LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — July 14, 1995, Page 1

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131. Identification of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for Accounting Purposes (Ag. 1985) : In
a previous telephone conversation the Commission on Constitutional Matters had withdrawn its opinion
regarding the identification of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for accounting purposes for
reconsideration of its opinion in light of concerns which had been expressed, as well as the request of the
synodical President for that action. The Commission now began reconsideration of its opinion.
Walter L. Rosin, Secretary

Minutes of the Commission on Constitutional Matters - July 14, 1995
132. Opening Prayer : At the request of Chairman Groh, Richard Schlecht opened the meeting with
prayer.
133. Call to Campus Ministry (Ag. 2010) : A request for an opinion had been forwarded regarding a
campus pastor called by a district as pastor of a campus worshiping group approximately one month after
the group had relinquished its charter. The following questions were addressed to the Commission:
3.

Can a man be called to the office of pastor of a non-chartered campus ministry or congregation?

3.

If not, is the man in actuality a missionary-at-large to the district?

3.

What are the alternatives to straightening out the confusion?

3.

Does the fact that ULC has the marks of a Christian congregation legitimate the calling of a man
as pastor?

3.

When ULC relinquished its charter, it was told that it would continue to act as a congregation,
including the reception and transfer of members. Is this legitimate?

Rather than address the questions individually, the Commission decided to respond as follows:
For a congregation to be a congregation of the Synod, it must request membership, must have a
Constitution which is acceptable, and if found to be acceptable, must sign the Constitution of the
Synod. If this is not the case, or if it once was but is no longer the case, the congregation is not or is no
longer a member of the Synod, has no standing or authority within the Synod and may not act as a
congregation of the Synod.
If a worshiping group exists and if it wishes to be related to the district through financial support and/or
pastoral service, this can be accomplished by having the district call such a person and assigning him to
this ministry. This may be achieved under Bylaw 2.15, h. One may be called to a non-chartered
ministry, but that does not elevate the ministry to member status.
Consequently, while a ministry may have the marks of a congregation and while any group of
Christians may call a man as its pastor, unless it meets the requirements of membership in the Synod, a
man who accepts a call from such a group does not fall under the bylaw requirements of either Bylaw
2.15, a or c.
While such a worshiping group may "transfer" members or "receive" members from congregations,
such acts have no standing in the Synod.