To Request Council of Presidents to Clarify Circumstances of Called Worker Removal or Resignation

Official Workbook overture source text

10-24 
To Request Council of Presidents to Clarify 
Circumstances of Called Worker  
Removal or Resignation 
WHEREAS, The Church, as instituted by her Lord Jesus Christ, 
publicly calls both commissioned and ordained ministers according 
to good order (Eph. 4:11–12); and 
WHEREAS, Every called worker solemnly promises to serve 
God’s people in accordance with Holy Scripture and with our 
Lutheran Confessions (LSB Agenda, 166, 212); and 
WHEREAS, Every called worker likewise promises to adorn the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ with a holy and godly life (ibid.); and 
WHEREAS, There is a public nature to the work undertaken by 
those who serve the Church (Matt. 5:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2–4), 
as such a task includes exemplifying the faith for those they serve 
to see and emulate; and 
WHEREAS, Though rare, shameful and scandalizing cases have 
arisen, in which called workers are  found to be unfit according to 
the scriptural requirements (Rom . 12:3–8; Col . 3:12–17; 1 Tim. 
3:1–7; 4:1– 5, 14 –16) of those serving in called positions in the 
Church, which require a removal or resignation from the office held; 
and 
WHEREAS, Such cases are publicized to the Ch urch in a 
straightforward but question-inspiring manner, which gives way to 
justifiable curiosity, concern, and, worse, speculation or rumor; and 
WHEREAS, Those who have been removed or have resigned from 
called positions that once qualified  them to publicly teach God’s 
2026 Convention Workbook
513ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION