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The LCMS Board of Directors
has temporarily tabled a resolution to revoke the auxiliary status of the
Lutheran Layman's League in the Missouri Synod. The Board has requested
that the LLL leadership be invited to attend the next meeting of the
Board.
The LCMS Board of Directors is questioning how an auxiliary organization
of the LCMS can remove LCMS Second Vice President, Dr. Wallace Schulz from
preaching on the Lutheran Hour because he followed the LCMS Constitution.
Reclaim News has repeatedly pointed out that the LLL has rejected the LCMS
Constitution by suspending Wally Schulz. In short, the LLL has a
different code of ethics than the Missouri Synod. The LLL must now
explain why it wishes to remain an auxiliary organization of the LCMS,
when the LLL no longer agrees with the LCMS Constitution.
Lutheran Layman's League President Waldron in a published news release has
stated:
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"The league's board of governors
determined that Dr. Schulz violated the
organization's code of ethics and its conflict of interest policy.
The code
of ethics requires employees to work together to bring Christ to the
nations
and the nations to the church. If a choice of conduct is
unclear or might
not serve the best interests of all, the code requires employees to
ask for
guidance from supervisors, other league officers or pastoral
advisors. The
conflict of interest policy requires employees not to enter into
activities
that may be knowingly detrimental to the League. Dr. Schulz
sought no
guidance and paid little attention to the guidance offered him,
Waldron
said." |
I may be time for the LLL leadership to resign.
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The following are the minutes of the LCMS Board of Directors dealing with
the subject of the LLL:
MINUTES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH--MISSOURI SYNOD
August 15-18, 2002
Chicago, Illinois
Auxiliary Organization Status
This resolution was read by the member of the board proposing the action.
After it was moved and seconded, discussion led to a proposed amendment to
delete from the fifth resolve after the words "League's
leadership" the words, "should not compel the LCMS Board of
Directors to recommend to the next synodical convention the revocation of
the ILLL's status as a synodical
auxiliary under Bylaw 13.01 b," and also to delete from the sixth
resolve after the word "that" the words, "in taking this
action, the LCMS Board of Directors recognizes that it has no authority to
interfere with the internal operations of the ILLL, and affirms that it
has no intention to do so. Rather." The amendment was adopted.
After further discussion and the suggestion for an alternative plan of
action to include a letter from the chairman of the board expressing the
concerns of the Board, a motion to table this action was adopted. The
tabled resolution reads as follows:
Whereas, The executive leadership of the International Lutheran Laymen's
League (the League) has recently suspended one of the members of its
staff, who also holds the office of Vice-President of The Lutheran
Church--Missouri Synod, on the grounds that the exercise of the duties of
the office of Vice-President of the Synod conflicts with the interests of
the League; and
Whereas, The duties in question were legitimate duties under the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod and were not undertaken at the
officer's own initiative but at direct request of the Praesidium of the
Synod; and
Whereas, As a condition of its status, an auxiliary organization of the
LCMS, according to Bylaw 13.01 a 3, has "as its primary function
aiding the Synod, specifically in programs that extend the ministry and
mission of the Synod"; and
Whereas, Agencies seeking the status of synodical auxiliaries and the
benefits of such status are required to apply to the convention for
recognition through the Synod's Board of Directors (Bylaw 13.01 a), which
presents the application of said agency to the convention together with an
assessment of its qualifications under the criteria established by the
Synod in its Bylaws; and
Whereas, Bylaw 13.01 b mandates as follows: "The auxiliaries shall
continue to meet the above requirements for continued recognition";
therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS Board of Directors expresses profound concern that
the leadership of the ILLL believes that the exercise of the legitimate
duties of a synodical vice-president conflicts with the goals and
interests of the League; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS Board of Directors is deeply troubled by the
possibility that the existence of such a conflict, as publicly articulated
by the leadership of the ILLL, strongly implies that the mission and
ministry goals of the League are in conflict with those of the Synod; and
be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS Board of Directors recognizes that if, as the ILLL
leadership has suggested, such a conflict does exist, the Synod is
obligated under Bylaw 13.01 b to reconsider whether it is appropriate for
the League to continue to have the status of a synodical auxiliary; and be
it further
Resolved, That the LCMS Board of Directors is compelled by Christian
charity to give the ILLL leadership an opportunity to explain whether such
a conflict of interest does in fact exist, or why such a conflict of
interest, if it exists, does not violate the conditions under which the
ILLL holds the status of a synodical auxiliary; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS Board of Directors therefore requests the ILLL
leadership to explain the existence of the conflict of interest identified
by the League's leadership; and be it further
Resolved, That the sole concern of the Synod's Board of Directors is to
ascertain whether the ILLL continues to meet the criteria established for
maintaining its status as an auxiliary organization of the Synod, as
specified in synodical Bylaw 13.01 b; and be it further
Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the LCMS recognizes that the
status of the League as an auxiliary of the Synod can only be revoked by
the action of the Synod in convention. The intention of the Board of
Directors is only to determine what, if any, recommendation it must make
to the next synodical convention as a result of the ILLL leadership's
assertion of a conflict of interest between the League and the Synod; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS Board of Directors does not assume that the
actions and statements of the leadership of the ILLL implying a conflict
of interest between the League and the Synod reflect the views of the
members of the local ILLL groups in the Synod's churches. The Board of
Directors of the Synod recognizes and praises the good work and faithful
service of the members of the ILLL in our church and commends them for
their continuing commitment to the mission and ministry of the LCMS in its
proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the whole of His teaching
to the nations.
After the resolution was tabled and after further discussion, the
following resolution was adopted.
Resolved, That the chairman of the Board of Directors write a letter to
the leadership of the International Lutheran Laymen's League, inviting
them to meet with the Board at its next meeting to discuss these concerns.
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