# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_January 28 2004_S12
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Question 5:

Bylaw 2.29 e states that in an appeal of restricted status, “The decision of the hearing panel
shall be the decision of the COP and shall be final with no right of appeal.” After the COP
has failed to hear an appeal of restricted status in a fair and timely manner and a pastor’s
restricted status has been dropped, does finality also apply to this result?

Opinion: A decision of the Council of Presidents regarding a particular case of restricted status has
bearing only on the restriction in question. The removal or the dropping of a restricted status has no
bearing on future decisions to place that member of the Synod on restricted status or to commence formal
Bylaw 2.27 proceedings that result in suspended status.
246. Adjournment
After brief informal discussion of matters related to the convention of the Synod, the meeting was closed
with words of benediction.

Raymond L. Hartwig, Secretary

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