LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 13-14, 1976, Page 8

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

5.

The fact that Irvine succeeded in obtaining a firm enrollment of fewer than twelve students by
June 10, 1976 for the 1976-77 academic year, although not part of the constitutional issue,
nevertheless should be stated in justice to the Board of Directors so that the Synod may understand
that Board's action.
THE COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Herbert Mueller, Secretary

8/13/76

Opinion Re Association of Evangelical- Lutheran Churches
The Commission on Constitutional Matters has received many requests for rulings regarding
affiliation with the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and its related bodies. These questions
may be summarized as follows. May congregations, pastors, and teachers affiliate themselves with the
AELC or any of its related "synods" without forfeiting their membership in The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod? May such affiliating congregations, pastors, and teachers participate in the process of
electing delegates to the Dallas convention of the Synod? May any member of such a congregation or any
such pastor or teacher serve as a voting or advisory delegate to the conventions of the Synod or its
Districts? May any such individual hold or continue to hold any office in the Synod or one of its
Districts? May clergy or teacher members of the Synod continue such status while holding membership in
a congregation after the congregation has withdrawn from or forfeited its membership in the Synod? May
District presidents retain their office and at the same time be active in encouraging the formation of
ecclesiastical organizations in opposition to the Synod?
I.
As far back as 1971 and earlier the Commission has on several occasions declared that it is improper to
hold membership in two church bodies or to be under dual ecclesiastical supervision (see e.g., Anaheim
Convention Workbook, pp. 483--484: "The Commission rules that it is improper for a Missouri Synod
congregation to hold membership also in another church body or to be under the ecclesiastical supervision
of another church body.").
II.
There can be little doubt that the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and its related "synods"
are to be classified under the term "church body." Not only is this claim openly advanced by their leaders
in public addresses which are widely reported and in official communications originating from such
sources, but the Articles of Incorporation of the AELC state the purposes of the Association to be:
"a.To unite in a corporate body the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church who
acknowledge and remain true to the Book of Concord of the year of our Lord 1580 as a true
exhibition of sound Christian doctrine.
b. To train ministers and teachers for service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church and, in
furtherance of that purpose, to furnish financial support to existing theological seminaries and
other institutions of learning.
c. To assist in the establishment of Lutheran congregations and missions.