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), sub paragraph (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.