To Amend Bylaw 3.3.1.1.2 (c) to Designate President’s Director of Church Relations as His Primary Representative for Ecclesiastical Relations with Other Church Bodies

Official Workbook overture source text

5-42 
To Amend Bylaw 3.3.1.1.2 (c) to Designate 
President’s Director of Church Relations  
as His Primary Representative for Ecclesiastical 
Relations with Other Church Bodies 
WHEREAS, The Synod in 1962 established the Commission on 
Theology and Church Relations  (CTCR) (1962 Resolution 6- 03, 
“Commission on Theology and Church Relations”); and 
WHEREAS, In 2007, President Gerald B. Kieschnick created a 
Church Relations unit within the Office of the President to address 
increased ecumenical opportunities to strengthen confessional 
Lutheran church bodies worldwide and to meet the increased 
requirements of managing those ecumenical relations in a manner 
that would allow for more direct communication, supervision, and 
coordination within the Office of the President itself; and 
WHEREAS, In 2008, Dr. Samuel H. Nafzger retired after lengthy 
service (1974–2008) as the executive director of the CTCR to begin 
service as the Synod’s first d irector of Church Relations, a ssistant 
to the President; and 
WHEREAS, Since 2008, the President of the Synod, being the 
chief ecumenical o fficer of the Synod, has called a d irector of 
Church Relations, a ssistant to the President, as his primary 
representative in his daily bishop- to-bishop ecclesiastical 
engagements and support; and 
WHEREAS, LCMS Church Relations, on behalf of the President 
and based on his guidance, has continued to provide daily strategic, 
operational, and field -level leadership, planning, and support for 
ecclesiastical relations worldwide, now with 104 church bodies, 
including the annual International Church Relations Conference, 
regional gatherings, theological education to advance unity of 
confession with sister churches and others, theological dialogues 
with churches seeking recognition of church fellowship with T he 
Lutheran Church—M issouri Synod (LCMS), and church body 
visitation (2026 Report R1.1); and 
WHEREAS, LCMS Church Relations, on behalf of the President 
and based on his guidance, regularly collaborates with other church 
relations stakeholders, to include: (1) the CTCR as it assists the 
President of the Synod at his request in church relations matters that 
bear on doctrinal integrity (Bylaw  3.9.5.2.2), and in its bylaw 
responsibilities to recommend to the Synod recognition of altar and 
pulpit fellowship with another church body (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 [b]); 
(2) the Office of International Mission in its support a nd 
encouragement of sister churches (Bylaw 3.8.3.4); (3) the LCMS 
seminaries in their theological education support to sister church 
seminaries and at other venues; (4) LCMS districts and 
congregations in their support to sister church bodies and others; 
and (5) the International Lutheran Council in its programs that 
encourage confessional Lutheranism; therefore be it 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.3.1.1.2 (c) be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
3.3.1.1.2 The President shall be the chief ecumenical officer of the 
Synod. 
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