LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 245

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CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 245

the faculty of Seminex, whence these uncertified pastors have
graduated, has charged the Synod with being ‘in danger of
losing its truly Lutheran character and of becoming a sect” in
“A Declaration of Protest and Confession” ‘adopted July 1973)
and since their doctrinal position has been labeled “false doc-
trine which cannot be tolerated in the church of God” by the
1973 convention of the Synod in Resolution 3-09: and

WHEREAS, It may be assumed that these seminary graduates
agree with their former teachers unless they publicly repudiate
these positions: and

WHEREAS, Congregations which have called such uncertified
Seminex graduates were warned of the possible consequences
of their action both by the President of the Synod and by the
Commission on Constitutional Matters: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention assembled admonish
the congregations and pastors involved of the consequences of
persistence in their action so that the congregations themselves
may take the initiative in urging their pastors to be certified by
the agreed-to methods: and be it further

Resolved. That if the pastors involved refuse to submit to
interviews for certification by the proper faculty, the congrega-
tions be admonished to remove their pastors on this account:
and be it finally

Resolved. That congregations which refuse after repeated
brotherly admonition to remove their pastors be dealt with
according to the provisions of 4.01 b of the Handbook of the
Synod within 1 year after the end of the 1975 convention of the

Synod. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Rock Falls, Ill.
John Harden, Secretary
Curtis A. Peterson, Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-99B to 5-99D

Christ, Waverly, Ill.
Emmanuel, Kingfisher, Okla.
St. John’s, Kildare, Okla.

5-100
To Require Congregations to Conform
to Constitution

WHEREAS, Each congregation upon becoming a member of
the Synod agrees to uphold and honor the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Synod as a common bond of fellowship with other
congregations of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, Part of that agreement is to call and install into
their congregations only such candidates and pastors as have
been properly qualified, having met the prerequisites described
in the Handbook, Bylaw 4.15 (pp. 98—99): and

WHEREAS, Certain congregations have disregarded these
regulations by calling and installing candidates of Seminex,
which is not a recognized institution of the Synod, and have
therefore broken their agreement with the Synod: therefore
be it

Resolved. That the respective congregations be requested
to recognize their breach of promise, call upon their improperly
installed pastors to submit to a colloquy according to regulations
for pastors not graduating from a recognized institution of the
Missouri Synod, and in the event that these congregations
insist upon following their own procedures in disregard of
Synod’s regulations, be it further

Resolved, That such congregations be declared to have
forfeited their membership and all rights within the Synod.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Fairmont, Minn.

Willis Hinz, Chairman
Charles Backstrom, Secretary

E. A. Bielefeld
V.H. Mickow
Theo. Knepper

5-101A
To Remove Congregations from
Membership

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has

stated in its Articles of Incorporation, Article I]: “The objects
of this corporation shall be: ...c. To assist and advise congre-
gations, pastors, and teachers affiliated with The Lutheran
Church— Missouri Synod and to exercise supervision over such
pastors and teachers as to doctrine, practice, and performance
of their official duties” (Handbook. p. 11): and

WHEREAS, The Synod has adopted certain measures and
procedures to facilitate such supervision:

1. One of its objects is: **To establish, build, conduct, and
maintain theological seminaries, colleges, academies, schools,
and other institutions of learning” (Handbook, p. 11):

2. It has adopted rules and regulations governing eligibility
for entry into the pastoral ministry:

a. Bylaw 4.09 a: “The Council of Presidents, acting as the
Board of Assignments, shall regularly assign to the gradu-
ates and available supply students, interns, and vicars
of the Synod's educational institutions . . . the calls and
appointments for pastors which congregations,
qualified associations, and synodical and District boards
have sent” (Handbook. p. 98):

b. Bylaw 4.15 a: “A candidate for the office of the pastoral
ministry in The Lutheran Church ~— Missouri Synod may
be ordained when the following prerequisites have been
met: 1. He shall have completed the prescribed courses
of study and have received a diploma from one of the
the Synod's seminaries. .. . 2. He shall have received
endorsement by the proper faculty ... and in every re-
spect have been declared qualified by them for the office
of the ministry of Word and sacrament in the church....
5. He shall have received and accepted a call extended
through the proper channels to assume full-time work in
the church ‘Handbook. pp. 98—99): and

WHEREAS, Several congregations have called and are being
served by candidates who have not fulfilled the qualifications
for a divine call and ordination into The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod, qualifications to which all have agreed by their
membership in the Synod: and

WHEREAS. The President of the Synod has appealed per-
sonally to these congregations either not to call such unqualified
candidates or, if they have extended a call and it has been
accepted, to see to it that the candidate receive proper certifica-
tion: and

WHEREAS, This counsel has not been heeded by a number of
congregations and thus they have set themselves above the
Synod by defiantly violating one of the fundamental objects
for which Synod was formed: and

WHEREAS. Bylaw 2.29 b prescribes that the President of the
Synod “shall exercise executive power when the affairs of the
Synod demand it and when he has been expressly invested with
such power for such specific purpose” (Handbook. p. 49): and

WHEREAS. Article III of the Articles of Incorporation pro-
vides: ‘The power of the corporation shall be lodged with the
accredited clergy and lay delegates of the congregations in
actual membership with The Lutheran Church-— Missouri
Synod...’ (Handbook, p. 12): therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod meet-
ing in convention in Anaheim declare that such congregations
by their actions have removed themselves from fellowship with
the Synod and forfeit all rights and privileges therein: and be
it further

Resolved. That the President of the Synod be granted
executive power to remove said congregations from member-
ship in the Synod: and be it finally

Resolved. That any delegate to the Anaheim convention
belonging to a congregation that has removed itself from fellow-
ship be denied the right to vote as per Article VI 1 of the Synod’s
Constitution (Handbook. p. 17).

St. Thomas Lutheran Church
Rocky River, Ohio

Edgar H. Krause, President
James P. Walker, Secretary
Phillip B. Giessler, Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-101B

St. Mark's, Youngstown, Ohio T. Glammeyer