Official Workbook PDF page source text

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