Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 513
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 513

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

ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Ov. 10-22

To Amend Bylaw 1.10.7.4 to Allow Advisors to
Represent Parties in Dispute Resolution Process
Preamble
Bylaw 1.10.7.4 (a) states that “The hearing shall be private, attended
only by the parties to the dispute and one advisor of each party’s
choice, should any party desire one. This advisor shall not address
the panel or participate in the discussion at the hearing.”
WHEREAS, The Lord of Scripture recognizes the need for
advocates, identifying the Holy Spirit as our advocate before the
Father; and
WHEREAS, All secular and religious history recognizes the need
for advocates; and
WHEREAS, This is disastrous when there is an issue between
unequal parties; a normal dispute resolution process is unequal, that
is when a complaint is made about the actions of an authority figure;
and
WHEREAS, A common result is a wounded person, left without
reconciliation, harmed again; therefore be it
Resolved, That each party may have an advisor who may take a
lead position, directing the testimony and presenting the issues to
be resolved, and the complainant is not required to speak other than
answering the questions they are asked; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 1.10.7.4 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

and ignore real harm to victims and show deference to powerful
perpetrators; and
WHEREAS, The DRP is effectively a trial that passes judgment on
the validity of the complaint, and may damage the career of the
accused or leave the complainant further victimized; and
WHEREAS, No report is made concerning the success or failure
of dispute resolution process reconcilers and so the members of the
district are unaware and unable to evaluate them for appointment
and reappointment; therefore be it
Resolved, That each time a reconciler is involved, the parties be
asked for their evaluation and recommendation about the
reconciler’s continuation in that position; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 1.10.10.1 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
District Reconcilers
…
1.10.10.1 The term of service of a reconciler shall be six years,
renewable immediately following every even-numbered regular
Synod convention (e.g., 64th in 2010, 66th in 2016, 68th in 2023,
etc.) without term limitations. Reconcilers shall be people “of good
reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). Each time
a reconciler is involved, the parties are asked for their evaluation and
recommendation about the reconciler to be continued in their
position. Vacancies shall be filled by the district board of directors
in the same manner as regular appointments. The district board of
directors may add to the district roster of reconcilers a reconciler
who has moved into the district from another district.

Procedure of a Dispute Resolution Panel
…
1.10.7.4
The following rules for the Dispute Resolution Panel shall
apply:
(a) The hearing shall be privatepublic, attended only by the
parties to the dispute and one advisor of each party’s choice,
should any party desire one. This advisor shall not address the
panel or participate may take a leading position, directing the
testimony and presenting the issues to be resolved. The
complainant is not required to speak other than answering the
questions they are asked in the discussion at the hearing.
Witnesses who can substantiate the facts relevant to the matter in
dispute may be called before and address the panel. The
administrator of the process shall not attend the hearing or serve
as a witness. The panel shall establish the procedure to be
followed in the hearing and the relevancy of evidence so that each
party shall be given an opportunity fully to present its respective
position. In performing its duty, the panel shall continue efforts
to reconcile the parties to the dispute on the basis of Christian
love and forgiveness.
…

Circuit 3 (Baltimore East)
Southeastern District
Ov. 10-23

To Amend Bylaw 1.10.10.1
to Provide for Reconciler Reviews
WHEREAS, Bylaw 1.10.10 states that “Each district board of
directors shall appoint and maintain a district roster of four
reconcilers …”; and
WHEREAS, Dispute resolution process (DRP) reconcilers, as
normal, sinful people who are subject to error, can and do misjudge

513

Circuit 3 (Baltimore East)
Southeastern District
Ov. 10-24

To Request Council of Presidents to Clarify
Circumstances of Called Worker
Removal or Resignation
WHEREAS, The Church, as instituted by her Lord Jesus Christ,
publicly calls both commissioned and ordained ministers according
to good order (Eph. 4:11–12); and
WHEREAS, Every called worker solemnly promises to serve
God’s people in accordance with Holy Scripture and with our
Lutheran Confessions (LSB Agenda, 166, 212); and
WHEREAS, Every called worker likewise promises to adorn the
Gospel of Jesus Christ with a holy and godly life (ibid.); and
WHEREAS, There is a public nature to the work undertaken by
those who serve the Church (Matt. 5:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2–4),
as such a task includes exemplifying the faith for those they serve
to see and emulate; and
WHEREAS, Though rare, shameful and scandalizing cases have
arisen, in which called workers are found to be unfit according to
the scriptural requirements (Rom. 12:3–8; Col. 3:12–17; 1 Tim.
3:1–7; 4:1–5, 14–16) of those serving in called positions in the
Church, which require a removal or resignation from the office held;
and
WHEREAS, Such cases are publicized to the Church in a
straightforward but question-inspiring manner, which gives way to
justifiable curiosity, concern, and, worse, speculation or rumor; and
WHEREAS, Those who have been removed or have resigned from
called positions that once qualified them to publicly teach God’s
2026 Convention Workbook