# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S291
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE 289

further consideration needed to be given to better clarify the Con-
stitution and the Bylaws.

Second, responsibility for dealing with Bylaw revisions was
made the responsibility of the Council on Mission and Ministry. It
became clear, however, that that group was not in a position to take
over responsibility previously covered by the Commission on
Structure.

It is obvious that it would be better for a small group to be
charged with the task of being concerned with the structure of the
Synod and proposals for any necessary modification to the con-
vention.

The Blue Ribbon Committee has strongly indicated that there
is still a need to deal with matters involving Districts, District/na-
tional relationships, and other issues. There is also a need to
rewrite/reformat the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws as printed
in the Handbook. The present volume includes a compilation of re-
visions (both additions and deletions) representing the intents and
desires of the membership of Synod in convention as well as nota-
tions from synodical conventions dating back to the organization
of Synod (1847). At no time in the historical memory of synodical
officials has the Synod during the past 150 plus years proposed or
directed a complete revision of the Handbook. It is apparent, how-
ever to those who use the Handbook on a regular basis that the
Handbook contains many inconsistencies and conflicting and frag-
mented statements inserted or omitted in strategic Bylaws govern-
ing specific activities of the Synod.

It would be most helpful to those who serve the Synod in an ad-
ministrative role, as well as to those who need to contact entities
of the Synod, that the Handbook be rewritten to eliminate these in-
consistencies and conflicting and fragmented statements dispersed
throughout the book. The rewrite should also transfer to operating
policy and procedure manuals those items best determined by the

synodical corporations and boards. The Board of Directors of the
Synod in December 1993 asked the Secretary to “review and offer
Proposed revisions to the Handbook which would reflect policy
based leadership,” but action on this matter was delayed pending
completion of the work of the President’s “Blue Ribbon” Commit-
tee on Structure. The rewriting/reformatting of the Handbook is not
meant to supersede the work of that committee.

In view of their administrative and operating responsibilities the
synodical Board of Directors and the President of the Synod are
best suited to appoint a commission to consider remaining struc-
tural concerns and to rewnite/reformat the Handbook.

Resolved, That the 1998 synodical convention empower the
Board of Directors, in consultation and mutual concurrence with
the President of the Synod, to appoint a Commission on Structure
consisting of at least four persons; and be it further

Resolved, That the initial commission include, if he is willing,
Dr. Walter Rosin to draft revisions to the format and content of the
Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws (Handbook) which will eliminate
inconsistencies, transfer to operating policy and procedure manuals
those items best determined by the synodical corporations and
boards, and make the Handbook more useable for the Synod, and
be it finally

Resolved, That the draft be completed one year prior to the 2001
synodical convention and disseminated to the Synod for review and
input prior to endorsement by the 2001 convention.

Board of Directors
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod