Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 228
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 228

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

a _

228 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

bers, five of whom will be laymen, three parochial school
teachers, with the remainder clergy; and be it finally

Resolved, That this committee report its recommendations
to the next convention of the Synod for action.

Our Savior LUTHERAN CHURCH
Raleigh, N.C.

Leroy Saylor, President
Walter D. Volz, Pastor

5-60B
To Define Power of President

WHEREAS, The Synod’s Commission on Constitutional
Matters has issued an opinion during the last biennium
indicating that the Synod alone has the authority to define
the power of the President of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the Synod to remove
ambiguity and confusion by stating in its Constitution and
Bylaws as clearly and as comprehensively as possible what
the role of the Synod is concerning the important issue of
presidential power; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod make the following declara-
tion concerning all officials who serve the Synod:

1. They are to conduct their office and to exercise their
power as servants under Jesus Christ, Lord of the church,

2. They are to seek the spiritual and temporal welfare
of the Synod as a whole.

3. They are to use their office and their power to carry
out the objectives of the Synod,

4. They are to regard the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod as a fraternal convenant which outlines the convic-

5. They are to accept no mandate for their office or for
their power which violates the letter or the spirit of the
Synod’s Christian fellowship and covenant; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its conviction that the
President “has the supervision regarding the doctrine and
the administration” (XI, B, 1) of the officials of the Synod,
noting that the Synod directs the President to supervise
those who share responsibility for duties assigned specifically
to them and also directs the President “to report such cases
to the Synod” which fail to heed his admonition (XT, B, 3);
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod direct the President to super-
vise the doctrine and life of the Synod through the District

8) and to supervise the doctrine and life of the Synod's edu-
cational institutions in accordance with the provisions of
the Bylaws (VI, B, C, and D); and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod direct the President to super-
vise the administration of the Synod’s business affairs
through the Board of Directors and the various operating
and service divisions established by the Bylaws of the
Synod (II, B, 2.27), holding them responsible for carrying
out the duties assigned to them by the Synod.

REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH
Denver, Colo.

Mr. Clarence Rieb, Chairman
Mr. Wayne Ball, Secretary

5-61

To Clarify Representative Government
in Synod
Wuereas, It is a maxim that power in the hands of a few

people tends to corrupt; and

WHEREAS, According to our synodical Constitution “Synod
is not an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or
coercive powers” (Article VII); and

Wuereas, The administrative officers of the Synod are
bound to carry out only such rights as have been delegated

or expressly conferred upon them by the Synod (Art. XI A
1); and

Whereas, The supervision (oversight, observation) re-
garding doctrine and the administration of Synod by the
President of Synod are circumscribed and prescribed by the
Synod to counseling, advising, correcting, and encouraging
rather than to personally firing, harassing, pontificating, ac-
cusing, and judging (Art. XI B 2 and 3, Bylaws 2.29 a); and

Wuereas, If the President of Synod has difficulty in bring-
ing such admonition to a satisfactory conclusion “he is to
report such cases to the Synod” (Art. XI B 2); and

Wuereas, “Any member of the Synod shall have the right
to appeal to the convention of the Synod from his action
(Bylaws 2.29 c); and

Wuereas, Synod charges the respective local Board of
Control at our colleges and seminaries, rather than any one

and

WHEREAS, The Synod itself, assembled in convention, is
the Proper forum for dealing with matters affecting super-

leges and seminaries; therefore be it

Resolved, That we petition the Synod meeting in conven-
tion at New Orleans July 6—13, 1973, to point out clearly

protect and safeguard due process regulations for al] per-
sons in the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its own right to act as
nal arbitrator in deciding all matters of dispute and not
abdicate that right to any one individual or faction; and be
it further

Resolved, That the Synod appoint a non-partisan com-
mittee to study the wording of the appropriate sections of
our Handbook to determine whether the present wording of
these Sections, especially the seeming lack of clear admin-
istrative “line relationship” between the President of Synod
and the Board of Control and the president of a college or
seminary, is adequate and to report its findings and recom-
mendations to the whole church for study and discussion be-
fore the next convention of the Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That we thank God that, in spite of our sins of
disunity, He has been faithful in renewing His mercies to us
each and every day.

Hoty Trinity LUTHERAN CuurcR
Albion, Pa.

George Hazer, President

George W. Hill, Secretary

Carl H. Kruelle Jr., Pastor

5-62
To Study Office of District President

Wuereas, The risen and ascended Lord has promised to
shower His church on earth with leaders in each and every
generation (Eph. 4:7-16); and

Wuereas, LCMS has been the recipient of many of these
leaders: and

WHEREAS, In our time men with exceptional abilities have
been singled out by their peers, both lay and clerical, to
serve in the office of District President: and

Wuereas, These District presidents represent the “grass
roots” of our Synod by virtue of their election by the con-
gregations and pastors within their District: and

WHEREAS, Twenty-seven of the 36 North American Dis-
tricts of our Synod now have full-time presidents; and

Wuereas, The synodical Handbook defines the office of
District President in similar terms used to define the office
of Synod President: and

Wuereas, It would be an extravagant waste of God’s gifts
to our church in these men not to seek their counsel and
advice; therefore be it

Resolved, That the English District petition The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod at its 1973 convention to initiate
a study of the office of District President, so that this high