Source: https://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=1890
Timestamp: 2019-02-24 02:12:29+00:00

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Church Fellowship - Article VI - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Article VI - Conditions of Membership
Article VI Conditions of Membership From 2010 Handbook
a. Serving congregations of mixed confession, as such, by ministers of the
b. Taking part in the services and sacramental rites of heterodox congregations
or of congregations of mixed confession;
Regular call of pastors, teachers, directors of Christian education, directors of
Christian outreach, directors of family life ministry, directors of parish music,
deaconesses, certified lay ministers, and parish assistants and regular election of lay
delegates by the congregations, as also the blamelessness of the life of such.
Exclusive use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church and
A congregation shall be received into membership only after the Synod has
convinced itself that the constitution of the congregation, which must be submitted
for examination, contains nothing contrary to the Scriptures or the Confessions.
Pastors, teachers, directors of Christian education, directors of Christian outreach,
directors of family life ministry, directors of parish music, deaconesses, certified lay
ministers, or candidates for these offices not coming from recognized orthodox
church bodies must submit to a colloquium before being received.
Congregations and individuals shall be received into membership at such time and
manner, and according to such procedures, as shall be set forth in the bylaws to this
Original German of Article VI from 1847 Literal Translation
Cap. II. Bedingungen, unter welchen der Anschluß an die Synode stattfinden und die Gemeinschaft mit derselben fortdauern kann.
§ 1. Das Bekenntnis zu der heiligen Schrift A. u. N. Testaments, als dem geschriebenen Worte Gottes und der einzigen Regel und Richtschnur des Glaubens und Lebens.
§ 2. Annahme der sämmtlichen symbolischen Bücher der ev. luth. Kirche (als das sind: die drei ökumenischen Symbole, die ungeänderte Ausburgische Konfession,deren Apologie, die schmalkaldischen Artikel, der große und kleine Katechismus Lutheri und die Konkordienformel,) als der reinen und ungefälschten Erklärung und Darlegung des göttlichen Wortes.
§ 3. Lossagung von aller Kirchen= und Glaubensmengerei, als da ist: Das Bedienen gemischter Gemeinden, als solcher, von Seiten der Diener der Kirche; Theilnahme an dem Gottesdienst und den Sacramentshandlungen falschgläubiger und gemischter Gemeinden, Theilnahme an allem falschgläubigen Traktaten= und Missionswesen, u.s.w.
Article II. Conditions under which joining the Synod can take place and fellowship with the same can continue.
§1. Confession of the Old and New Testaments of Holy Scripture as the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and life.
§ 2. Acceptance of all of the symbolical books of the evangelical Lutheran church (namely: the three ecumenical creeds, the unaltered Augsburg Confession, its Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Large and Small Catechisms of Luther and the Formula of Concord), as the pure and unadulterated explanation and exposition of the divine Word.
§ 3. Renunciation of all mixing of churches and of faiths, such as there is: The serving of mixed congregations, as such, on the part of the ministers of the church; participation in the divine service and sacramental activities of heterodox and mixed congregations, participation in all heterodox tract and mission activities, etc.
2010 Constitution, Bylaws, and Articles of Incorporation as amended by the 2010 LCMS Convention, 10–17 July 2010.
Copyright © 2010 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122
Telephone: (314) 965-9000
Translation courtesy of Gerhard Bode. Used by permission.

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