To Prevent Admission, Reinstatement, or Colloquization of a Divorced Man into the Office of the Public Ministry Who Has Married Another Woman

WHEREAS, Christ our Lord says with regard to marriage, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate,” (Matt. 19:6; Mark 10:9; cf. Gen. 2:24); and

WHEREAS, A man is guilty of adultery if he marries another woman while his wife lives; however, if his wife dies he is free to marry (Rom. 7:2–3); and

WHEREAS, Men called into the Office of the Public Ministry are called to be above reproach. Specifically, with regard to marriage, this requires him to be the husband of no more than one wife(1Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6); and

WHEREAS, Divorce and remarriage disqualifies a man from the Office of the Public Ministry (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6); and

WHEREAS, The decision whether to accept or deny a request for reinstatement shall be at the sole discretion of the Council of Presidents (COP) (Bylaw 2.18.1); and

WHEREAS, The decision to declare applicants for colloquy to be qualified for the pastoral ministry and to certify such men for placement rests at the sole discretion of the Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry (CCPM; Bylaw 3.10.2.2 [b]); and

WHEREAS, In the action of reinstating or not reinstating a man into the office of the ministry, the COP does so as an officially established advisory body of the Synod (Bylaw 1.2.1 [g]); and

WHEREAS, By the actions of admitting, reinstating, or colloquizing, the COP and CCPM, respectively, state that a man is qualified for the Office of the Public Ministry in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. As this is an assignment given to them by the members of the Synod in convention (having been codified in the Bylaws), they do so as representatives of the members of the Synod (Bylaws 3.10.1.4; 2.18.l); therefore be it

Resolved, That the COP not admitadivorced man into the Office of the Public Ministry who has married another woman; and be it further

Resolved, That the COP not reinstate a divorced man into the Office of the Public Ministry who has married another woman; and be it further

Resolved, That the CCPM not colloquize a divorced man into the Office of the Public Ministry who has married another woman; and be it further

Resolved, That when a man is reinstated into the Office of the Public Ministry, the reason for reinstatement be made available upon request;and be it further

Resolved, That when a man is colloquized into the Office of the Public Ministry, the reason for colloquization be made available upon request; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Montana District in convention adopt this resolution and submit it to the Synod convention for adoption.