# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S132
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

132 SYNODICAL REPORTS

R7-08
Pro Tem Commission on Structure

In response to Res. 7-01 of the 1998 convention, a Commission
on Structure was appointed by the Board of Directors with the con-
currence of the President of the Synod to draft revisions to the for-
mat and content of the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws (Hand-
book) that would eliminate inconsistencies and make the Handbook
more usable. It also identified the need to clarify ambiguities and
identify content that would be better handled as board manuals
and/or policy manuals. Members of the Commission were identi-
fied in the 2001 report of the Commission to the convention (1998
Convention Workbook, p. 102).

The work of the Commission was shared with the delegates
who in Res. 7-02 (2001 Convention Proceedings, pp. 163-64) (1)
determined to establish a permanent Commission on Structure; (2)
chose to refer the Commission on Structure Report back to what
was now identified as the existing pro tem Commission on Struc-
ture to deal with it on a pro tem basis; (3) requested the Commis-
sion on Constitutional Matters to complete an expeditious review
of the work of the pro tem Commission on Structure and forward

2004 Convention Workbook

its recommendations to the pro tem group; (4) instructed the dele-
gates to review and report in their Circuits on the revised Hand-
book, which had been distributed to the 2001 convention, and for-
ward comments to the pro tem Commission on Structure; and (5)
directed the pro tem Commission on Structure to take into account
the comments and recommendations received and prepare a final
report for the members of the Synod one year prior to the 2004 con-
vention. ,

The pro tem Commission reviewed the reactions and recom-
mendations received and after several meetings, including a meet-
ing with the Chairman of the Commission on Constitutional Mat-
ters, in which recommendations which that Commission and others
offered and concerns which it shared were considered, prepared a
report in July 2003 that was shared with the Synod by means of the
Internet. Following additional reactions, several further revisions
were made. In the course of its work, the pro tem Commission on
Structure also incorporated the contents of Bylaw revisions and ad-
ditions adopted by the 2001 convention. The final results of the
Commission’s work are now being shared with the Synod for con-
sideration and action by the convention delegates.

Walter L. Rosin, Chairman