Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 547

Panel, or Review Panel shall be placed in the custody of Concordia 
Historical Institute. All such records shall be sealed….” 
Some of the issues that lead to the dispute resolution process begin 
with private actions and conversations, so it is wise and proper to 
maintain confidentiality. However, some issues begin with public 
actions and conversations that affected the Church, so it is unwise 
and improper to conceal the hearings from public view. Public 
accusation is not resolved by private response (Acts 16:37). 
W
HEREAS, Staff, congregations, districts, and the Synod can do 
anything without risk of legal consequences; and 
WHEREAS, Dispute resolution reconcilers, as normal sinful 
people subject to error, can and do misjudge and ignore real harm 
to victims and show deference to powerful perpetrators; and 
W
HEREAS, This may leave victims of harm no way to seek 
redress, apology, or amendment of harm, and no way to enforce the 
award of monetary damages; and 
W
HEREAS, Anything and everything may be secret and 
undocumented; and 
WHEREAS, The dispute resolution process is effectually a trial 
that passes judgment on the validity of the complaint which may 
damage the career of the accused or leave the complainant further 
victimized; and 
WHEREAS, In Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, and normal 
standards of the secular world, the accused is to see and hear the 
evidence, and both parties are to receive an impartial, complete 
public examination; and 
W
HEREAS, Dispute resolution reconcilers are normal sinful 
people with varying abilities, and yet they have absolute power over 
the careers of rostered church workers and over the individuals who 
make complaints; and 
WHEREAS, No report is made concerning the success or failure 
of dispute resolution reconcilers, and so the members of a district 
are unaware and unable to evaluate them for appointment and 
reappointment; and 
WHEREAS, The dispute resolution process is forced arbitration 
and enforced by non-disclosure under penalty of dismissal from 
Synod membership and civil judgment; and 
WHEREAS, Even a normal dispute resolution situation is unequal, 
and it is disastrous when there is a victim -perpetrator issue or if it 
between unequal parties; and 
WHEREAS, A common result is a wounded person who is left 
without reconciliation and so is harmed again; therefore be it 
Resolved, That all non-disclosure clauses, including those in the 
past, no longer be in effect and be forbidden in the future; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That the accused and complainant be permitted to 
record the entire proceedings and be given copies of all 
documentation, and that the mandate for two witnesses in 1 Tim. 
5:19 be met by one witness and documentation; no one and nothing 
may be kept secret from the accused; and be it further 
Resolved, That the ruling must be supported by public testimony 
and documents; if the accused resigns from public office before the 
ruling, then the complaint remains secret since talebearing is sin; 
and be it finally  
Resolved, That Bylaw 1.10.18.1 (g) be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
Rules of Procedure 
… 
1.10.18.1 The following rules of procedure shall be followed:  
… 
(g) All Dispute Resolution Panel, Appeal Panel, or Review Panel 
records of disputes in which a final decision has been rendered 
by the Dispute Resolution Panel, Appeal Panel, or Review Panel 
shall be placed in the custody of Concordia Historical Institute. 
All such records shall be sealed and shall be opened only for good 
cause shown and only after permission has been granted by a 
Dispute Resolution Panel, selected by blind draw for that 
purpose. The accused and complainant are permitted to record the 
entire proceedings, and be given copies of all documentation. 
… 
Circuit 3 (Baltimore East) 
Southeastern District 
Ov. 10-21 
To Direct Revisions to Bylaw Section 1.10  
Standard Operating Procedures Manual  
re Witnesses and Evidence 
WHEREAS, in Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, and normal 
standards of the secular world, the accused is to see and hear the 
evidence and both parties receive an impartial, complete 
examination; and 
WHEREAS, The Standard Operating Procedures Manual for 
Bylaw section 1.10, General Regulation N, “Witnesses and 
Evidence” (Dec. 2023, p. 19; available from lcms.org/ccm ) allows 
for gossip to be considered valid evidence; and 
WHEREAS, Gossip is sadly common in the Church and identified 
as a major cause of congregational conflict and decline; and 
WHEREAS, This allows for the final ruling to not be supported by 
the testimony; therefore be it 
Resolved, That in any Dispute Resolution Panel hearing or 
meeting, if anyone presents evidence based on gossip, their 
testimony ends, and they are not allowed to continue until they 
repent of their sin and apologize.; and be it further 
Resolved, That the 1 Tim. 5:19 mandate of two witnesses may 
be met by one witness and documentation: and be it further 
Resolved, That the ruling must be supported by public testimony 
and documents, and be it finally 
Resolved, Standard Operating Procedures Manual for Bylaw 
section 1.10, General Regulation N, “Witnesses and Evidence” 
(Dec. 2023, p. 19), subparagraph (c). be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
N. WITNESSES AND EVIDENCE 
(c) Conformity to legal rules of evidence shall not be necessary. 
The mandate in 1 Tim. 5:19 of two witnesses may be met by one 
witness and documentation. The ruling must be supported by 
public testimony and documents. 
Circuit 3 (Baltimore East) 
Southeastern District 
2026 Convention Workbook
512 ECCLESIASTICAL SUPER VISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION