LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 23, 1996, Page 2

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1. Conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3- 1 Cor. 1:10), work through its
official structure toward fellowship with other Christian church bodies, and provide a
united defense against schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy.
6. Aid congregations by providing a variety of resources and opportunities for recognizing,
promoting, expressing, conserving, and defending their confessional unity in the true faith.
The fact that one who dissents from the position of the Synod does not prevail, i.e., that the position of
neither the dissenter or the Synod has changed, does not mean that the dissenter is free to teach the
dissenting view. Bylaws 1.09, b, and 2.39, b and c, are quite clear on this matter. They state
1.09 Doctrinal Resolutions and Statements
b. Doctrinal resolutions may be adopted for the information, counsel, and guidance of the
membership. They shall conform to the confessional position of the Synod as set forth in
Article II of its Constitution and shall ordinarily cite the pertinent passages of the Scriptures,
the Lutheran Confessions, and any previously adopted official doctrinal statements or
resolutions of the Synod. Such resolutions come into being in the same manner as any other
resolutions of a synodical convention and are to be honored and upheld until such time as the
Synod amends or repeals them.
2.39 Relation of the Synod to Its Members
b. The Synod expects every member congregation to respect its resolutions and to consider
them of binding force if they are in accordance with the Word of God and if they appear
applicable as far as the condition of the congregation is concerned. The Synod, being an
advisory body, recognizes the right of the congregation to be the judge of the applicability of
the resolution to its local condition. However, in exercising such judgment, a congregation must
not act arbitrarily, but in accordance with the principles of Christian love and charity.
c. While retaining the right of brotherly dissent, members of the Synod are expected as part of
the life together within the synodical fellowship to honor and to uphold the resolutions of the
Synod. If such resolutions are of a doctrinal nature, dissent is to be expressed first within the
fellowship of peers, then brought to the attention of the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations before finding expression as an overture to the convention calling for revision or
recission. While the conscience of the dissenter shall be respected, the consciences of others, as
well as the collective will of the Synod, shall also be respected.
In response to your third question, the Commission concludes that under circumstances noted above,
neither the dissenter nor the Synod changing positions after all dissent procedures have been exhausted,
the position of the dissenter would still not be divisive providing that the dissenting position is not
taught publicly. To so teach publicly that the position of the Synod is contrary to the Scriptures would
be to elevate a matter of human opinion to the level of Scriptural doctrine-which from the viewpoint of
the Synod would be contrary to the Scriptures, i.e., to declare that what the Synod has included in the
category of an open question is, in fact, a closed question (clearly prohibited in the Scriptures). The
dissenter may decline to practice woman suffrage, but may not persist in teaching that it is contrary to
the Scriptures. If permitted to do so, every member of the Synod would have the right to determine
which of the positions of the Synod in similar matters it wished to accept and which to reject.
Enclosed is a copy of a resolution relating to the issues raised which was adopted by the Synod
in the Milwaukee 1971 convention. The Commission would encourage a careful reading of it as