Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 495
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 495

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
Ov. 9-51

To Authorize Title Bishop for Synod President
and District Presidents
WHEREAS, In common usage the title president is a secular rather
than an ecclesiastical title; and
WHEREAS, The title president when used to refer to the President
of the Synod or a district president is unfamiliar not only to the
general public but also to members of churches both nationally and
around the world; and
WHEREAS, The title president does not adequately express the
nature of the offices of President of the Synod and district president
as being that of a pastor charged with the supervision of the doctrine
and practice of pastors and congregations (Const. Art. XI B 1; XII
7); and
WHEREAS, The title president does not adequately express the
nature of the office of district president as being that of a pastor
charged with the responsibility of ordaining (either in person or by
proxy) candidates for the pastoral office (Const. Art. XII 9 c); and
WHEREAS, The functions of the President of the Synod and the
district presidents, as defined by the Constitution and Bylaws, that
entail supervising the doctrine and practice of pastors and
congregations and ordaining (either in person or by proxy)
candidates for the pastoral office, are the functions of those who
from ancient times and in many parts of the Lutheran church have
borne and continue to bear the title bishop; and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions express the desire of the
confessors to retain the office of bishop; and
WHEREAS, Martin Luther during his lifetime consecrated two
bishops; and
WHEREAS, Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther’s Synod address of
1848 shows that he did not in principle reject the office of bishop,
saying, “Which person … would deny that the Swedish Church
grew splendidly under its episcopal constitution, especially so long
as men like Laurentius Petri … bore the episcopal dignity …?”
(Matthew C. Harrison, At Home in the House of My Fathers:
Presidential Sermons, Essays, Letters, and Addresses from the
Missouri Synod’s Great Era of Unity and Growth, [CPH, 2011]);
and
WHEREAS, The original 1847 Synod Constitution does not use
the German word präsident but rather the Latin word praeses, a
usage that continued as long as the business of the Synod and the
districts was conducted in the German language, as can be seen in
the reports of both Synod and district conventions; and
WHEREAS, Many of the Synod’s partner churches use the title
bishop for those charged with the supervision of doctrine and
practice, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England,
which recently adopted the title bishop for the official formerly
known as the chairman; and
WHEREAS, The English, Atlantic, and Southeastern districts have
authorized the use of the historic ecclesiastical title bishop for their
district presidents; therefore be it
Resolved, That in order to clarify for members of the Synod and
for the general public the nature and function of the offices of
President of the Synod and district president, and to bring the
Synod’s nomenclature into closer conformity with ancient usage as
preserved in many parts of the Lutheran church from the sixteenth
century to the present day, the Synod in convention authorize the

495

use of the historic ecclesiastical title bishop for the President of the
Synod and the district presidents; and be it further
Resolved, That authorization to use the title bishop implies no
change whatsoever in the status, functions and responsibilities of
the President of the Synod and the district presidents as defined in
the Constitution and Bylaws; and be it finally
Resolved, That authorization to use the title bishop implies no
change whatsoever to the Church’s doctrine that the form of
ecclesiastical polity (including the nomenclature of those charged
with the supervision of doctrine and practice) is adiaphora, that is,
neither commanded nor forbidden by the Word of God.
Our Saviour
Baltimore, MD
Ov. 9-52

To Declare Commission on Constitutional Matters
Unconstitutional and Void All Its Opinions
WHEREAS, The Constitution of the Synod controls and
supersedes bylaws and all other rules and regulations of the Synod
(Const. Art. XIV); and
WHEREAS, The constitution has limited Synod governance to
executive (Const. Art. X, XI) and oversight powers (Const. Art. IV,
XIV), specifically excluding any judicial power; and
WHEREAS, The congregations of the Synod have reserved all
grants of all other powers, including the judicial power; and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM)
has no constitutional grant of power; and
WHEREAS, The CCM was created by the Synod in convention in
1923 by convention resolution; and
WHEREAS, The Synod in convention exceeded its oversight
powers when it created the CCM by granting it judicial powers; and
WHEREAS, Congregations have limited the Synod in
convention’s oversight powers, specifically, “The Synod in
convention may adopt bylaws that are consistent with and do not
contradict the Constitution of the Synod” (Const. Art. XIV); and
WHEREAS, The CCM exists to exercise judicial functions, being
the interpretation of the Synod’s governing documents (Bylaw
sections 3.9.2, 3.9.2.2) and through the publication of opinions; and
WHEREAS, The CCM acts in a judicial manner through its
interpretations and reviews and the publication of its opinions; and
WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has exceeded its limited
powers under Const. Art. XIV, as the CCM role, by exercising
judicial powers, is not consistent with and contradicts the
Constitution of the Synod; and
WHEREAS, “In relation to its members the Synod is not an
ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or coercive
powers” (Const. Art. VII); therefore be it
Resolved, That the CCM is unconstitutional; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw sections 3.9.2–2.9.2.2.3 shall be stricken;
and be it further
Resolved, That all additional references to the CCM in the
Synod’s governing documents shall be likewise stricken; and be it
finally
Resolved, That all opinions, and any other pronouncements, of
the CCM be stricken and void.
Huntington Woods
Huntington Woods, MI
2026 Convention Workbook