# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_February 2 2007_S8
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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Bylaw 1.20 (p. 5): Definitions for “conference,” “council,” and “department” (paragraphs c, d, e)
define terms that are never again used in the Bylaws. In addition, “conference” is already used
and defined differently in the Bylaws of the Synod (Bylaw 4.8.2).

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Bylaw 1.22 (p. 5): Since there is only one board, this bylaw would better be titled “Board of
Directors” rather than “Boards.”

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Bylaws 1.26 a (p. 6), 1.37 (p. 8), and 1.67 e (p. 13): An inconsistency exists regarding how a
vacancy in a vice-presidency is to be filled.

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Bylaw 1.41 (p. 8): The listing of the First Vice-President, a non-voting member of the Board of
Directors, in the list of voting members is unusual and confusing. Better if the reference to him
under current paragraph a were made the first sentence of current paragraph b.

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Bylaw 1.43 c (p. 9): The provision for reinstatement of an officer or director is inconsistent with
the Bylaws of the Synod.

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Bylaw 1.50 (p. 10): While quite detailed, the description of the functions of the district
Committee on Constitutional Matters does not include those functions required by Synod Bylaws
2.2.1 (b) and 2.4.1 (b). Instead, a questionable function is described under paragraph d in that the
Synod’s Bylaws do not grant district constitution committees the authority to review existing
documents of member congregations unless a congregation is proposing change.

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Bylaw 2.01 (p. 14): Paragraph a of this bylaw suggests that the national Synod is the entity that
changes district bylaws, also offering a Synod Handbook reference that is unclear. Paragraph b
offers Synod bylaw references that need to be updated to “Synod Bylaws 4.1.1.2 and 3.9.2.2.4.”
Item 1 under paragraph b should be clarified to indicate that it is the Constitution “of the Synod”
that is being referenced.

181. Synod Governance (06-2486)
With a letter dated January 3, 2007, a parish pastor of the Synod submitted a series of questions regarding
the non-profit laws of the State of Missouri and the Constitution of the United States. Commission
member Dan Lorenz was asked to submit this inquiry to the legal counsel of the Synod for input.
182. Meeting with Representatives of the 7-02A Committee
According to prior arrangement, the Friday evening session of the meeting included a joint conference
with the chairman and representatives of the 7-02A Committee.
183. Adjournment
According to prior arrangement, the Saturday morning session of the commission included a joint
conference with the Synod’s Board of Directors. Following the joint conference, allotted time having
elapsed, the chairman closed the meeting with words of benediction.

Raymond L. Hartwig, Secretary

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