tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5728845570179741211.post4425824294879008600..comments2023-11-16T00:38:23.751-08:00Comments on Stand Firm: Render Unto Synod What Is Synod'sScott Diekmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03227142854778319475noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5728845570179741211.post-33258309558006136232009-05-24T18:21:58.164-07:002009-05-24T18:21:58.164-07:00I doubt that the Synod will admit any time soon th...I doubt that the Synod will admit any time soon that it has "become a polity of episcopate hierarchy" Bob, although that is indeed what it has become. It would certainly save a lot of ink if they would come out and admit it - it gets tiresome reading about our congregational polity, in the Synod restructuring proposals for instance, when these same proposals work to reduce any congregational autonomy. In a sense, that Wyoming District Pastor’s Conference resolution in 2001 may represent the last dying gasp of the formerly Confessional Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.<br /><br />The WY resolution can be read here: http://wy.lcms.org/pastoralconference/resolutions/fall2001_1.pdfScott Diekmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03227142854778319475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5728845570179741211.post-86954371150489213092009-05-24T14:02:22.135-07:002009-05-24T14:02:22.135-07:00"An official action by a district, therefore, to f..."An official action by a district, therefore, to file an expression of<br />dissent to the Synod regarding a doctrine taught and practices by the Synod is out of<br />order and, therefore, null and void."<br /><br />Mr.Diekmann;<br /><br />In reading the minutes of the CCM I came upon the above quotation from a paragraph which is contained in Bylaw 2.39, of the 2007 Synodical Handbook.<br /><br />This quote is indicative of Synod and the three walls Luther warned of and Rev. Craig Stanford talks about in his paper regarding the walls the LCMS has built. I find it interesting that this bylaw was added in 2007. Interesting because (and maybe you can help me here)I believe the Wyoming district wrote a dissent of the Benke syncretism sometime in 2001 or 2002. It appears to me that this bylaw was written to prevent further embarrassment by a district in regards to doctrinal matters.<br />I am only wondering when a congregation and/or Pastor will also be unable to dissent from doctrinal matters. <br /><br />When will synod finally and officially say what everyone already knows and what it has written between the lines in many of its last several conventional resolutions? That is: Synod is much, much more than an "advisory" agency. In fact it has become a polity of episcopate hierarchy. Because that, indeed, it what the LCMS has become.<br /><br />Sadly,<br />Bob ShipeRobert Shipenoreply@blogger.com