To Safeguard Evangelical Ecclesiastical Supervision and District Judgments

Ov. 10-06

To Safeguard Evangelical Ecclesiastical Supervision and District Judgments

WHEREAS, Our Lord has entrusted the care of His flock to undershepherds who are to exercise oversight not “domineering over those in [their] charge, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3); and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions teach that bishops/superintendents are to exercise churchly oversight according to the Gospel, not according to arbitrary or lordly power (AC XXVIII; Tr 8); and

WHEREAS, The Synod Constitution recognizes the congregation as “the basic unit of the Synod” (Bylaw 1.3.1) and describes the Synod’s relation to its members as advisory rather than coercive (Const. Art. VII); and

WHEREAS, District presidents are charged in the Constitution and Bylaws with ecclesiastical supervision of doctrine and practice within their districts, including careful investigation and pastoral handling of concerns involving pastors and congregations; and

WHEREAS, For the sake of good order, mutual trust, and the consciences of pastors and congregations it is vital that the careful work of congregational leaders and district presidents not be lightly or opaquely overridden by Synod actions taken from afar; and

WHEREAS, There is growing concern in the Synod that district - level investigations and pastoral resolutions may in practice be reversed from the Synod level without clear, substantive explanation and without robust involvement of the Council of Presidents (COP) , thus undermining confidence in evangelical ecclesiastical supervision; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the biblical and confessional principles of ecclesiastical supervision as exercised in a brotherly, evangelical manner, in keeping with Augsburg Confession XXVIII and the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope ; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod affirm that district presidents, as local ecclesiastical supervisors, have a genuine and weighty responsibility in investigating, judging, and resolving cases involving pastors and congregations under their care; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod direct the Commission on Handbook, in consultation with the COP, to review all b ylaws relating to ecclesiastical supervision and expulsion with a view toward:

• clarifying the respective responsibilities of congregations, district presidents, and the President of the Synod;

• strengthening provisions that require serious, documented rationale when Synod actions overturn district -level judgments; and • providing for meaningful collegial involvement (e.g., defined COP concurrence or similar mechanism) when district conclusions are set aside in favor of Synod actions, such as removal from the roster;

and be it further

Resolved, That such proposed amendments be presented to the next regular Synod convention for consideration; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod encourage all officers and church leaders to exercise ecclesiastical supervision in a manner that

honors local and district judgments, promotes evangelical care, and builds trust rather than fear among pastors and congregations.

Our Savior, Arlington, VA; St. John’s, Alexandria, VA;

Trinity, Lexington Park, MD;

Circuit 8 (Washington, South), Southeastern District