synod."

Of importance is also Bylaw 3.07 a:
"a.

The Synod is not merely an advisory body in relation to a District. A District is the Synod
itself performing the functions of the Synod. Resolutions of the Synod are binding on the
Districts."

3. From all this and from the further argumentation set forth in Anaheim Resolution 5-02A it is
apparent a) that only those recognized as eligible for the pastoral ministry by the congregations of the
Synod according to mutually established and agreed upon standards and procedures may be ordained
and/or serve as pastors of member congregations; b) that District presidents have the primary
responsibility for executing these determinations of the Synod; c) that District presidents have the right to
authorize the ordination of only those who have been assigned by the Synod to their District; d) that when
certain segments of the Synod violate these procedures the District presidents are not helpless and
powerless and are not compelled to accept the argument (specious in this connection) of the autonomy of
congregations; e) that they have the authority and responsibility to deal with such congregations and other
bodies which violate the covenant agreements made with other congregations in the Synod; f) that even
though such admonition should proceed in a kind and evangelical manner it must also be made clear by
the District president to the congregation that "congregations which violate this requirement and persist in
such violation shall after due admonition forfeit their membership in the Synod." (Bylaw 4.01 b)
4. While all of the foregoing should have been well understood by men elected to the office of
District president, the fact remains that when confronted by a schism in Concordia Seminary, St. Louis,
early in 1974, the Council of Presidents through a protracted series of meetings could not achieve
unanimity in acting to uphold the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod. This fact in large part gave life
to the breakaway movement and precipitated the constitutional crisis which still persists to this day.
5. The delegates of the congregations to the Anaheim convention recognized the import of this
situation and dealt with it in various ways, including the adoption of Resolution 5-02A.
6. The Commission on Constitutional Matters holds Resolution 5-02A to be in conformity with the
Constitution of the. Synod. The resolution very properly states in its first five resolves:
Resolved, That the Synod declare specifically that the placement and ordination of candidates who
have not been endorsed through the duly authorized synodical process violate the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That the District presidents be directed to uphold and abide by the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That the District presidents shall ordain or authorize the ordination of only those
candidates who are endorsed through the duly authorized synodical process; and be it further
Resolved, That a District president who has ordained or authorized the ordination of candidates for
the holy ministry who were not endorsed through the duly authorized synodical process shall
promptly do what is necessary to encourage and direct all of those persons who have been so
ordained to become endorsed; and be it further