# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S236 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 7. STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 7-01 To Adopt Handbook Revision Rationale At its 1998 convention the Synod adopted Res. 7-01 empowering the Board of Directors “in consultation and mutual concurrence with the President of the Synod, to appoint a Commission on Structure [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.” The resolution also spoke of a need to clarify ambiguities and to identify content in the current Handbook “which could be better handled as board manuals and/or policy statements.” In carrying out its assignment the Commission appointed by the Board of Directors has reorganized the content of the Handbook. The general pattern of this reorganization follows in most cases a sequence from purpose to structure to procedures. The Commission has taken great care to retain the entire content of the current Handbook, has reordered and relocated Bylaws in order to make the document more user friendly, and has made minor changes when helpful to simplify, clarify, or eliminate inconsistencies, For purposes of simplification and order, the revised version of the Handbook differentiates between two categories of Bylaw material: (1) those paragraphs essential to the overall purpose, structure, and functions of the Synod and (2) those policy and procedure paragraphs that provide order for the everyday operations of the Synod and its agencies that are to be included in policy manuals. Both categories of Bylaw material are the result of convention action, are therefore binding for all synodical entities, and will also require convention action if changes are to be made. Last July the Commission shared its work in a preliminary report that was provided to all congregations of the Synod and to the Commission on Constitutional Matters. It has since considered all suggestions and reactions received and herewith advocates adoption of its final Handbook revision proposal as provided to the delegates to the convention and made available to all other interested parties. Resolved, That the proposed revised Handbook provided by the Commission on Structure be adopted. Commission on Structure 7-02 To Move Property Ownership Bylaw to Constitution Rationale Current Bylaw 2.39 addresses the relationship of the Synod and its members. Its final paragraph, d, speaks specifically to matters of property. Because this is an absolute principle that pertains to the autonomy of a congregation, the Commission recommends that it be included in the Constitution of the Synod as paragraph 2 under Art. VII. Resolved, That current Bylaw 2.39 d, “Membership of a con- gregation in the Synod gives the Synod no equity in the property of the congregation,” be deleted from Bylaw 2.39 and included as a new second paragraph of Art. VII of the Constitution; and be it fur- ther Resolved, That Art. VII of the Constitution therefore read, Article VII Relation of the Synod to Its Members 1. In its relation to its members the Synod is not an ecclesiasti- cal government exercising legislative or coercive powers, and with respect to the individual congregation’s right of self-government it is but an advisory body. Accordingly, no resolution of the Synod imposing anything upon the individual congregation is of binding force if it is not in accordance with the Word of God or if it ap- 237 pears to be inexpedient as far as the condition of the congregation is concerned. 2. Membership of a congregation in the Synod gives the Synod no equity in the property of the congregation. Commission on Structure 7-03 To Add New Bylaw to Govern the Dissolution of Synodwide Corporate Entities Rationale The Handbook of the Synod currently includes Bylaws govern- ing the establishment, board composition, powers and duties, and governing instruments of synodwide corporate entities. Not in- cluded, however, is a Bylaw to govern their dissolution. The fol- lowing resolution proposes the addition of a new Bylaw for that purpose that is consistent with how such entities are created and that continues to vest power and authority in the convention or Board of Directors of the Synod. Resolved, That the following proposed Bylaw 3.6.1.8 govern- ing the dissolution of synodwide corporate entities be adopted by the convention: 3.6.1.8 Dissolution of a synodwide corporate entity shall require the approval of the Synod in convention or the Board of Directors of the Synod. Commission on Structure 7-04 To Include Policy and Procedure Bylaw Sections in Policy Manuals Rationale For purposes of simplification and order, the Proposed version of the Handbook produced by the Commission on Structure differ- entiates between two categories of Bylaw material: (1) those para- graphs essential to the overall purpose, structure, and functions of the Synod (identified by decimal numbers); and (2) those policy and procedure paragraphs that provide order for the everyday op- erations of the Synod and its agencies that are to be included in pol- icy manuals (identified by letters and numbers in parentheses). Both categories of Bylaw material are the result of convention ac- tion, are therefore binding for all synodical entities, and will also require convention action if changes are to be made. To assure an orderly process, copies of policy manuals should be maintained in a central location. This distinction between categories of Bylaw material will be helpful to the Synod. Future proposed changes to those paragraphs identified as essential to the overall purpose, structure, and func- tions of the Synod will necessarily be given careful convention at- tention. Those paragraphs that provide policy and procedure, on the other hand, will be reviewed regularly as needs and conditions change. Their identification will also facilitate their inclusion in policy manuals of the Synod and its agencies, leading to the Com- mission’s proposal of the following resolution. Resolved, That an orderly policy manual be developed and maintained by the board of each entity of the Synod to regulate its operations; and be it further Resolved, That all relevant policy and procedure material in- cluded in the Handbook of the Synod also be included in these pol- icy manuals; and be it further Resolved, That the policy and procedure materia] obtained from the Handbook be clearly and constantly identified in these policy manuals as to its origin; and be it further Resolved, That any change made to this Handbook Bylaw ma- terial contained in policy manuals of synodical entities require na- 2001 Convention Workbook