Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 266
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 266

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

266 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

opinion of the CCM (“tend to polarize or fragment the constitu-
ency of the Synod’) nor the channels enumerated in Bylaw 1.09
e for expressions of a doctrinal nature (“fellowship of peers...
Commission on Theology and Church Relations . . . overture
to the convention”) can alter the inherent constitutional right
of the members of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, The overriding provision of the Constitution that
“in its relation to its members the Synod is not an ecclesiastical
government exercising legislative or coercive powers, and with
respect to the individual congregation's right of self-government
it is but an advisory body” (Art. VII) has not been altered, nor
can it be altered by anything except constitutional amendment
(and therefore not by adoption of any Bylaw): and

WHEREAS, Dr. C. F. W. Walther, the first President of the
Synod, when interpreting the synodical Constitution in his first
presidential address (1848) insisted that, “according to the
Constitution under which our synodical union exists, we have
merely the power to advise one another, that we have only the
power of the Word, and of convincing. According to our Consti-
tution we have no right to formulate decrees, to pass laws and
regulations, and to make a judicial decision, to which our con-
gregations would have to submit unconditionally in any matter
involving the imposing of something upon them”: therefore we
the Eastern District

Request:

1) that the 1975 synodical convention reemphasize for our
time Article ITI 8 of the synodical Constitution: “the protection
of pastors, teachers, and congregations in the performance of
their duties and the maintenance of their rights”: and the advi-
sory character of the Synod as characterizing its relation to its
members (Constitution, Art. VII):

2) that the right of the members of the Synod to freedom of
expression and freedom of assembly within the framework of
the synodical Constitution, especially Articles II, Il], V, VI,
VII, and XIII be guaranteed: and

3) that the officers, boards, and commissions of the Synod
and its Districts be instructed to make sure that this resolution
be faithfully observed.

Eastern District,
Richard L. J. Hoemann, Secretary

Identical or similar:

5-169B

Atlantic District R. Ressmeyer

5-170

To Refuse to Recognize as Missouri
Synod Clergy Those Persons Called by
Congregations to Be Assistants as
Seminex Professors

WHEREAS, A number of congregations have called Seminex
professors to be assistant pastors as Seminex professors: and

WHEREAS, These ‘“‘assistants” are rarely physically present
and discharging duties within that congregation because of their
teaching assignments at Seminex: and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters ruled
in its meeting of May 16, 1974, that such “an individual does not
meet the roster requirements of Bylaw 4.33": and

WHEREAS, The CCM further ruled “that it is improper for
a congregation to call men to a seminary, since the Synod (e. g.,
Article III 3: Bylaws 3.07 e, 6.03, and 6.53 a) has reserved to
itself the right to provide for the training of pastors and teachers
and to appoint faculties for that purpose”: and

WHEREAS, The CCM also ruled that ‘common sense would
dictate that in order to meet the requirement of Bylaw 4.33 a for
continuing eligibility on the clergy roster, ‘To be retained on
the roster, a clergyman or teacher as the case may be must be
performing the duties of one of the following offices: a. a pastor
called to serve a parish,’ it would be necessary for such a called
person to be present in the parish to discharge his prescribed
responsibilities as a pastor of that parish’’; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod assembled in convention declare
that those persons who have been called by congregations as
assistant pastors to be Seminex professors are not eligible to
be retained on the clergy roster of the Synod.

St. James Lutheran Church
University City, Mo.

John Essen, President

Carl Meinecke, Secretary
Tom Baker, Pastor

a-171A

To Require Resignations from
Seminex Staff

WHEREAS, Seminex professors continue to act in opposition
to the Synod through the operation of an opposition seminary:
and

WHEREAS, Seminex professors are supporting the propa-
gandizing of potential students for the purpose of preventing
their enrollment in either of our two official synodical seminaries,
thus hampering the mission of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, Such action constitutes schism by those who
oppose the Synod while continuing to enjoy the status of clergy
on the roster of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, Abundant personal admonition has been given to
these professors by the Synod, requesting them to abandon
their divisive activities and once again work with and for the
Synod: therefore be it

Resolved. That we memorialize the 1975 convention of The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to set a period of 3 months
from the conclusion of this convention, in which time Seminex
professors on the clergy roster of the Synod shall have oppor-
tunity to resign from Seminex, cease all other divisive activities,
and petition for reassignment in the Synod's work: and be it
finally

Resolved, That those professors who fail to heed this resolu-
tion of the Synod shall, after the above-stated period, be re-
moved from the clergy roster of the Synod for reason of offen-
sive conduct in opposition to the will of the Synod.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Taylorville, Ill.

Ear! Schrodt, President
Thomas Ladage, Secretary

Identical or similar:

5-171B to 5-171D

Holy Cross, Emma, Mo.
St. James, University City, Mo.
St. John’s, Brule, Nebr.

Wayne Schumpe
Tom Baker
F. Kwirant

d-172A

To Expel All Seminex Administrative,
Faculty, and Student Personnel
from Synod

WHEREAS. Mature, knowledgeable administrative and faculty
members of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, walked off their job
and calling in February 1974: and

WHEREAS, The Synod gave these striking professors and
administrative personnel the opportunity to return to their
calling or face eviction: and

WHEREAS, The choice to stay away from their calling was
completely voluntary on their part: and

WHEREAS, A large number of students, of whom it is before-
hand assumed that they are mature, responsible individuals,
followed the rebellious professors and staff in a sympathetic
“walkout” to join and identify with the self-titled Seminary-in-
Exile (Seminex): and

WHEREAS, The doctrinal position of the so-called Seminex