# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S274 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 274 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION c. revise the synodical Handbook immediately after each convention of the Synod to bring it into harmony with the reso- lutions or changes adopted by the convention; d. interpret the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, and resolu- tions upon the written request of a member (congregation, or- dained or commissioned minister), official, board, commission, entity, or agency of the Synod. Such a request may be accom- panied by a request for an appearance before the commission. The opinion rendered by the commission shall be binding on the question decided unless and until it is overruled by a synodical convention; e. maintain a file of succeeding Handbooks so that a com- parison can be made between current regulations and those im- mediately preceding; f. maintain a file of the articles of incorporation and bylaws and regulations of all synodical entities; examine in advance the articles of incorporation and the bylaws or regulations of every synodical entity and all proposed amendments of such docu- ments to ascertain whether they are in harmony with the Con- stitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod. A synodical en- tity shall make such amendments to or changes in these documents as may be necessary to conform. and WHEREAS, The CCM has served The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod well in interpreting and guiding the Synod in such re- gards historically; and WHEREAS, The CCM is for the interpretation and application of the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, which opinions may be overturned by the Synod in convention; therefore be it Resolved, That the CCM continue to be made up of five voting members (three ordained ministers and two lawyers) selected by the process that is described in Bylaw 3.903; and be it further Resolved, That the CCM continue to interpret and guide The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in terms of its Constitution, By- laws, and resolutions. Christ Our Savior Coppell, TX 7-70 To Revise Bylaws to Clarify Election Process Rationale When the Synod established the current membership of the Board of Directors at its 1981 convention (Res. 2-03A, Proceed- ings, p. 137), it stipulated that no more than one of the pastors and no more than one of the laymen (apart from members by virtue of office) were to be from the same District of the Synod. In doing so, it declined an amendment that “no District shall be represented si- multaneously by both a pastor and a layperson.” The 1998 conven- tion added the following stipulation: “No more than one of these 13 [members] may be from the same District.” Similarly, when the Synod established the Concordia Univer- sity System, Inc., at its 1992 convention (Res. 6-04, Proceedings, p. 160), it stipulated that no more than one elected director was to be from the same District of the Synod. This requirement that no two board members of these boards can be from the same District has resulted in complications in re- cent conventions. The 2001 convention therefore considered Res. 9-01, “To Revise Bylaws to Clarify Election Process at Synodical Conventions.” After lengthy discussion, a motion “to refer the res- olution to the Commission on Structure to work on during the next triennium” was carried [yes: 949; no: 92]. The Commission on Structure submits the following Bylaw changes to the 2004 convention of the Synod. PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING Resolved, That Bylaw 3.181 a be amended to read: a. The Board of Directors shall consist of 15 voting mem- bers, 13 of whom are elected by the Synod in convention, serv- ing a maximum of two six-year terms: four ordained ministers, one commissioned minister, and eight laypersons. Ne-mere-then one of these four ordained ministers may be elected from any one District (District membership being determin hat Dis- ict thr whi nodical m hip is hel than one of the eight laypersons may be elected from any one District (District being determined by the District membership of the congregation of which that layperson is a member). and be it further Resolved, That Bylaw 3.407 d be amended to read: d. Elected by the Synod in convention: three ordained min- isters who must be parish pastors; two commissioned ministers; and two laypersons. Of these seven members elected by the Synod in convention, no more than one from each of the three categori rt i0 ] hall District of the Synod (District membership for ordain nd commissioned members of the board being determin t Distri h which synodical membership i is- trict membership for lay members of the board by District mem- bership of ngregation of whi i - ber). These members will be assigned to one of the two committees by action of the plenary Board for Higher Educa- Commission on Structure 7-71 To Amend Bylaw 3.181 a re Membership of Board of Directors WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.181 a, dealing with membership of the 15 voting members of the Synod’s Board of Directors, contains the provision “No more than one of these 13 may be elected from one District” (13 does not include the President and Secretary, who are voting members of the Board); and WHEREAS, It was the obvious intent of the bylaw to keep any one District from having undue influence on the Board of Direc- tors; and WHEREAS, The bylaw does not speak to the possibility of multi- ple members of the same immediate family serving on the Board of 15 members; therefore be it Resolved, That the Southern District in convention memorial- ize the 2004 LCMS convention to amend Bylaw 3.181 a by adding this sentence: PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING No more than one of the total Board of 15 may be a member of the same immediate family (married couple, parent and son/daugh- ter or parent and son-in-law/daughter-in-law, or siblin ouses of siblings). Southern District 7-72 To Change Restrictions Concerning Membership on Board of Directors WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.181 a states concerning the makeup of the Synod’s Board of Directors: “No more than one of these 13 [mem- bers] may be elected from one District”; and WHEREAS, There are no restrictions for membership on the board of any other Synodwide entity (e.g., Concordia Historical In- stitute, Concordia Publishing House, Lutheran Church Extension Fund, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation); and WHEREAS, The 1989 Handbook read, “It shall consist of 15 vot- ing members.... No more than one of the four ordained ministers may be elected from any one District. No more than one of the eight laypersons may be elected from any one District”; and