RESOLUTION 12-08

Overtures 12-29–30 (CW, pp. 426–427)

Rationale

2013 Res. 7-18 “To Study Doctrinal Training for Reconcilers” responded to a request in Part 2 of the Synod President’s Report “to consider doctrinal training for reconcilers” to assist them when they are asked to serve on panels that are called upon to decide matters of doctrine or doctrinal application. The resolution’s single resolve paragraph referred this request to the Council of Presidents (COP), the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM), and the Secretary of the Synod “for appropriate study and recommendations giving particular attention to Bylaw 2.14.7, especially 2.14.7.8 (k).”

After discussions during the current triennium that included the COP and CCM as well as the Commission on Handbook (COH) and the reconcilers themselves during late-2014 regional training meetings, it was generally agreed that providing such comprehensive doctrinal training for lay reconcilers as would be necessary to cover all potential doctrinal issues would not be a reasonable solution.

The bylaws governing dispute resolution and suspension/expulsion processes already contain resource assistance to the parties to a dispute to help them understand and apply our Synod’s confessional Lutheran doctrines and practices (Bylaws 1.10.18.1 [h]; 2.14.7.8 [l]). The same resource opportunity is available to a Dispute Resolution, Hearing, or Final Hearing Panel as a whole (Bylaws 1.10.18.1 [h]; 2.14.7.8 [1]). In the interest of providing lay reconciler panel members with a resource for personal assistance (i.e., to talk through a doctrinal matter with a knowledgeable person), the addition of a subparagraph (3) to Bylaw 1.10.18.1 [h] and a subparagraph (5) to paragraph 1 (l) of Bylaw 2.14.7.8, as follows, will provide such opportunity.

Therefore be it

Resolved, That the following bylaw changes be adopted by the 2016 convention of the Synod to offer ready access to resources that may assist lay panel members in understanding confessional Lutheran doctrines and doctrinal applications.

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

See resolution for proposed wording