# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S163
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

7. Structure, Planning, and Administration
To Establish a Permanent Commission
on Structure
RESOLUTION 7-01
Overtures 7-13, 7-26, 7-141–42 (CW, pp. 242, 245,
287–88)
Rationale
Following a major revision of the Handbook, the 1981
national convention of the Synod established a Commission
on Structure to provide for “modifications in the Constitution, Bylaws, or structure of the Synod to the next and succeeding conventions” (1981 Res. 2-22). Eleven years later,
the 1992 convention, “having now proposed a Mission and
Ministry Council, which would be responsible for many of
the functions presently carried out by the Commission on
Structure,” eliminated the Commission on Structure as a
commission of the Synod (1992 Res. 5-15).
The 1998 convention, due to the large size and other duties of the Council on Mission and Ministry which did not
permit it “to take over responsibility previously covered by
the Commission on Structure,” authorized the formation of
a new Commission to “draft revisions to the format and
content of the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws (Handbook)
which will eliminate inconsistencies and make the Handbook more usable for the Synod” (1998 Res. 7-01). This
Commission, appointed by the Board of Directors with the
concurrence of the President of the Synod, completed its
task by disseminating its preliminary report to the Synod
one year prior to the 2001 synodical convention for review
and refinement and by proposing a revised Handbook to
the convention.
The Commission on Structure recognized that the Handbook will require constant refinement as new actions are
taken by the Synod. The Commission therefore recommended
that a standing Commission on Structure be established and
proposed the following action to the 2001 convention.
Resolved, That the 2001 convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod again establish a permanent
Commission on Structure; and be it further
Resolved, That a Commission on Structure be included
in the list of commissions contained in Bylaw 3.57; and be it
further
Resolved, That the convention adopt the following proposed Bylaw to govern the purpose, membership, and function of this Commission on Structure:
Commission on Structure

Committee 7 Chairman George Wollenburg

3. A voting member of the Commission on Constitutional Matters selected by that Commission who shall
serve as an advisory member of the Commission on
Structure.
b. The Commission on Structure serves the members of the Synod in convention by providing direction
for ongoing maintenance and management of the Handbook: the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and
Bylaws of the Synod.
c. The Commission on Structure shall assist the convention in maintaining the Handbook of the Synod by
identifying and recommending modifications to areas of
concern in the Handbook and for promotion of its ease
of use, thereby to enable the Synod most effectively to
accomplish its mission.

and be it finally
Resolved, That the Commission on Constitutional Matters make the appropriate changes in the Handbook (Bylaw
3.905 c).
Action: Adopted (2)
(After discussion, this resolution was adopted as presented.)

To Refer Commission on Structure Report

a. The Commission on Structure shall consist of
eight members, seven voting and one nonvoting:
1. Five members appointed by the Board of Directors of the Synod, in consultation and mutual concurrence with the President of the Synod, these appointments to be made in conjunction with the first meeting
of the Board of Directors following each national convention of the Synod;
2. The Secretary and the Chief Administrative Officer of the Synod who shall serve as voting ex officio
members; and

RESOLUTION 7-02
Report 7-08 (CW, p. 102); Overtures 7-01, 7-14–15, 717–25, 7-27 (CW, pp. 237, 242–45)
WHEREAS, The 1998 synodical convention reestablished
the Commission on Structure and instructed it to prepare a
reorganization of the LCMS Handbook and to report this
work to the 2001 LCMS convention for endorsement; and
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200l Convention Proceedings