LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 252

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252 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters had on
March 22-23, 1974, stated the opinion in response to the request
concerning the placement of Seminex students into the service
of the LCMS: “It is with sincere regret that the commission is
unanimously constrained to rule that under the Bylaws of the
Synod, the aforementioned students cannot be declared eligible
for placement in the ministry of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod”: and: “It is clear from the Bylaws that only those
candidates who have been properly certified and assigned may
be ordained”: and

WHEREAS, In spite of several admonitions by the President
of the LCMS to the District Presidents, in spite of written com-
munications from the President to congregations considering
the calling and ordaining of uncertified students, in spite of full
knowledge of the opinions of the CCM, in spite of resolutions
adopted by the Council of Presidents, nevertheless several
District Presidents have proceeded with authorizing the ordina-
tion and placement of Seminex students: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod, meeting in convention declare
these violations of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod to
be of such a serious nature that they threaten the very existence
of the Synod, declare the Constitution and the Bylaws of the
Synod to be null and void, destroy the effectiveness of the office
of the synodical President in his duties, according to the Consti-
tution (Art. XI B 1, 2, 3, 4), and establish the supremacy of the
District and the District President over the Synod: and be it
further

Resolved. That this convention request those District Presi-
dents who have authorized such unconstitutional ordinations
and placements publicly to state to this convention their sincere
regret for their actions and in repentance request the Synod for
forgiveness: and be it further

Resolved. That those District Presidents communicate in
writing to the congregations who received unauthorized stu-
dents, and to the students who were ordained and placed into
service contrary to the Bylaws of the Synod, that their ordination
and placement is null and void in the eyes of the Synod: and be
it finally

Resolved. That those District Presidents who cannot comply
in this manner be requested by the Synod to resign their office
or be suspended from office by the President of the Synod.

Board of Directors

Ontario District

Albin J. Stanfel, President
Harold R. Patzer, Secretary

5-122A

To Deal Pastorally with Erring
District Presidents

WHEREAS, Certain District Presidents have authorized ordi-
nations for candidates for the ministry in situations that clearly
violated the Constitution and Bylaws of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod (cp. Art. XII 9 a,c with Bylaw 4.01): and

WHEREAS, In several cases these same District Presidents
took these actions within a few months of taking the following
oath of induction into office:

Will you endeavor faithfully to perform all the duties of such office as

laid down in the Constitution and Bylaws of The Lutheran Church —

Missouri Synod, and in accordance with the doctrines of Holy Writ

as set forth in the Confessions of our church, and to adorn your

office with a godly life?

To which they had answered “Yes, with the help of God": and
WHEREAS, The President of the Synod and many others in
the Synod have admonished these men for their violation of a
solemn oath invoking God’s name~—a sin against the Second
Commandment: and
WHEREAS, The Constitution of the Synod in Art. XI, “Rights

and Duties of Officers,” makes clear that the Synod is first of all
responsible for the actions of its officers:

A. In General

1. The officers of the Synod must assume only such rights as have
been expressly conferred upon them by the Synod, and in everything

pertaining to their rights and the performance of their duties they are
responsible to the Synod.

2. The Synod at all times has the right to call its officers to ac-
count and, if circumstances require it, to remove them from office in
accordance with Christian procedure.

therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod
assembled in convention deal pastorally with those District
Presidents who have acted in the manner mentioned in the first
whereas by making them aware of the sin committed: and be it
further

Resolved. That those District Presidents who repent be
assured of the Synod’s forgiveness and continued support in
their duties of office: and be it finally

Resolved, That those District Presidents who do not repent
be removed from office “tin accordance with Christian pro-
cedure.”

Zion Ev. Lutheran Church
Plainfield, Ill.

Harley Schoger, President
Raymond Weber, Pastor

Identical or similar:

5-122B to 5-122E

St. Paul, Rochelle, Ill. Theo. Weiss
St. Paul's, Nokomis, III. G. Wittmaier
St. Paul’s, Fairmont, Minn. V. Harley
Trinity, Taylorville, Ill. Wm. Marden
5-123

To Deal Directly with Certain District

Presidents

WHEREAS, District Presidents are in honor bound to uphold
all synodical constitutional procedures and Bylaws for the bene-
fit of the Synod and its life and work: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod itself deal with all District Presi-
dents who have knowingly and openly violated procedures and
Bylaws of the Synod: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod itself, on its own authority, remove
from office all such Presidents unless they submit to the Synod
in writing statements of regret and of good intention for the
future: and be it finally

Resolved. That the Synod itself, on its own authority, declare
null and void all such illegal, contradictory official acts of the
District President.

Narareth Lutheran Church
Buffalo, N. Y.
Donald J. Sampson, Secretary

3-124

To Take Action Against Presidents Who
Authorize Certain Ordinations, etc.

WHEREAS, The ordaining of Seminex graduates who have
not submitted to an interview by the proper synodical authorities
is in violation of the spirit and letter of our Synodical Constitu-
tion and Bylaws: and

WHEREAS, District Presidents have been cautioned by the
Synod’s President not to ordain uncertified graduates of Semi-
nex: and

WHEREAS, District Presidents are bound to achieve the
objects of the Synod and to carry on its activities: and

WHEREAS, It is the duty of the President of the Synod to see
to it that the District Presidents ‘‘act in accordance with the
Synod’'s Constitution’’: and

WHEREAS, ‘The President [of the Synod] shall perform all
additional duties which the Synod may enjoin upon him through
its Bylaws or by special resolution’’: and

WHEREAS, District Presidents are each the Chief pastor in
the District and as such are to be models for all in the District
to emulate: therefore be it