Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 37
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 37.
This page reproduces text from the 2023 LCMS Handbook for study and navigation. Readers should verify procedural, legal, parliamentary, or governance questions against the official LCMS Handbook and appropriate LCMS authorities.
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).
