LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 16, 1993, Page 7

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The Commission hopes that this response will provide guidance in plans which are made regarding mission
work related to the Synod and its members.
59. Responsibility of CTCR and Synodical President in Church Relations (Ag, 1971) : The President of
the Synod had asked for an opinion regarding the roles of the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations responsibility-wise and relation-wise to the International Lutheran Conference as well as the role
of the President of the Synod in this matter. In a personal response to the President, the Secretary had
offered an opinion which he indicated would be shared with the Commission on Constitutional Matters for
their reaction. The Commission on Constitutional Matters ratified the response and asked that the response
be placed in the form of an opinion by the Commission rather than a personal opinion of the Secretary. This
was done, and the response of the Commission to the question of the President was stated as follows:
The Commission reviewed the pertinent sections of the current Handbook as well as previous Handbooks
and the resolution which established the Commission on Theology and Church Relations. After having
done so, it stated as its official opinion that it is the President of the Synod who relates to other church
bodies such as those in the ILC on a President to President/Bishop basis. It also concluded that, serving in
an advisory capacity, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, as well as the Board for
Mission Services in some cases, often carry out initial and continuing discussions, in effect doing the
"spade" work, but it is the President of the Synod who recommends inter-church relations actions to the
Synod and implements decisions of the Synod on these matters.
This opinion is clearly supported by Bylaw 3.101 f and g which state:
f) The President, in consultation with the appropriate board or commission, shall represent the Synod in
official contacts with all partner churches by aiding, counseling, and advising them and strengthening
the relations with and between them.
g) The President shall represent the Synod in official contacts with other church bodies.
60. Relation of Synodical President to Individuals or Congregations (Ag. 1970) : The President of the
Michigan District asked the Commission on Constitutional Matters to provide an opinion on the question,
"When a district president has been properly dealing with a pastor and his conflicted congregation
according to the Constitution and Bylaws of Synod, do the Constitution or Bylaws of Synod authorize the
office of the synodical President to circumvent the office of the District President and deal directly with that
pastor and the conflicted congregation?" A similar question had previously been forwarded by the President
of the Synod to which the Secretary had provided a personal response. The Commission reviewed this
response and then determined to respond to the question as follows:
The Commission notes that since the formation of districts early in our synodical history, the polity of the
Synod has called for the reference of requests for counsel and advice by individuals or congregations to
the presidents of the districts. Both the Constitution and Bylaws seem to make this clear. Article XI B of
the Constitution states that "the President [of the Synod) has the supervision regarding the doctrine and
administration of
a. All officers of the Synod
b. All such as are employed by the Synod
c. The individual districts of the Synod
d. All district presidents of the Synod"
Constitution Article XII 7-9 on the other hand states that