Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 3. pp. 352-353. Revised published proposal.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 10-03A
Canonical number: 10-03
Committee: Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution
Source: Today's Business, Issue 3
Printed pages: pp. 352-353
PDF pages: 44-45
Version: revised, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 3, pp. 352-353
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 352
- To Respond to Sexual Misconduct by Rostered Workers
- and Make Provision for Spiritual Care of Those Affected
- RESOLUTION 10-03A
- Overtures 10-27–30 (CW, 515–18)
- WHEREAS, God establishes the Office of the Holy Ministry for the care of His people (John 20:21 –23; 1 Tim. 3:1–
- 7; Titus 1:5–9), and those who serve in this office are called to lives that are “above reproach” (1 Tim. 3:2); and
- WHEREAS, Auxiliary offices to the Office of the Holy Ministry have been established by the c hurch and entrusted
- to fallible men and women who must remain above reproach for the sake of Christ’s Church; and
- WHEREAS, The Synod, in seeking to be faithful to these vocations, has established a process of ecclesiastical
- supervision for the oversight and discipline of church workers; and
- WHEREAS, The Synod uses the term sexual misconduct to describe a range of sinful behaviors reflecting an ungodly
- life that gives offense to the victims, the congregation or institution, all affected individuals, and the church’s witness to
- the world (cf. “offensive conduct,” Const. Art. XIII 1); and
- WHEREAS, There is a need for spiritual care for all involved in an instance of sexual misconduct by a rostered church
- worker; and
- WHEREAS, Due to the shame that comes to victims, congregations or institutions, and all affected individuals
- because of the sexual misconduct by rostered church workers, the comfort of souls cannot come through the
- administration of the Law, but through the proper proclamation and distribution of the Gospel through Christ’s Church;
- therefore be it
- Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the President of the Synod and the Chairman of the Council of
- Presidents (COP) to appoint a task force to continue the work assigned by 2023 Resolution 10 -05A, “To Speak to
- Spiritual Care of Victims of Sexual Misconduct by Individual Members of the Synod” (Proc., 219); and be it further
- Resolved, That the task force shall be comprised of six individuals who in the judgement of the President of the
- Synod and the Chairman of the COP possess the necessary skills and pertinent experience to bring about a God pleasing
- result to include three rostered workers (at least one of which must be a commissioned worker) and three lay persons,
- and at least two members must be women; and be it further
Page 353
- Resolved, That the task force shall seek the input of outside consultants with expertise in sexual misconduct issues
- and the testimony of victims of rostered worker sexual misconduct; and be it further
- Resolved, That the task force:
- • may make recommendations for revisions to bylaws, procedures, or manuals;
- • shall contribute to continued refinement of advisory procedures and guidelines , with special attention for proper
- reporting and transparency, for ecclesiastical supervisors;
- • shall recommend resources to congregations and institutions to address the spiritual needs of the victims of
- rostered church workers, the accused, the congregation(s) or institution(s), and all affected individuals;
- • shall recommend resources and encourage training of all rostered workers and those preparing for church
- work vocations in sexual misconduct awareness and prevention;
- and be it further
- Resolved, That in cases of alleged sexual misconduct, regardless of the roster status of the accused, the district
- president will assess the spiritual needs and make provision for the spiritual care of the victims, the accused, the
- congregation(s) or institution(s), and all affected individuals; and be it finally
- Resolved, That the task force report recommendations to the President of the Synod and the COP for inclusion
- in the reports for 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 $200,000–$225,000 for 8–10 task force meetings and use of legal
- counsel and other external consultants (estimate required by Bylaw 3.1.7 [g]).
Published Proposed Amendments
This amendment is printed as a proposal and is not incorporated into the current resolution text unless official convention action confirms adoption. The printed amendment may reference an earlier version of the resolution.
Published Proposed Amendment to Resolution 10-03
Issue 4, p. 385, Issue 4, p. 385, lines 13-27, status: Proposed
Submitted by Christopher Neuendorf, Pastoral Delegate, North Dakota District
10. ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION To Respond to Sexual Misconduct by Rostered Workers and Make Provision for Spiritual Care of Those Affected AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION 10-03A Resolution 10-03A (TB, 3:352–53) To insert, at TB 3:353, after line 11, the two additional resolves: Resolved, That district presidents be directed and empowered, as those entrusted with ecclesiastical supervision, to carry forward all such investigations to completion regardless of resignation status, ensuring proper documentation, reporting, and closure; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod develop and maintain a publicly accessible classification or designation for all rostered workers who resign before the completion of an investigation into credible allegations of misconduct, or, if a rostered worker is removed due to a substantiated allegation of clergy sexual abuse, that it be reported publicly; and be it further Christopher Neuendorf Pastoral Delegate, North Dakota District
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