Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 3. pp. 351-352. Revised published proposal.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 10-02A
Canonical number: 10-02
Committee: Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution
Source: Today's Business, Issue 3
Printed pages: pp. 351-352
PDF pages: 43-44
Version: revised, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 3, pp. 351-352
Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 3, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.
Page 351
- To Create a Task Force to Clarify Relationship Between Bylaw 1.10 and 2.14
- and Consider Bylaw Changes for Dispute Resolution (Bylaw 1.10) and Expulsion of
- Congregations or Individuals from Membership in the Synod (Bylaw 2.14)
- RESOLUTION 10-02A
- Overtures 10-06, 08, 12–17, 20–23 (CW, 503–4, 506–13)
- WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is united in a common confession of Holy Scripture and the
- Lutheran Confessions and is called to maintain unity in doctrine and judgment while addressing disputes in a fraternal
- and timely manner (Matt. 5:23 –24; 1 Cor. 1:10). Such reconciliation serves both the Gospel and the well -being of the
- church; and
- WHEREAS, 1 Cor. 1:10 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree ,
- and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment ”; and
- WHEREAS, The current dispute resolution process, codified by Bylaw 1.10, was established to resolve disputes
- within the church while avoiding secular litigation; in practice, the process is sometimes lengthy, complex, and costly
- and its procedural requirements can cause disputes to take years to address or to remain unresolved; and
- WHEREAS, The relationship between B ylaw 1.10 and 2.14 (here inafter referred to as 1.10/2.14 processes ) seems
- confusing and can benefit from clarification and/or improvements; therefore be it
- Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the Secretary of Synod (in accordance with Constitution Article XI
- D 2) and the chair of the Synod Board of Directors to create a task force to study and recommend changes, if needed, to
- the 1.10/2.14 processes; and be it further
Page 352
- Resolved, That the task force be comprised of seven individuals, appointed with expertise and experience beneficial
- to the task force’s work, to include:
- • One district president with experience in the process;
- • One ordained rostered church worker with experience in the process;
- • One commissioned rostered church worker with experience in the process;
- • Four lay persons to include at least one attorney, one trained reconciler who has experience in the process, and
- two lay persons at large;
- and be it further
- Resolved, That the task force make recommendations for tools and revisions to clarify the 1.10/2.14 processes,
- striving to balance making the 1.10/2.14 processes more clear and efficient, timely to complete, less costly, less complex,
- more transparent, and less cumbersome (e.g., address issues of required face -to-face meetings v ersus electronic
- communication), with preserving important procedural and evidentiary due process protections for those involved and
- benefitting the integrity of the 1.10/2.14 processes; and be it finally
- Resolved, That the report be assigned to the proper floor committee for the purpose of adopting resolutions to present
- at the 2029 Synod convention.
- The Chief Financial Officer and LCMS Accounting and Financial Services staff, in consultation with the Finance
- Committee, estimate an incremental cost of $90,000–$120,000 for task force meetings
- (estimate required by Bylaw 3.1.7 [g]).
