Res. 2-04 — To Amend Bylaws 1.7.3, 2.11.1, 3.8.3, 3.8.3.8, and 4.4.4–5 to Establish a Framework for Ecclesiastical Supervision and Pastoral Care for Independent International Congregations

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has had a long history of working with independent Lutheran congregations located in international areas and served by member clergy of the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, The provision of ecclesiastical supervision is an essential part of carrying out the task of sending and providing proper care for our members serving in international context; and

WHEREAS, The 2023 Synod convention adopted Resolutions 2-03 and 2-06A (Proceedings, 124–26), which addressed matters related to ecclesiastical supervision and pastoral care of missionaries and Synod membership for international congregations; and

WHEREAS, The Board for International Mission (BIM) was tasked to work in consultation with the Council of Presidents to study the Synod’s relationship with independent Lutheran congregations in international areas; and

WHEREAS, The BIM has already invested significant time studying the possibility and advisability of such arrangements and has determined that reasonable pathways exist; and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 1.7.3 allows for district presidents to permit ministers of religion, ordained and commissioned, to serve congregations that do not hold membership in the Synod provided that they honor its confession, rules, and regulations; and

WHEREAS, This provision is currently the best option to allow these independent Lutheran congregations located in international areas and served by Synod ministers of religion, ordained and commissioned, to strengthen ecclesiastical supervision and pastoral care under our confession, Constitution, and Bylaws; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 1.7.3 be amended as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 1.7 Agreements …

1.7.3 The Synod expects congregations that have not been received into membership, but are served by Synod, and whose ministers of religion, ordained and commissioned, hold membership in the Synod, to honor its rules, and regulations confession, Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of Synod in convention. Individual members of the Synod serving such congregations may remain on the roster of the Synod as active members, provided that:

(a) the “served non-member congregation” is not a member of any other church body; agrees to honor the Synod’s c onfession, Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of Synod in convention; and has as its head or sole pastor (or is calling to be its head or sole pastor) a member of the Synod.

(b) if a domestic congregation, the service is as approved (on the basis of policies adopted by the Council of Presidents) by the president of the district in which the congregation is located.

(c) if a foreign congregation, the service is approved (on the basis of policies adopted by the Board for International Mission, with the concurrence of the President of the Synod) , upon the recommendation of the Office of International Mission, by the Board for International Mission, with the concurrence of the President of Synod and the district president having ecclesiastical supervision of the pastor.

(d) the congregation understands and agrees that: (1) it, not the Synod nor the district, would be the calling body for any serving worker; (2) its called workers remain under the ecclesiastical supervision of the district president of the Synod as determined by Bylaw 2.12; and (3) an approving officer and/or board may at any time withdraw approval for such service to be considered active service in the Synod.

and be it further

Resolved, That Bylaw 2.11.1 be amended as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Active Members

2.11.1 To remain on the roster of the Synod as an active member, an ordained or commissioned minister of religion must be a communicant member of a congregation which is a member of the Synod (except as provided in paragraph [c] below) and be regularly performing the duties of one of the following: …

(c) An ordained or commissioned minister serving a congregation that is not a member of the Synod, as approved (on the basis of policies adopted by the Council of Presidents) by the president of the district in which the congregation is located as further described in Bylaw 1.7.3. …

and be it further

Resolved, That Bylaws 3.8.3 and 3.8.3.8 be amended as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Board for International Mission

3.8.3 The Board for International Mission is charged with developing and determining policies in support of mission and ministry in foreign countries for the office of International Mission (Bylaw 1.2.1[n]). These policies shall embrace and apply the mission and ministry emphases adopted by the national convention. Under the leadership of the President of Synod pursuant to Bylaw 3.3.1.1.1, the board shall assist in identifying the specific goals for the Office of International Mission. Policies determined by the board (implemented by the staff) may include but not be limited to:

• strong mission leadership

• training of missionaries

• ministry for all of the Synod’s military personnel

• safeguarding the rights of partner churches

• ministry for all civilians and their dependents overseas

• international human care

• liaison with the colleges, universities, and seminaries of the Synod

• liaison with the chief ecumenical officer of the Synod

• international schools

• providing district presidents liaison with foreign congregations and individual members serving in the foreign mission areas of the Synod, as further described in Bylaw 3.8.3.8 Upon the recommendation of the Office of International Mission, the board shall serve as the only sending agency through which workers and funds are sent to the foreign mission areas of the Synod, including the calling, appointing, assigning, withdrawing, and releasing of missionaries (ministers of religion—ordained and ministers of religion—commissioned) and other workers for the ministries in foreign areas. … Office of International Mission …

3.8.3.8 The Office of International Mission may, subject to policies jointly developed by the Board for International Mission and Council of Presidents, provide district presidents liaison with:

• foreign congregations served by members of the Synod under Bylaw 1.7.3 (c), and

• individual members of the Synod serving non -member congregations in the foreign mission area of the Synod, supporting the district president’s ecclesiastical supervision, as described in Bylaw 4.4.5 (b).

and be it further

Resolved, That Bylaws 4.4.4–5 be amended as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

4.4.4 The district president shall, in accordance with the Constitution of the Synod, in his ministry of ecclesiastical supervision visit the congregations of the district. …

(f) The jurisdiction of the district president shall include non -member congregations whose pastors are members of the Synod within his district. However, for the purpose of official visits in such a congregation the consent of the congregation shall first be secured. The For domestic congregations, the district president may appoint the circuit visitor in whose circuit such a congregation is located to be his official representative. For foreign congregations, the district president may appoint staff of the Office of International Mission, as agreed to by that office, under policies jointly developed by the Board for International Mission and Council of Presidents.

4.4.5 Each district president, in accordance with the Constitution of the Synod, shall supervise the doctrine, the life, and the official administration on the part of the ordained or commissioned ministers who are members through his district or are subject to his ecclesiastical supervision, and shall inquire into the prevailing spiritual conditions of the congregations of his district.

(a) As often as possible he shall attend the conferences of ordained and commissioned ministers held in his district, advise the congregations of his district as to the calling of ordained and commissioned ministers, give counsel, and respond to requests and inquiries.

(b) He may call upon circuit visitors to assist him, or, in the case of individuals members serving in the foreign mission areas of the Synod (including service to foreign congregations), staff of the Office of International Mission, as agreed to by that office, under policies jointly developed by the Board of International Mission and Council of Presidents.

and be it finally

Resolved, That Board for International Mission and Council of Presidents jointly develop and implement the necessary policies and procedures in coordination with the Office of International Mission and report them to the 2029 Synod Convention.