1.9 Doctrinal Review

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

auxiliaries’ materials is in accord with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

Material Subject to Doctrinal Review

1.9.1.1 The following materials are subject to doctrinal review:

(a) All official periodicals and journals of the Synod as well as any material with doctrinal content issued publicly by boards, commissions, or other subordinate groups of the Synod except as stipulated in these Bylaws shall be subject to doctrinal review.

(b) The right to produce study documents and exploratory material plainly designated as such and published by boards, commissions, or other subordinate groups of the Synod is recognized, and such material is not required to be submitted to the doctrinal review process.

Publication of s uch study material that is not submitted for doctrinal review shall always include this notice on or immediately following the title page: “This material is being released for study and discussion purposes, and the author(s) is(ar e) solely responsible for its contents.

It has not been submitted to the process for doctrinal review stipulated in the Bylaws of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod and does not necessarily reflect the theology of the Lutheran Confessions or the doctrinal position of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod.”

(c) Each district is accountable to the Synod through its respective president and board of directors for the content of all of its published materials.

(d) Each of the Synod’s schools is accountable to the Synod through its respective president and board of regents for the content of its professional journals and all of its published materials that are not the official publications of the Synod (Bylaw 3.4.3.7). The editorial b oards of such publications shall serve as their own doctrinal reviewers.

(e) Auxiliary organizations recognized by the Synod shall be held directly accountable for their material. However, in accord with his office as defined in Constitution Art. XI B 1, the President of the Synod shall require doctrinal review.

(f) In the case of broadcasts over the Synod ’s radio station by other than staff members, individuals must be held responsible for their own material since it is not feasible to apply the process of doctrinal review to such broadcasts.

(g) Official reports of the boards, commissions, task forces, and committees of the Synod prepared in response to directives from the Synod shall not be subject to doctrinal review.

Procedure

1.9.2 Before materials stipulated in Bylaw 1.9.1 are published, they shall be

submitted to (a) doctrinal reviewer(s). Reviewers shall make a careful evaluation of the doctrinal content of all items submitted. Materials are to be reviewed in a prompt manner and completed in no longer than four weeks. Exceptions shall be arranged by mutual agreement between the reviewer(s) and the originating entity.

(a) The primary responsibility for doctrinal supervision and review lies with the President of the Synod (Constitution Art. XI B 1).

(1) Each board, commission, and other subordinate group of the Synod shall advise the President of the Synod of the number and desired competency of doctrinal reviewers needed by it and may suggest a list of qualified persons. The President shall appoint reviewers for each group according to its needs. They shall be broadly representative of the ministry of the Synod.

(2) Reviewers shall be appointed for renewable three- year terms.

An appointment may be terminated prior to the completion of the appointed term if the reviewer is unable or unwilling to carry out the reviewing tasks assigned. In the event of such termination, the President of the Synod shall appoint another reviewer to complete the unexpired term.

(b) Each agency of the Synod, synodwide corporate entity, or auxiliary shall establish procedures that will ensure that its material as specified in Bylaw section 1.9 will be submitted for doctrinal review to one of the reviewers referred to in Bylaw 1.9.2 (a).

(c) Since time requirements vary according to the type of material being reviewed, the procedure in each case shall be worked out to the mutual satisfaction of the sponsoring group and the doctrinal reviewer(s).

(d) The identity of authors and reviewers shall not be disclosed without the approval of the President. Consultation may at times be advisable, however, where clarification is necessary.

(e) The reviewer’s primary concern is that items submitted to him be in agreement in their doctrinal content with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

(f) The reviewer(s) shall also be concerned that the items submitted do not contain statements that are inadequate, misleading, ambiguous, or lacking in doctrinal clarity.

(g) The reviewer(s) shall further be concerned that resolutions of the Synod be honored and upheld and that positions deviating from the doctrinal resolutions of the Synod be clearly identified as such.

(h) When the author is also a reviewer, his material shall be assigned to another reviewer. In order to avoid any conflict of interest, no author shall be involved in any way in the selection or assignment of reviewer(s) for his or her own work.

(i) The reviewer may request that specific material assigned to him also be reviewed by another reviewer.

(j) Where changes appear to be necessary, the reviewer(s) shall submit a thorough and clearly written documented critique that shall be made available to the author, the sponsoring group, and the publisher. The documentation provided by the reviewer(s) shall provide a thorough and detailed explanation, with all appropriate biblical and confessional references used to support the opinion offered.

(k) The author shall consider the critique and make necessary revisions until there is agreement between the author and the reviewer(s).

(l) Should any problem arise between an author, the reviewer(s), the publisher, or any other party involved with respect to the material submitted for review, the sponsoring group shall endeavor to resolve it to the satisfaction of the reviewer(s). If it cannot do so, the problem shall be submitted to the Commission on Doctrinal Review which shall follow the appeals procedure and criteria stated in Bylaw 3.9.3.2.1.

1.9.3 After publication , any challenge to material that is subject to doctrinal

review, no matter which process is used as listed in Bylaw 1.9.2, shall be handled according to the procedure and criteria specified in Bylaw

3.9.3.2.2.