# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_November 4 2004_S1
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Teleconference Meeting
November 4, 2004

18. Call to Order and Prayer
Chairman Al Marcis called the conference call meeting to order and provided the opening prayer. All
members of the Commission participated in the meeting.
19. Constitutional Amendments
In a November 2, 2004 e-mailed message, an LCMS pastor requested more information regarding the two
resolutions to amend the Constitution of the Synod. After brief discussion, the Commission instructed its
secretary to forward to the pastor its Opinion 04-2409, suggesting that the pastor submit specific
questions if the help provided by the opinion does not answer his needs.
20. Revised Handbook
The Commission worked through the latest draft of the revised Handbook, noting minor corrections and
improvements yet to be made. A final review prior to publication will be done at the Commission’s
December meeting in St. Louis.
21. Standard Operating Procedures Manuals
The Commission discussed briefly its progress on the development of operating procedures manuals for
Bylaw sections 1.10, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, and 2.17. A complete draft of the documents will be presented to
the Council of Presidents during its November 16-17 meeting in Dallas. Copies of the draft will also be
provided to other persons with particular interest or expertise for their response prior to the Commission’s
comprehensive review of the procedures manuals at its December meeting.
22. Next Meeting
The agenda of the Commission’s next meeting was discussed, to include an allowance of time for
orientation for the Commission’s newest member, Mr. Gordon Tresch.
23. Adjournment
All business to come before the Commission having been addressed, the meeting was closed with words
of benediction.

Raymond L. Hartwig, Secretary