LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 262

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262 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

5-152
To Provide Clarification re Suspension
and Expulsion of District and
Synodical Presidents

WHEREAS, The President of our Synod is expressly entrusted
with “the supervision regarding the doctrine and administration
of all officers of the Synod,” including also the District Presi-
dents (Art. XI B 1): and

WHEREAS, The same supervision is assigned to the District
Presidents over the pastors and teachers in their respective
Districts (Bylaws 3.41 and 3.45): and

WHEREAS, Article XIII of the Synod's Constitution treats
of “Expulsion from the Synod” and the Bylaws carefully out-
line the procedure in cases of ‘Adjudication and Appeal,” with
special attention to “Suspension and Expulsion” (5.01 to 5.29
inclusive); and

WHEREAS, However, no procedure in dealing with District
Presidents themselves or even with the President of the Synod,
in case suspension or expulsion should be indicated, seems to
be spelled out in either the Constitution or the Bylaws, clearly
setting forth what steps are to be taken and whois to take them:
therefore be it

Resolved. That the Commission on Constitutional Matters
be instructed to publish clarification on this score to the congre-
gations of the Synod as soon as possible: and be it further

Resolved. That, should satisfactory clarification prove im-
possible for want of material to be clarified, the President be
asked to direct either said commission or, if he deems it more
feasible, to appoint a special committee of no less than five that
will submit to the next synodical convention guidelines in the
form of additions to the Bylaws regulating the procedure to be
followed if—and may the Lord of the church mercifully prevent
this'~a District or synodical President becomes guilty of per-
sistent error in doctrine or life.

Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church
Seattle, Wash.

Carroll E. Cooper, President
Karl J. Jaech, Secretary
John F. Falk, Pastor

3-153A

To Make =xplicit the Authority of the
Synodical President in Relationship
to District Presidents

WHEREAS, The Handbook gives the President of the Synod
supervision over the District Presidents (Art. XI B 1 d): and

WHEREAS, District Presidents are required to submit annual
reports of their administration to the President of the Synod
(Art. XII 9 b: Bylaws 2.27 b and 3.41): and

WHEREAS, The District Presidents and the synodical Presi-
dent are specifically charged with the duty to see that the
Synod’s resolutions are carried out (Art. XII 9 a and Art. XI
B 4): and

WHEREAS, Carrying out the Synod’s resolutions certainly
includes obeying and honoring constitutionally adopted Bylaws
of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, Some District Presidents have openly disobeyed
the Constitution and Bylaws or have supported those who have
done so: and

WHEREAS, The President of the Synod has the duty to ad-
monish District Presidents who do not “act in accordance with
the Synod’s Constitution,” but if such District Presidents do not
heed the admonition is instructed merely to “report such cases
to the Synod” (Art. XI B 2): and

WHEREAS, There is need for the authority of the President
of the Synod in regard to the District Presidents to be stated
as explicitly as is his responsibility regarding them: and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 2.29 b states 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”: therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of the Synod hereby be invested
with executive power under Bylaw 2.29 b to suspend from office
any District President who, after patient admonition, persists
in actions contrary to the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws or
synodical resolutions, or who permits persons under his juris-
diction to do so: and be it finally

Resolved, That the President of the Synod be required to
report all such executive actions to the next convention of the
Synod.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Elkhart, Ind.

Lorrain E. Melser, President
Leslie H. Grebe, Secretary
James T. Nickel, Pastor
Edmund J. Nickel, Pastor

Identical or similar:

5-153B

Our Savior’s, Pacifica, Calif. John H. Rische

5-154

To Restore Traditional Authority
to President

WHEREAS, The Constitution and Bylaws assign responsibility
for the supervision of doctrine to the President of the Synod,
a function he must normally carry out through others over
whom he has been given no direct authority (cf XI B 1 d contra
XII 7 and 8: Bylaws 2.27 a contra 2.27 c and d: 3.41 contra 3.45
and 3.47): and

WHEREAS, The assignment of responsibility without cor-
responding authority is a violation of sound business and ad-
ministrative practices and has made the management of synod-
ical affairs painfully turbulent in recent years; and

WHEREAS, The discrepancy between responsibility and
authority presented no practical problems as long as our Synod
functioned as a sociologically homogeneous subculture in which
the President was not required personally to enforce discipline
but could rely on his assistants to have a spirit of ready coopera-
tion and to work in complete harmony with him: and

WHEREAS, This traditional reverence has degenerated into
an egalitarian spirit prompting District Presidents to exceed
their constitutional authority and violate synodical policies,
challenging the President of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, The Bylaws describe Districts as subordinate
extensions of the Synod (3.01, 3.03, and 3.07: ef. Constitution
XII 1) and describe District Presidents as assistants to the Presi-
dent of the Synod (2.27); and

WHEREAS, Certain Districts appear to assume differing char-
acteristics which derive from their administrations rather than
from geographic factors and thereby threaten the unity of the
Synod: and

WHEREAS, Our fellowship experience with the ALC has
taught us that heterogeneous elements can be integrated by
giving the synodical President direct authority over District
Presidents: therefore be it

Resolved. That the traditional authority of the President be
made explicit by granting him powers commensurate with the
responsibilities outlined in the Constitution, with ine prayer
that by this action God will restore the harmony that befits
co-workers in our portion of His gracious kingdom: and be it
further

Resolved, That the President of the Synod be empowered
to dismiss District Presidents at his discretion, to replace them
with Vice-Presidents of the Districts affected, or with Presidents
of other Districts: and be it further

Resolved, That a full report of any such executive actions
be given to the following general convention of the Synod: and
be it finally

Resolved, That the Bylaws be amended to reflect this applica-