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

Official Workbook overture source text

10-25 
To Request Council of Presidents to Clarify 
Circumstances of Called Worker  
Removal or Resignation from Roster 
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 
W
HEREAS, 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 
W
HEREAS, 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 
W
HEREAS, 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 Church 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 and from the roster that once qualified them to 
publicly teach God’s Word in our midst at times move to other 
organizations or church bodies despite their being found unfit 
according to God’s clear standards, thus further scandalizing the 
Church and sowing confusion; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents (COP) confer and 
compose a process by which the removal or resignation of called 
workers from the roster of the Synod, and the nature thereof (e.g., 
false doctrine, immoral life, inability to serve —omitting details), 
will be more clearly relayed to the wider Synod, taking into 
consideration Bylaw sections 2.13 and 2.17, with particular 
attention to Bylaw 2.13.2.1 (a–c); and be it further 
Resolved, That the COP, in their work, consider relaying the 
status of the called worker ( restricted, suspended, or under 
investigation) at the time of the removal or resignation from the 
roster. 
Circuit 25 (Kenosha), South Wisconsin District;  
Circuit 26 (Racine), South Wisconsin District 
Ov.