# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_June 6 7 2008_S1
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel, St. Louis, MO
June 6–7, 2008
40. Opening Prayer
Chairman Albert Marcis called the meeting to order. All commission members were present for the
meeting as Gordon Tresch, who served as devotion leader for the meeting, provided the opening devotion.
Chairman Marcis reviewed the agenda for the meeting.
41. Review of Policy Manuals
A. Board for Pastoral Education Policy Manuals (06-2471)
The commission reviewed the Board Policy Manual and the Campus Policy Manual of the Board for
Pastoral Education in light of the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod. The following
concerns were noted. Other editorial and content suggestions and encouragements will be included in a
letter from the commission that conveys this formal opinion.
Regarding the Board Policy Manual:


Under 0.1, here and throughout the document constitution and bylaw references will need to be
updated to refer to the 2007 LCMS Handbook.



Under 0.2, paragraph 1: If the “entity” referred to in this paragraph is listed under Bylaw 1.2.1 (a)
(1), it should be replaced with the word “agency.”



Under 0.3, the paragraph entitled “Concordia University System: Mission and Purpose” does not
appear to be relevant and confuses the purpose of the Board for Pastoral Education with the
Board for University Education.



Under 2.1, paragraph 3: Synod Bylaw 3.3.5.3 makes it necessary for board members to also be
familiar with the relationship of its policies to those policies of the Board of Directors of the
Synod that apply to agencies of the Synod.



Under 2.5, paragraph 5: The use of “colloquy committees” as an example of standing committees
is not entirely accurate. The Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry is put in place by the
Bylaws of the Synod (Bylaw 3.8.2.4). While this committee “functions as a standing committee,”
Bylaw 1.5.3.4 indicates that standing committees are appointed by program boards, commissions,
and governing boards to provide professional and technical assistance.



Under 2.6, paragraph 16: The words “or commission” should be added after “governing board” to
allow for review of policies by the Commission on Constitutional Matters as provided by Bylaw
3.9.2.2.4.



Under 3.4, paragraph 10: Bylaw 3.8.2.3 (d) specifically makes all new programs and peer review
the responsibility of the BPE. If delegated to the executive director, policy should make clear that
the board retains final responsibility.



Under 3.4, paragraph 11: Bylaw 1.5.5 requires that agencies operate under the human resources
policies of the Board of Directors, not the International Center. (Also paragraph 4 under 4.4).