LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 20, 1999, Page 4

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QUESTION 3: Since the LCMS dissolved altar and pulpit fellowship with the ALC, does convention
resolution 7-12 truly apply to parish fellowships established prior to the dissolution? If so,
what are the scriptural and legal bases for such a finding?
QUESTION 4: Do all congregations joined in "congregational fellowship" fall within the definition of
"dual membership?" If so, what are the scriptural and legal bases for such a finding?
OPINION: In light of the response of the CCM to the previous questions, no response is necessary to
these questions.
QUESTION 5: How is it possible, under the LCMS Constitution and Bylaws, for parish partnerships and
fellowship to exist and be approved between the LCMS and ELCA and the
foreign/international mission field and not in the domestic mission field?
OPINION: The Commission believes the factual assumptions of the question may be incorrect. There are,
in fact, joint domestic endeavors between the ELCA and LCMS. These efforts, however, do not involve
altar and pulpit fellowship.
71. Review of Revision of Missouri District Bylaws (99-2159)
The Chairman of the Structure Committee of the Missouri District with a letter dated July 26, 1999,
submitted a draft version of a revision of the District's Bylaws as prepared by his committee. The
Secretary and Chairman of the Commission have given careful attention to the draft document and have
met with the Chairman of the Structure Committee, advising a number of changes. A final draft copy will
be shared with the Commission for its approval after the District Committee has met to consider and
incorporate the suggested changes.
72. Clarification of Articles H, VI, and XIII and Bylaws 1.09, 2.27, and 2.39 Re False Doctrine
Suspension, and Expulsion (99-2162)
A pastor of the Synod, in a letter dated August 17, 1999, "without reference to any specific situation or
facts pertaining thereto," asks the following three questions of the CCM:
QUESTION 1: According to Article XIII of the Synod's Constitution, is embracing and persisting in
false doctrine an act contrary to the confession laid down in Article 11 and to the conditions
of membership laid down in Article VI and consequently an act that may subject a member
of the Synod to suspension and expulsion?
OPINION: Article 11 sets forth the confessional standard of the Synod. Embracing and persisting in false
doctrine is a denial and rejection of that standard and thus, in accord with Article XIII, is a basis for
expulsion from the Synod.
QUESTION 2: Does Bylaw 2.39, c, preclude the suspension of a member of the Synod who makes use
of said Bylaw, even if it is determined through investigation under a Bylaw 2.27
proceeding that the member embraces and persists in false doctrine?
OPINION: The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is a voluntary association whose members accept the
confessional article of the Synod's Constitution "without reservation." Article Il of the Synod's
Constitution states:
The Synod, and every member of the Synod, accepts without reservation:
1. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written Word of God and
the only rule and norm of faith and of practice;

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