LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 20, 1999, Page 5

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2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and
unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God, to wit: the three Ecumenical
Creeds (the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered
Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles,
the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of
Concord.
Article II sets forth the nature of the confessional unity of the Synod. At the foundation of this unity in
confession is a common understanding of the role of Holy Scripture. In joining the Synod, members
indicate their agreement with one another that Scripture is the only rule and norm of faith and practice.
The second part of Article 11 states that a member of the Synod also accepts, without reservation, "all the
Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and
exposition of the Word of God." And then the Symbols, or Confessions, are named, beginning with the
ecumenical creeds and continuing down to the Formula of Concord.
Bylaw 1.09 speaks to the adoption of Doctrinal Resolutions and Statements:
a. The Synod, in seeking to clarify its witness or to settle doctrinal controversy, so that
all who seek to participate in the relationships that exist within and through the Synod
may benefit and may act to benefit others, shall have the right to adopt doctrinal
resolutions and statements which are in harmony with Scripture and the Lutheran
Confessions.
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.
c. Doctrinal statements set forth in greater detail the position of the Synod especially in
controverted matters.
This same section of the bylaw provides for the way doctrinal statements should be developed and
adopted. Bylaw 1.09, c, 7, then states:
7. Such adopted and ratified doctrinal statements shall be regarded as the position of the
Synod and shall be "accepted and used as helpful expositions and explanations" (FC SD
Rule and Norm 10). They shall be honored and upheld ("to abide by, act, and teach in
accordance with" [ 1971 Res. 2-2 1 ]) until such time as the Synod amends or repeals
them;
Finally, Bylaw 1.09, c, 9 & 10, are instructive to the question asked of the Commission:
9. An overture to repeal such an adopted and ratified doctrinal statement shall require a
majority vote of a convention of the national Synod in answer to an overture properly
submitted and be subject to the procedure of congregational approval set forth in
paragraph c 6 above;
10. In the interim, those who submit overtures to amend or to repeal shall, while
retaining their right to dissent, continue to honor and uphold publicly the statement as the
position of the Synod, notwithstanding further study and action by the Synod.
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