# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_February 7 8 2009_S1
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
St. Louis Crowne Plaza Hotel
February 7–8, 2009

71. Call to Order, Opening Devotion, and Agenda
Chairman Albert Marcis called the meeting to order with all members present. Dan Lorenz provided an
opening devotion based upon Psalm 146. Several items were added to the agenda for the meeting.
72. Review of Bylaw Section 2.14 Standard Operating Procedures Manual
The commission reviewed the Standard Operating Procedures Manual for Bylaw section 2.14, taking
into consideration the input provided by the Council of Presidents through its committee appointed for
this purpose. After a detailed review of the manual, a motion was introduced and carried “to accept the
manual as revised, subject to the concurrence of the Council of Presidents.”
73. Review of Proposed Changes to Concordia University System Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws re Membership Structure (06-2472)
2007 Resolution 5-07A revised the membership structure of Concordia University System (CUS) to
provide that the LCMS and the colleges and universities of the LCMS are the members of CUS.
Accordingly, and as required by Bylaws 3.6.1.6 (a) and 3.9.2.2.4, the CUS submitted proposed
amendments to its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to the commission for its review and approval.
The CUS also provided amended versions of its policy manuals in response to an earlier review by the
commission.
After review, the commission gave its approval to the proposed amendments to the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of Concordia University System. The commission’s review of the CUS policy
documents will continue.
74. Policy Manual Review
The commission continues to review the policy manuals of the agencies of the Synod to ensure that they
are in accord with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod. The commission’s response to
the agencies whose manuals were reviewed will include its “Frequently Noted Aberrations” document to
encourage and facilitate uniformity of usage in bylaw and policy documents in our Synod.
(A) Board of Directors Policy Manual (08-2521)
Upon review of the Board of Directors Policy Manual, the commission calls attention to the following:
1. Page ii: First paragraph under “Glossary” contains information that should be updated to reflect
the 2007 Handbook of the Synod.
2. Page ii: The definition of “Corporate Synod” does not quote the 2007 Handbook accurately.
3. Page 2-3, Policy 2.1: This paragraph should be rewritten since it contains inaccurate 2007
Handbook information, uses wording (e.g., “enables”) that does not accurately reflect Bylaw
3.3.5, and should reference all bylaws that pertain.