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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 514

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

ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

514

Word in our midst at times move to other organizations or church
bodies despite their being found unfit according to God’s clear
standards, thus further scandalizing the Church and sowing
confusion; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents (COP) confer and
compose a clear process by which the removal or resignation of
called workers in the Synod will be more clearly relayed to the
wider Synod, taking into consideration Bylaw sections 2.13 and
2.17, with particular attention to Bylaw 2.13.2.1 (a–c); and be it
further
Resolved, That the COP, in their work, consider relaying the
status of the called worker (restricted, suspended, or under
investigation) at the time of the removal or resignation.
Circuit 20 (Mankato), Minnesota South District;
Circuit 8 (Oklahoma City), Oklahoma District
Ov. 10-25

To Request Council of Presidents to Clarify
Circumstances of Called Worker
Removal or Resignation from Roster
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 and from the roster that once qualified them to
publicly teach God’s Word in our midst at times move to other
organizations or church bodies despite their being found unfit
according to God’s clear standards, thus further scandalizing the
Church and sowing confusion; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents (COP) confer and
compose a process by which the removal or resignation of called
workers from the roster of the Synod, and the nature thereof (e.g.,
false doctrine, immoral life, inability to serve—omitting details),
will be more clearly relayed to the wider Synod, taking into
consideration Bylaw sections 2.13 and 2.17, with particular
attention to Bylaw 2.13.2.1 (a–c); and be it further
Resolved, That the COP, in their work, consider relaying the
status of the called worker (restricted, suspended, or under

2026 Convention Workbook

investigation) at the time of the removal or resignation from the
roster.
Circuit 25 (Kenosha), South Wisconsin District;
Circuit 26 (Racine), South Wisconsin District
Ov. 10-26

To Amend Bylaw 2.13.3.2
to Make Restriction Appeals Public Record
and to Allow Further Review
Rationale
A district president placed a pastor on restricted status. In response
to the question, why was the letter written, the pastor replied, “to
defend my children,” and referred to the scene in Braveheart where
the man defended his wife. The letter was written five years prior,
to someone else. The district president, a week later, felt threatened
and publicly announced to the entire Synod that the pastor was
placed on restricted status. In the appeal hearing with three other
district presidents, unrecorded, the ruling was in favor of the first
district president, even though he admitted he acted in violation of
the Synod Constitution and normal practice by ruling on his own
case (although the clause forbidding ruling on a matter where the
district president was a party has since been removed), and
rendering a judgment far in excess of the original offense.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That the entire appeal must be recorded, with a
transcript given to the parties and placed in Synod and district files
as a permanent public record; and be it further
Resolved, That the Praesidium of the Synod (the President and
vice-presidents) have authority to review and discipline district
presidents that violate their oath of office to uphold the Scriptures,
Confessions, and Constitution of the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 2.13.3.2 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Removal of Restricted Status and Limitations
…
2.13.3.2
Such petition for removal of restricted status shall be
addressed solely to the Council of Presidents through the office of
the President of the Synod. The Council of Presidents shall rule on
such petition within six months from the date of receipt.
…
(e) The hearing before the panel shall be privatepublic, attended
only by the parties and the witnesses who can substantiate the
facts relevant to the matter in dispute. 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. The entire appeal must be
recorded, with a transcription given to the parties and placed in
Synod and district files as a permanent public record.
…
(g) The decision of the hearing panel shall be the decision of the
Council of Presidents and shallmay be final with nothe right of
appeal to the Praesidium of the Synod that has authority to review
and discipline district presidents that violate their oath of office
to uphold the Scriptures, Confessions, and the Synod
Constitution.

Circuit 3 (Baltimore East)
Southeastern District