An Overture Requiring Completion of Ecclesiastical Investigations in the LCMS
Every three years, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) gathers in convention. One key purpose of the Synod’s convention is to consider overtures. An overture is a formal recommendation submitted in the form of a proposed resolution, requesting that the Synod take specific action. These actions can include revising bylaws, calling for theological study, adjusting mission priorities, or addressing practical matters affecting the life and witness of the Church.
Learn more about the LCMS convention and overture process here.
The proposed overture below has been developed and advanced by Rev. Mark Drengler, along with LCMS pastors, two former District Presidents, commissioned female church workers, and lay members who recognize a significant gap in current supervisory procedure. Their aim has been to strengthen accountability, support congregational safety, and ensure consistent oversight across districts.
The concern is straightforward: the LCMS currently has no requirement to complete an ecclesiastical investigation if a pastor resigns while the investigation is ongoing. When that happens, the supervisory process ends immediately, leaving the matter unresolved and limiting the information available to congregations and future ministry contexts.
Survivors of clergy sexual misconduct and clergy sexual abuse — and those who have supported them — were consulted so that the overture reflects real circumstances within the Church while maintaining respect for all involved. The language has also been reviewed by pastors and leaders who support addressing these concerns responsibly and within the theological commitments of the LCMS.
This overture asks the Synod to:
• Complete ecclesiastical investigations even if the accused resigns
• Provide an appropriate public designation when a resignation occurs under investigation
• Clarify and define terminology to support transparency and consistency in oversight
• Include training that promotes pastoral boundaries and preventive education
These proposals align with existing supervisory roles and uphold the expectation that the Office of the Ministry remains above reproach. They promote clarity, protect congregations, and support informed decision-making throughout the Church.
The overture follows below in full.
The Overture
To Require Completion of Ecclesiastical Investigations and Strengthen the Church’s Response to Clergy Sexual Misconduct/Abuse
Preamble
This overture seeks to close a critical gap in the LCMS’s current supervisory process regarding clergy sexual abuse. Under present bylaws, a pastor under ecclesiastical investigation may resign at any time, thereby halting the process and leaving the matter unresolved.
Such resignation denies victims closure, weakens accountability, damages the Church’s public witness, and allows the possibility of further harm in future ministry contexts.
By requiring completion of investigations even after resignation, establishing clear public designations, and introducing standardized terminology and preventive education, this overture aims to protect victims, preserve the integrity of the pastoral office, and strengthen the Church’s witness to the world.
WHEREAS, the Office of the Holy Ministry is established by God (Jer. 3:15; 1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9) and entrusted to fallible men who must remain above reproach for the sake of Christ’s Church; and
WHEREAS, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), in seeking to be faithful to this high calling, has established ecclesiastical supervisory structures for the oversight and discipline of church workers; and
WHEREAS, allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment, assault, or other forms of pastoral boundary violations demand serious investigation and just resolution for the sake of the Gospel, the victims, and the Church’s witness to the world; and
WHEREAS, the LCMS has historically used the term sexual misconduct to describe a range of behaviors that, in cases involving pastors or other church workers, constitute sexual abuse because of the inherent power imbalance in relationships where spiritual, educational, or institutional authority is exercised; and the absence of precise terminology has hindered appropriate accountability and transparency in ecclesiastical proceedings; and
WHEREAS, such abuse involves not only moral failure but also the misuse of spiritual authority, which violates the trust inherent in the pastoral office and inflicts deep spiritual, emotional, and psychological harm on victims; and
WHEREAS, current practice allows a rostered worker to resign at any point during an ecclesiastical investigation, effectively halting the process and leaving the matter unresolved; and
WHEREAS, such resignation may enable a person credibly accused of abuse or other disqualifying sin to avoid accountability, obscure the nature of the resignation, and attach themselves to other ministries or para-church organizations without warning or consequence; and
WHEREAS, victims, congregations, and the broader Church are best served by a completed investigation that speaks the truth in love and justice (Eph. 4:15; Mic. 6:8); and
WHEREAS, there is currently no mechanism to publicly identify those who have resigned while under ecclesiastical investigation, potentially putting others at risk and undermining confidence in the integrity of the Office; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Synod direct the Chairman of the Council of Presidents (COP) to appoint a task force to review current bylaws, manuals, Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) opinions, and procedures for addressing sexual misconduct, with the purpose of clarifying and revising applicable bylaws and supervisory procedures so that ecclesiastical investigations of alleged misconduct or abuse be completed even if the accused resigns from the roster; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force include a minimum of three women as members so that all potential victims are represented throughout the review and revision process; and be it further
RESOLVED, That District Presidents be directed and empowered, as those entrusted with ecclesiastical supervision, to carry forward all such investigations to completion regardless of resignation status, ensuring proper documentation, reporting, and closure; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Synod develop and maintain a publicly accessible classification or designation (e.g., “Resigned Under Ecclesiastical Investigation”) for all rostered workers who resign before the completion of an investigation into credible allegations of misconduct or if a rostered worker is removed due to a substantiated allegation of clergy sexual abuse that it be reported publicly; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force, if deemed appropriate, revise Bylaw 2.17 in consultation with the Secretary of Synod, the Commission on Handbook, and the CCM to make the process more transparent for both the victim and the accused, and to emphasize pastoral care for victims, their families, and congregations impacted by sexual misconduct; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Synod define and distinguish the terms sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and sexual assault in alignment with recognized pastoral-care, legal, and psychological standards, and affirm that clergy sexual misconduct constitutes sexual abuse by virtue of the authority entrusted to the pastoral office; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Synod require all rostered workers and all students preparing for the ministry to receive regular education and training in clergy-sexual-abuse prevention, boundary awareness, and appropriate pastoral care; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Synod call upon all District Presidents to prioritize the pastoral care of victims and those impacted by clergy sexual abuse, ensuring that justice is pursued with both transparency and compassion; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That the Synod reaffirm that those who hold the Office of the Ministry must live above reproach, and that the Church bears responsibility to exercise faithful oversight for the sake of Christ’s name and His beloved flock.
If you believe this overture should be considered at the Synod Convention, please share it with your pastor, circuit forum, or district leadership. You can download the PDF below.
