Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 555

Ov. 10-34 
To More Directly Oversee Service  
of Ordained Ministers to Congregations  
to Which They Have No Formal Call 
WHEREAS, Congregations in vacancy and other circumstances 
are routinely served by emeritus clergy and other clergy without a 
call to that same congregation; and 
WHEREAS, It may be argued from the condition of acquiring and 
holding membership in the Synod that is related to a regular call 
(Const. Art. VI 3) that every minister and congregation agree to 
observe and respect the individual congregation’s right to call a 
pastor and not to interfere with that pastor’s proper authority in 
matters pertaining to his call; and 
WHEREAS, It may be argued from C.F.W. Walther’s T he Voice 
of Our Church on the Question of Church and Ministry , which the 
Synod has adopted in convention (2001 Res. 7- 17A, “To Affirm 
Synod’s Official Position on Church and Ministry”) as the official 
doctrinal position of the Synod, that according to the good order of 
the church, clergy are not to meddle in congregations to which they 
have no call or responsibility for ecclesiastical oversight; therefore 
be it 
Resolved, That called pastors of congregations, circuit visitors, 
and district presidents with ecclesiastical supervision more directly 
oversee the service of ordained ministers in congregations to which 
they have not a call; and be it further 
Resolved, That all such service be reported at least to the most 
immediate ecclesiastical supervisor; and be it finally 
Resolved, That any failure of an ordained minister to report such 
service and any interference in the internal affairs of a congregation 
to which that minister is not called be fraternally, yet strongly, 
rebuked by the appropriate ecclesiastical supervisors, and w here 
there is not timely repentance and the concomitant change in the 
offending behavior, effective disciplinary action be taken for the 
sake of the unity of the c hurch in accordance with existing 
procedures. 
Circuit 14 (Austin) 
Minnesota South District 
Ov. 10-35 
To Encourage Pastors to Honor Their Own Call 
WHEREAS, The first objective of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod (LCMS) is to “conserve and  promote the unity 
of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor. 1:10) ...” (Const. Art. III 1); 
another is  to “provide protection for congregations, pastors,  
teachers, and other church workers in the performance of their 
official duties and  the 
maintenance of their rights ” (Const. Art. 
III 9); and 
WHEREAS, As a condition of acquiring and holding membership 
in the Synod, as stated in Const itution Article VI 3, every 
congregation and minister must agree to observe and respect 
the individual congregation’s right to call a pastor and not 
interfere with that pastor’s proper authority in matters pertaining 
to his call; and 
WHEREAS, Dr. C. F. W. Walther’s Kirche und Amt, adopted by 
the Synod in convention as official doctrine (2001 Res. 7-17A “To 
Affirm Synod’s Official Position on Church and Ministry”), further 
defends the aforementioned rights and is explicitly clear that 
pastors are not to meddle in congregations to which they have no 
call or responsibility for ecclesiastical oversight according to the 
good order of the church; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the N orthern Illinois District memorialize the 
Synod in convention to reaffirm these beliefs; and be it further 
Resolved, That ecclesiastica l supervisors fraternally, yet 
strongly, rebuke any pastors (retired, called elsewhere, etc.) 
interfering with the internal affairs of a congregation to which they 
are not properly called to preserve the unity of the church’s witness. 
Northern Illinois District 
Ov. 10-36 
To Call for Publication  
of Council of Presidents Manual 
WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents (COP) of The Lutheran 
Church—Missouri Synod is expected to have policies that guide 
both the corporate work of the council  and the individual work of 
its members (Bylaw 3.10.1.2); and 
WHEREAS, Those policies have been codified in a manual 
distributed to the C OP’s members, but not available for public 
viewing; and 
WHEREAS, That private manual is often cited to defend the 
actions and positions taken by district presidents; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the COP be required to make public its manual; 
and be it further 
Resolved, That the COP manual be available on the Synod 
website in the “Document Library”; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the manual available online be the most recent 
iteration, as updated periodically by the council. 
Michigan District 
Ov. 10-37 
To Provide Compensation for Circuit Visitors 
WHEREAS, Being a c ircuit visitor can involve a considerable 
amount of time; and 
WHEREAS, There is no compensation (except for mileage) for 
these men; and 
WHEREAS, Serving as a ci rcuit visitor takes time away from his 
family, his congregation, and his own personal time; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the congregations of the Minnesota North District 
give the c ircuit visitor $50 per diem plus the current IRS mileage 
reimbursement for any requested visit; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Minnesota North District convention 
memorialize the 2026 Synod convention to address the issue of 
providing compensation for circuit visitors. 
Minnesota North District 
Ov. 10-38 
To Amend Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (c)  
regarding Candidate Reporting 
WHEREAS, The 2023 Synod convention adopted Resolution 10-
06, “To Amend Bylaw 2.11.2.2 regarding Candidate Status,” that  
moved the filing deadline for the required c andidate annual report 
from January 31 to July 31; and 
2026 Convention Workbook
520 ECCLESIASTICAL SUPER VISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION