1.6 Confessional Position of the Synod

1.6 Confessional Position of the Synod

1.6.1 The confessional position of the Synod is set forth in Article II of its

Constitution, to which all who wish to be and remain members of the Synod shall subscribe.

Doctrinal Resolutions and Statements

1.6.2 The Synod, in seeking to clarify its witness or to settle doctrinal

controversy, so that all who seek to participate in the relationships that exist within and through the Synod may benefit and may act to benefit others, shall have the right to adopt doctrinal resolutions and statements which are in harmony with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

(a) Doctrinal resolutions may be adopted for the information, counsel, and guidance of the membership. They shall conform to the confessional position of the Synod as set forth in Article II of its

Constitution and shall ordinarily cite the pertinent passages of the Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and any previously adopted official doctrinal statements and resolutions of the Synod. Such resolutions come into being in the same manner as any oth er resolutions of a convention of the Synod and are to be honored and upheld until such time as the Synod amends or repeals them.

(b) Doctrinal statements set forth in greater detail the position of the Synod especially in controverted matters. A proposed statement or a proposal for the development of such a statement shall be

(1) submitted by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations or submitted to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations by a convention of the Synod (including that of a district), a faculty of the Synod, or an official district conference of ordained and/or commissioned ministers for evaluation, refinement, development, or recommendation, as the case may be;

(2) submitted by the commission, if it acts favorably, to the colleges, universities, seminaries, congregations, and other members of the Synod for study and suggestions for no more than one year (failure by the commission to submit a proposed doctrinal statement within a year may be appealed to the Synod in convention through a proper overture);

(3) refined further by the commission on the basis of suggestions received;

(4) submitted by the commission to the Synod in convention for further consideration and possible adoption by majority vote;

amendments shall require a two -thirds affirmative vote of those present and voting;

(5) resubmitted to the congregations for ratification in its final existing form;

(6) ratified and operative if a two -thirds majority of the member congregations which respond within six months registers an affirmative vote on a ballot supplied by the Secretary of the Synod for that purpose. Failure to ratify makes the statement inoperative , and this fact shall be reported by the Secretary to the members of the Synod through an announcement in an official periodical;

(7) Such adopted and ratified doctrinal statements shall be regarded as the position of the Synod and shall be “accepted and used as helpful expositions and explanations” (FC SD Rule and Norm 10). They shall be honored and upheld (“to abide by, act, and teach in accordance with” [1971 Res. 2 -21]) until such time as the Synod amends or repeals them;

(8) An overture to amend such an adopted ratified doctrinal statement shall follow the same procedure as listed in (1– 6) above;

(9) An overture to repeal such an adopted and ratified doctrinal statement shall require a majority vote of the Synod in convention in answer to an overture properly submitted and be subject to the procedure of congregational approval set forth in paragraph (6 ) above;

(10) In the interim, those who submit overtures to amend or to repeal shall, while retaining their right to dissent, continue to honor and uphold publicly the statement as the position of the Synod, notwithstanding further study and action by the Synod in convention.

1.7 Agreements

1.7.1 The Constitution, Bylaws, and all other rules and regulations of the Synod

apply to all congregational and individual members of the Synod.

1.7.2 The Synod expects every member congregation of the Synod 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 applicable as far as the condition of the congregation is conc erned. The Synod, being an advisory body, recognizes the right of a congregation to be the judge of the applicability of the resolution to its local condition. However, in exercising such judgment, a congregation must not act arbitrarily, but in accordance with the principles of Christian love and charity.

1.7.3 The Synod expects congregations that have not been received into

membership, but are served by the Synod, and whose ministers of religion, ordained and commissioned, hold membership in the Synod, to honor its rules and regulations.

1.8 Dissent

1.8.1 While retaining the right of brotherly dissent, members of the Synod are

expected as part of the life together within the fellowship of the Synod to honor and uphold the resolutions of the Synod.

1.8.2 Dissent from the doctrinal position of the Synod as expressed in its

resolutions and doctrinal statements is to be expressed first within the fellowship of peers (that is, with those who are competent to evaluate the issue critically) and then brought to the attention of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations before finding expression as an overture to the Synod in convention calling for revision or rescission . The discussion among the fellowship of peers is to be conducted privately and confidentially among those who are competent rather than in a public forum. While the conscience of the dissenter shall be respected, the consciences of others, as well as the collective will of the Synod, shall also be respected.

1.8.3 This right of brotherly dissent does not allow a member of the Synod

publicly to teach or practice contrary to the established doctrinal position of the Synod. Any such public teaching shall place in jeopardy membership in the Synod.

1.9 Doctrinal Review

Definition

1.9.1 Doctrinal review is the exercise of the Synod ’s responsibility to determine

that every doctrinal statement made in its or any of its agencies’ or