Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 512
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 512

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

512

ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Panel, or Review Panel shall be placed in the custody of Concordia
Historical Institute. All such records shall be sealed….”
Some of the issues that lead to the dispute resolution process begin
with private actions and conversations, so it is wise and proper to
maintain confidentiality. However, some issues begin with public
actions and conversations that affected the Church, so it is unwise
and improper to conceal the hearings from public view. Public
accusation is not resolved by private response (Acts 16:37).
WHEREAS, Staff, congregations, districts, and the Synod can do
anything without risk of legal consequences; and
WHEREAS, Dispute resolution reconcilers, as normal sinful
people subject to error, can and do misjudge and ignore real harm
to victims and show deference to powerful perpetrators; and
WHEREAS, This may leave victims of harm no way to seek
redress, apology, or amendment of harm, and no way to enforce the
award of monetary damages; and
WHEREAS, Anything and everything may be secret and
undocumented; and
WHEREAS, The dispute resolution process is effectually a trial
that passes judgment on the validity of the complaint which may
damage the career of the accused or leave the complainant further
victimized; and
WHEREAS, In Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, and normal
standards of the secular world, the accused is to see and hear the
evidence, and both parties are to receive an impartial, complete
public examination; and
WHEREAS, Dispute resolution reconcilers are normal sinful
people with varying abilities, and yet they have absolute power over
the careers of rostered church workers and over the individuals who
make complaints; and
WHEREAS, No report is made concerning the success or failure
of dispute resolution reconcilers, and so the members of a district
are unaware and unable to evaluate them for appointment and
reappointment; and
WHEREAS, The dispute resolution process is forced arbitration
and enforced by non-disclosure under penalty of dismissal from
Synod membership and civil judgment; and
WHEREAS, Even a normal dispute resolution situation is unequal,
and it is disastrous when there is a victim-perpetrator issue or if it
between unequal parties; and
WHEREAS, A common result is a wounded person who is left
without reconciliation and so is harmed again; therefore be it
Resolved, That all non-disclosure clauses, including those in the
past, no longer be in effect and be forbidden in the future; and be it
further
Resolved, That the accused and complainant be permitted to
record the entire proceedings and be given copies of all
documentation, and that the mandate for two witnesses in 1 Tim.
5:19 be met by one witness and documentation; no one and nothing
may be kept secret from the accused; and be it further
Resolved, That the ruling must be supported by public testimony
and documents; if the accused resigns from public office before the
ruling, then the complaint remains secret since talebearing is sin;
and be it finally
Resolved, That Bylaw 1.10.18.1 (g) be amended as follows:

2026 Convention Workbook

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Rules of Procedure
…
1.10.18.1 The following rules of procedure shall be followed:
…
(g) All Dispute Resolution Panel, Appeal Panel, or Review Panel
records of disputes in which a final decision has been rendered
by the Dispute Resolution Panel, Appeal Panel, or Review Panel
shall be placed in the custody of Concordia Historical Institute.
All such records shall be sealed and shall be opened only for good
cause shown and only after permission has been granted by a
Dispute Resolution Panel, selected by blind draw for that
purpose. The accused and complainant are permitted to record the
entire proceedings, and be given copies of all documentation.
…

Circuit 3 (Baltimore East)
Southeastern District
Ov. 10-21

To Direct Revisions to Bylaw Section 1.10
Standard Operating Procedures Manual
re Witnesses and Evidence
WHEREAS, in Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, and normal
standards of the secular world, the accused is to see and hear the
evidence and both parties receive an impartial, complete
examination; and
WHEREAS, The Standard Operating Procedures Manual for
Bylaw section 1.10, General Regulation N, “Witnesses and
Evidence” (Dec. 2023, p. 19; available from lcms.org/ccm) allows
for gossip to be considered valid evidence; and
WHEREAS, Gossip is sadly common in the Church and identified
as a major cause of congregational conflict and decline; and
WHEREAS, This allows for the final ruling to not be supported by
the testimony; therefore be it
Resolved, That in any Dispute Resolution Panel hearing or
meeting, if anyone presents evidence based on gossip, their
testimony ends, and they are not allowed to continue until they
repent of their sin and apologize.; and be it further
Resolved, That the 1 Tim. 5:19 mandate of two witnesses may
be met by one witness and documentation: and be it further
Resolved, That the ruling must be supported by public testimony
and documents, and be it finally
Resolved, Standard Operating Procedures Manual for Bylaw
section 1.10, General Regulation N, “Witnesses and Evidence”
(Dec. 2023, p. 19), subparagraph (c). be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
N. WITNESSES AND EVIDENCE
(c) Conformity to legal rules of evidence shall not be necessary.
The mandate in 1 Tim. 5:19 of two witnesses may be met by one
witness and documentation. The ruling must be supported by
public testimony and documents.
Circuit 3 (Baltimore East)
Southeastern District