LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 218

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218 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Resolved. That the Synod continue to recognize the efforts
and work of the Lutheran Deaconess Association in providing
an educational program for women who are seeking opportuni-
ties to serve in the ministry of the church: and be it further

Resolred. That the administrators of the Synod and the
presidents of synodical Districts include information about
deaconess ministry in their recruitment efforts for church
workers and that they recommend the consideration of dea-
conesses to serve on boards, commissions, and committees at
local, circuit, District, and synodical levels: and be it further

Resolved. That a representative from the Synod's Board for
Higher Education continue to serve as an advisory member on
the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Deaconess Association:
and be it further

Resolved. That the current ad hoc committee appointed by
the President of the Synod continue to serve until the next
synodical convention to explore further the questions concern-
ing the relationship of deaconesses to the Synod and the expan-
sion of women’s ministry in the church: and be it further

Resolved. That congregations and institutions blessed with
deaconesses on their staffs give greater recognition to women
serving in their midst, with special reference to ministry and
compensation: and be it finally

Resolved. That deaconesses be included in the wording of
the synodical Bylaws. par. 1.61, and in other sections wherever
appropriate.

Arthur Ahlschwede. Convenor
Lucille Wassman

Wilbert Griesse

Herbert Steinbauer

R. P. Wiederaenders

(It should be noted that this report was not submitted in time for the New Orleans
convention but is now being submitted to the Anaheim convention.)

5-05
To Receive Trinity, Bridgeton. Mo.,
into Membership

WHEREAS, Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Bridgeton, was
formed on July 19, 1964, by a group of concerned Lutherans
in a determined effort to maintain the doctrinal purity of the
“old” Missouri.Synod in our midst: and

WHEREAS, This action was taken only after every other ave-
nue had been exhausted in an effort to find someone who would
take ‘‘official action” against the false doctrine tolerated in
the Synod, up to and including a 4-hour interview with the
synodical President: and

WHEREAS, The synodical President would give no assurance
that any “official action’ would be taken by his office or any
other office of the Synod to correct the doctrinal errors tolerated
in the Synod: and

WHEREAS. God's Word demands faithfulness on the part
of His people (1 Cor. 4:2), and since God has ordained that His
Word only. without the admixture of human doctrine, be taught
and believed in the Christian church (1 Peter 4:11: John 8:31-32:
1 Tim. 6:3-4), and since all Christians are required by God to
discriminate between orthodox and heterodox bodies (Matt.
7:15) and have fellowship only with orthodox church bodies
and to leave church bodies when they become heterodox
(Rom. 16:17): and

WHEREAS, Church fellowship with a church body that toler-
ates error, and does nothing to correct it, is open disobedience
to the clear demands of God and causes divisions in the church
(Rom. 16:17: 2 John 9, 10) and involves the constant danger
of losing God's Word entirely (2 Tim. 2:17-21), therefore in
obedience to God's Word a faithful Lutheran congregation was
organized in Bridgeton, Mo., July 19, 1964, and an orthodox
Lutheran pastor was called to serve as pastor: and

WHEREAS, The situation has now changed within The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod and doctrinal error is no longer
“officially” tolerated but rather openly disciplined, with doc-
trinal errors being ‘officially’ repudiated for the first time in
many years: therefore be it

Resolved. That Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church of Bridgeton
apply directly to the Anaheim convention of the Synod for
membership in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and
submit this memorial to Dr. J. A. O. Preus for presentation to
the proper floor committee of the Synod.

Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church
Bridgeton, Mo.
Wm. Bischoff, Pastor

To Select Synodical Constitution
Committee

WHEREAS. The present Constitution of The Lutheran Church
—Missouri Synod is 125 years old and has undergone many
alterations: and

WHEREAS. The mission approach of the church has changed
considerably since the Constitution was first drafted and there
is a pressing need for a comprehensive review: and

WHEREAS. The policy of holding biennial conventions is
a concern because of the large amount of energy, time. and
money required; and

WHEREAS. Large conventions do not provide a setting con-
ducive for resolving complex theological issues; and

WHEREAS, The problems of the past few years have sug-
gested that a restructuring of our synodical administration is
advisable: therefore we the Eastern District request —

1. That the Synod authorize a Constitution Committee
consisting of three pastors, two teachers, three lay persons, and
three District presidents to be appointed by the Council of
Presidents to revise or rewrite the Constitution and Bylaws of
The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod: and

2. That the Board of Directors allocate funds necessary for
the work of the committee: and

3. That all committee members hold the same status and be
eligible for all committee positions: and

4. That the committee report its recommendations to a
regular convention of the Synod within the next 5 years.

Eastern District
Richard L. J. Hoemann, Secretary

yr
—
1

To Revise Constitution of Synod

WHEREAS, A study of the recent memorials presented to the
Synod indicates a serious discrepancy in the minds of many
people as to the authority of the Constitution and/or Bylaws
of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, There continues to be a host of resolutions and
memorials presented to the Synod to change either all or
portions of the Constitution and/or Bylaws of the Synod: and

WHEREAS. The present stresses in the Synod indicate very
clearly that men committed to the Scriptures and to the well-
being of the church do have honest and wide differences of
opinion as to the meaning, application, and interpretation of
various sections of the Constitution; and

WHEREAS, Our Constitution lacks certain provisions for good
order, for example: (1) The Constitution does not state how or
when resolutions adopted by the Synod shall become Bylaws.
(2) The Constitution does not state in a direct way the authority
that the Bylaws should have upon the individual members of the
Synod. (3) The Constitution makes no mention of how any
doctrinal resolution shall even achieve the standard of a Bylaw.
(4) Thus nowhere in the Bylaws is there any mention of doctrine
or confessional subscription per se. (5) The authority to interpret
the Constitution and the resolutions of the Synod is found only
in the Bylaws and not in the Constitution. (6) Authority given the
Commission on Constitutional Matters technically makes this
committee a judicial branch of our governing policy. Surely such
power of a governing body should find its authority in the
Constitution: and