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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 229

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

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 229

office in our church can more realistically serve the whole
church; and be it further

Resolved, That the chairman of the Council of Presidents
in consultation with the Council of Presidents, and subject
to their ratification, appoint a task force of eminent theolo-
gians, pastors, teachers, and laymen to initiate and carry
out this study; and be it finally

Resolved, That the findings of this committee be reported
to the whole Synod for study prior to the 1975 synodical

convention. ENGLISH DISTRICT
Robert L. Landeck, Secretary

5-63

To Provide That Synodical Policy
Decisions Be Made Only by Synodically
Elected Officers of Synod

Wuerras, Synod appears to be suffering from the handi-
cap of factionalism in synodical administration due to inade-
quate lines of demarcation between policy and administra-
tive functions; and

Wuereas, The Constitution of Synod clearly provides for
the development and adoption of general synodical policy
by resolutions adopted in convention; and

Wuereas, The President of Synod has the ultimate re-
sponsibility for the proper application and execution of the
decision of Synod (Art. XI B 4: “The President shall see to
it that the resolutions of Synod are carried out”); therefore
be it

Resolved, That the interpretation of synodical policy by
the President of Synod, in consultation with the Vice-Presi-
dents, shall be decisive for all synodical boards, commissions,
and synodical staff, subject only to review or reinterpreta-
tion by the next synodical convention.

FaitH LUTHERAN CHURCH
Grand Blanc, Mich.
John Hermann, Secretary

5-64A

To Emphasize Supervisory Duties
of Synodical President

Wuereas, The Constitution of the Synod confers great
supervisory responsibilities on the President of the Synod;
and

WuHereas, Some have suggested to limit the synodical
President to working only through boards and subsidiary
officers of the Synod: and

Wuereas, Such limitation is not in accord with the Con-
stitution of the Synod nor with principles of sound admin-
istration; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod affirm the power and responsi-
bility of the Synod President to act directly when the occa-
sion demands it and to take such direct action in the case
of doctrinal problems among synodical faculties, synodical
executives of boards and commissions, etc.: and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod expect that such direct action
will be taken only in extraordinary instances and that such
action by the President of the Synod is subject to review
by the appropriate boards of adjudication and appeals as
well as by the synodical convention itself.

MeEmMorRIAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sioux Falls, S. Dak.

Donald Jerke, Chairman
Larry Claus, Secretary

C. F. Paul, Pastor

Identical or Similar:

3-64B

St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Stratford, Ontario, Robert
Shore, Chairman: Barry Siegues. Secretary.

5-64C€

Grace Lutheran Church, St. Catharines, Ont., Canada,
Gerhard Schaffner, President; Matthias R. L. Krey, Pastor.

3-64D

Faith Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, S. Dak., P. D. Brack,
Pastor: Jerry Gan, Chairman.

5-64E

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Pacifica, Calif., Bernard
P. Calais, President; Lyle Bjerkhoel, Secretary.

5-64F

Lutheran Church of the Messiah, Stoney Creek, Ontario,
William Miehe, President.

5-65

To Include Administrative Role of Council
of Presidents in Handbook

Resolved, That the Atlantic District petition the LCMS
assembled in convention in New Orleans in July 1973 to
direct the chairman of the Council of Presidents to prepare
a statement, with the approval of the Council of Presidents
and the Board of Directors of the Synod, on the role of the
Council of Presidents in the administration of the Synod for
inclusion in the synodical Handbook.

Reasons: (1) The present synodical Handbook does not
define, with satisfactory preciseness, the role of the Council
of Presidents in the central administration of the Synod.

(2) The District Presidents of the Synod are nominated
and elected by the congregations of the geographical areas
in which they serve as synodical administrators with the
implication that this elective office merits a role in the ad-
ministration of the Synod at large, which should be spelled
out in the synodical Handbook, thereby supporting the ad-
ministration of the Synod with a broadly based expertise.

ATLANTIC DISTRICT
Arlin A. Maas, Secretary

To Make Council of Presidents
Supervisory Agency

Wuereas, The Lutheran church does not believe in human
authority but in divine authority as holding first place in
the church: and

Wuereas, The divine authority is given to the church
in the Word and Sacraments; and

Wuereas, The church, in faithfulness to her Lord, must
indeed bear faithful and true witness to her Lord; and

Wuereas, Too much authority has already been conferred
by our Constitution upon one office (the President of Synod)
for the good of the church, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod seriously study ways in which
the authority to supervise the Synod be divided among the
District Presidents, the Synod President and Vice-Presi-
dents: and be it further

Resolved, That the Council of Presidents ultimately be-
come the supervisory agency for the doctrine and practice
of the Synod subject to the review of the Synod in conven-
tion.

Our REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH
Jacksonville, Fla.

Wayne J. Lehrer, Pastor

William Drum, President
Audrey Shivar, Secretary