LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 27, 1993, Page 1

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21. Opening Prayer At the request of Chairman Groh, Roland Hopmann led the members of the
Commission on Constitutional Matters in prayer asking for God's blessing and guidance upon the
deliberations by the Commission with regard to matters which would be coming before it.
22. Congregation Constitution-Request by District Commission for Opinion (Ag. 1946) : The
Chairman of the Michigan District Constitution Review Committee had asked the Commission to respond
to an article on authority in the congregation which appeared in a proposed congregational constitution. It
was stated that the article was not clear and that it could be misleading. Particular attention was called to the
statement that a congregation "may" provide for its needs by the organization of officers, boards, etc. Also
involved was the matter of all communicant members, no matter what their age, being involved in the
calling of commissioned or certified workers.
The major concern, however, centered around the paragraph which stated
If the matter is not clearly settled in God's Word, a vote determines what the consensus is, but carries no
authority to impose a decision on others (Romans 12: 10, 1 Peter 5:5). For the sake of good order the
congregation normally consents to the decision of the pastor and assisted by the elders. The voters may
appeal to the congregation. The congregation may not decide anything contrary to the Word of God and
the confessional writings of the Lutheran Church. On matters not pertaining to doctrine or conscience, the
pastor and elders should submit to the consensus of the congregation.
The Chairman of the Michigan District Constitution Review Committee had suggested an alternate wording
for the above paragraph which stated
All other matters brought to the voters shall be decided by simple majority of the qualified voting
members present at a properly convened meeting of the congregation, except as otherwise provided in this
constitution and its associated bylaws. All matters of doctrine shall be decided by the Word of God; and
in any case, no decision shall be contrary to Article III of this constitution.
Also suggested were the following items to be placed in brackets
[In matters of doctrine, the pastor and elders should not submit to the consensus of the congregation-but
pastor, elders, and congregation submit to the Word.] [All communicant members presumably include
those who would otherwise be under the legal age limit for full suffrage rights. We have no objection to
participation of teens in the process, but "under-age" voting would leave an opening for a challenge to the
election.]
As a personal response, the Secretary of the Synod had, after indicating that the Commission on
Constitutional Matters ordinarily does not consider reviews of the constitutions of individual congregations,
had provided the following response:
As a personal response to the suggestions which have been offered, I wish to merely commend you for
the proposed change. It is, in my opinion, far superior to that which is presently contained in the
congregation's proposed constitution. I am not sure, however, that the statement in brackets is helpful and
should be shared with the congregation.
Obviously, all should submit to the Word. But because submission to the Word always involves an
understanding or interpretation of that Word, it immediately raises the question of who determines what
the correct interpretation or understanding is. I would assume that somehow the congregation is involved
in that process also. If I were making a suggestion to the congregation, I would merely offer the substitute
wording and let it go at that. If any reason is needed, I would simply state that the wording which the