OUR SYNOD'S DOCTRINAL REVIEW SYSTEM

A Statement from The Office of the President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
1333 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63122
United States of America

One of the "hidden treasures" in our Synod is our system of doctrinal review. Through this process, published materials are reviewed to make sure that they are in agreement in their doctrinal content with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. The reviewer is also responsible to make sure that the materials do not contain statements that are inadequate, misleading, ambiguous or lacking in doctrinal clarity. These are the expectations of our reviewers as set forth in the eleventh chapter of our Synod's Bylaws.

We have reviewers from our seminary faculties and colleges. A goodly number of pastors and teachers across the Synod also serve as doctrinal reviewers. They perform their duties without pay and with hardly any recognition of their effort. Recognizing how precious the truth of God's Word is, and how important that this truth be communicated accurately and faithfully, they perform this sometime thankless task for us.

What do they review? They review the official publications of the Synod, the many materials produced by the various agencies and entities of our Synod, the books and curricular materials published by Concordia Publishing House, as well as materials produce by our two auxiliaries: The Lutheran Women's Missionary League and the Lutheran Laymen's League. Needless to say, this is a large and demanding task. I am exceedingly grateful that our Synod has continued to support and encourage the doctrinal review process. The result of neglecting a thorough doctrinal review like this is painfully apparent as we observe the production of materials from other churches that do not have such a careful review process.

Materials produced at the district level are also expected to be reviewed. The Bylaws of our Synod indicate that our district's presidents and boards of directors are to ensure that the materials produced within their districts meet the same standards set for materials produced at the national level of the Synod.

In cases of dispute between a reviewer and an author or publisher, our Commission on Doctrinal Review serves to adjudicate such disputes. The Commission on Doctrinal Review is also responsible for receiving challenges from any member of the Synod who wishes to challenge the doctrinal review certification of an item that has already been published. This too is another way the Synod has made provision for the doctrinal faithfulness of published materials.

Since I am occasionally asked about the doctrinal review process, I thought it would be good to describe our doctrinal review process and indicate what it is that our doctrinal reviewers do, and why the doctrinal review process is so important for our Synod. Indeed, our Synod's doctrinal review process is a hidden treasure, for which all us can be most appreciative. May God continue to bless our reviewers as they provide this important service to our Synod. I would ask that you pray for our doctrinal reviewers, asking the Lord to give them wisdom and understanding.