Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 221
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 221

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

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 221

Resolved. That the Synod not deal with the congregational
decision by coercion but rather deal with the congregational
decision in love.

University Lutheran Chapel
Los Angeles, Calif.

Richard Nehring, Chairman
Roger E. Timm, Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-12B to 5-12H

Prince of Peace, Belton, Tex. L. Heimsoth
Trinity, Carneys Point, N. J. G. Grimm
Redeemer, Corning, N. Y. F. R. Jordan

Zion, Maywood, N. J.

Pastoral Conference, Oklahoma District
Trinity, Olympia, Wash.

St. Michael’s, LaGrange Park, II].

D. Reinheimer
F. Schumacher

Wm. Bakewicz

5-13

To Clarify Term “‘Expedient” in
“Handbook” Art. VII and Bylaw 1.09

WHEREAS, The Handbook of the Synod uses the term in-
expedient in Article VII (‘‘Accordingly, no resolution of the
Synod imposing anything upon the individual congregation is of
binding force if it is not in accordance with the Word of God or
if it appears to be inerpedient as far as the condition of a con-
gregation is concerned’): and

WHEREAS, The Handbook of the Synod uses the term er-
pedient in Bylaw 1.09 (‘The Synod expects ever member
congregation to respect its resolutions and to consider them of
binding force if they are in accordance with the Word of God and
if they appear expedient as far as the condition of the congrega-
tion is concerned. The Synod, being an advisory body, recog-
nizes the right of the congregation to be the judge of the ex-
pediency of the resolution as applied to its local condition”): and

WHEREAS, ELIM has understood this term in the sense of a
Missouri Synod congregation being able to take or leave resolu-
tions adopted by the Synod, depending on its preference: and

WHEREAS, The orginal German term is ungeeignet and has
the connotation of “not fitting the circumstances’: and

WHEREAS, The German orginal indicates that if a resolution
of the Synod applies to a congregation (for example, a resolution
on parochial schools applies to congregations with parochial
schools), that resolution is “expedient”; while if it does not
apply (for example, the congregation does not have a parochial
school), that resolution is ‘‘inexpedient”: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention clarify the translation
of ungeeignet as connoting “fitting the circumstances.”

St. James Lutheran Church
University City, Mo.

John Essen, President

Carl Meinecke, Secretary
Tom Baker, Pastor

To Respect Bylaws

WHEREAS, Some have asserted that the Bylaws of the
synodical Constitution do not apply in times of stress and
dissension; and

WHEREAS, It is a commonly recognized principle of govern-
ment that suspension of laws results in either anarchy or
tyranny; and

WHEREAS, The neglect or trespass of the Bylaws permits
each person to go his own way and leads to violation of the very
concept of synodical ‘‘walking together”; and

WHEREAS, It is the better part of wisdom in times of trouble
to abide by ways of doing the church’s business agreed upon in
calmer days; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod declare that its Constitution and

Bylaws apply at all times and that the Synod expects its con-
gregations and clergy to keep the covenant entered into when
they joined the Synod.

Hope Lutheran Church

Chicago, III.

Willard Christoffer, Secretary

3-15

To Decide Whether Bylaws Are to
Be Upheld

WHEREAS, The Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod are
intended to protect the rights of pastors and congregations
of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, The deliberate violation or setting aside of the
Constitution and Bylaws by officers of the Synod, including
District Presidents, endangers the rights of every pastor and
congregation of the Synod, promotes chaos, and will ultimately
result in arbitrary use of power by those who hold synodical
offices: and

WHEREAS, The Bylaws of the Synod provide for the ordina-
tion only of such pastors who have “received endorsement
by the proper faculty or the Committee on Colloquies and
in every respect have been declared qualified by them for the
office of the ministry of Word and sacrament in the church”
(Bylaw 4.15 a 2): and

WHEREAS, A number of District Presidents have authorized
ordination and installation of men who have not received such
endorsement, thus ignoring the Constitution of the Synod,
which expressly states: ‘‘The officers of the Synod must assume
only such rights as have been expressly conferred upon them
by the Synod” (Constitution Art. XI 1): and

WHEREAS, Such action was taken in spite of the urgent plea
of the President of the Synod urging them to uphold the Con-
stitution and Bylaws of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, To this date nothing has been done to rectify this
grievous violation of the Constitution of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, The plea of ‘unusual circumstances” does not
justify such deliberate violation of the Bylaws of the Synod:
therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention assembled determine
whether such action is indeed a violation of the Constitution:
and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod declare whether the Bylaws
requiring “proper endorsement” shall remain in force: and be
it further

Resolved. That the Synod support the President of the Synod
in his duty of upholding the Constitution of the Synod and the
“supervision regarding the doctrine and the administration of
all District Presidents” (Constitution XI B 1): and be it further

Resolved, That synodical officers who cannot or will not
uphold the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod be called
to account for their actions at the delegate convention of the
Synod assembled in 1975: and be it finally

Resolved, That, should the Synod determine to retain its
Bylaws in their present form, those synodical officers who
cannot uphold the Bylaws be asked to resign their office, or that
the Synod apply the sanctions of its Constitution as outlined in
Article XI A 2 and B 2.

Board of Directors
Montana District
Paul Blunck, Secretary

3-16

To Create New Governing Body

WHEREAS. The Synod, in its advisory role to congregations,
seeks to provide adequate local and regional voice in church
government; and

WHEREAS. The Synod has grown to such a size that govern-

ment by national convention has proven costly and cumber-
some; and