LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 22, 1998, Page 6

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the pastor can be terminated by simply dissolving the dual parish agreement. That termination should be
made in accordance with the process outlined in the constitution of the congregation.
If the issue involves a financial matter resulting from loss of attendance and membership, the Commission
calls attention to an opinion of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations which states:
In response to the question "Can a congregation, District, or Synod terminate a call for financial reasons?"
the CTCR calls attention to its previously stated opinion:
1. A congregation may not abolish the pastoral office itself
2. A congregation may abolish any called position or ranking that it has established so long as it
retains the pastoral office. In a former opinion the CTCR has stated, "We find no theological
reasons which prohibit ... the abolition of the office to which a man has been called" (1971
Convention Workbook, p. 32). In a document entitled The Ministry in Its Relation to the Christian
Church (1973 Convention Workbook, p. 465) the CTCR has stated: "According to her needs, the
church may under the one Ministry of the Word establish such 'offices' as the situation requires. If
the situation changes, she may also abolish some 'offices."'
In applying these general principles applicable to the abolition of a called position, a congregation will
examine its motives and procedures before Him who searches the heart and will be guided by the concern
that nothing be done in disobedience to God's Word.
("Opinion Requested by a District President Regarding the Matter of The Office of Head Pastor" adopted
by the CTCR May 1975).
If the above is granted, namely, that each congregation has in reality issued a call, the Commission does
not believe the congregation which continues to be served by the pastor needs to issue a new call. The call
was to the congregation and other arrangements such as salary, housing, time of service, etc. determined
by the dual parish arrangement are not part of the call but are, in a sense, incidental to it.
169. Self-Exclusion of a Congregational Member (Ag. 2105): In the previous telephone conference, the
Commission had also discussed another question coming from a District President regarding the exclusion
of a member from a congregation and the rights of that individual. In responding to this concern, the
Commission replied as follows:
You also asked regarding the recourse which a member of a congregation would have who was outspoken
regarding doctrinal concerns but who was faithful in church and communion attendance and other
congregational activities, but had been informed that his membership was terminated as a result of selfexclusion. This was contrary to the will of the member as well as constitution and bylaw stipulations
regarding membership.
In response to this question, the Commission states that, by definition, the action taken by a congregation
terminating the membership of one who has been faithful in church attendance, communion attendance,
and other congregational activities cannot be identified as "self-exclusion." Such action is in effect a de
facto excommunication. As such it allows the person whose membership has been terminated in the
manner described, namely, "self-exclusion," to utilize the provisions of Bylaw 8.01 and 8.13, b, 1.
170. Interpretation of Bylaw 2.19, a, Regarding Candidate Status (Ag. 2106): The Commission in a
telephone conference had discussed a draft response to a question which had been forwarded by a VicePresident of the Synod with regard to the phrase "may be continued on the roster for a period not to exceed