# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_January 23 24 2010_S1 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) MINUTES COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS Hyatt Harborside Hotel, Boston MA January 23-24, 2010 (Prior to the commission meeting and at the request of the chairman and vice-chairman of Floor Committee 8 for the 2010 Synod convention, the Commission on Constitutional Matters met with floor committee and Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance representatives to discuss matters pertaining to the task force report.) 135. Call to Order, Devotion, and Agenda Chairman Albert Marcis called the meeting of the Commission on Constitutional Matters to order. Philip Esala provided an opening devotion based on the John 2 account of the wedding at Cana, applying the biblical narrative to the post-earthquake situation in Haiti and his personal experiences in that country. Chairman Marcis led the commission in a review of all pending business before the commission, first addressing long-standing agenda items as follows: • • • • • • • • • • • • 08-2517 (Review of Handbook for Doctrinal Reviewers) – With no handbook to review, the Secretary was asked to make the President of the Synod aware that the commission was removing this item from its agenda. 08-2523 (Review of CHI Policy Manual) – The Secretary was asked to determine whether the commission is in possession of all policy documents. 08-2521 (Board of Directors Policy Manual) – The Secretary was asked to send a letter to the Board of Directors thanking them for their consideration of the commission’s suggestions and their modification of their policy manual accordingly. 08-2526 (Review of Concordia Plan Services Policies) – This will be on the agenda of the commission’s next meeting in February. 08-2530 (LCEF Policy Manual and Corporate Documents Review) – The Secretary was asked to ascertain that all LCEF documents are now available for review during the commission’s February meeting. 08-2536 (Oklahoma District Bylaws Review) – The Secretary was asked to send a reminder to the district president that the district has unfinished business with its Bylaws, checking on progress being made. 09-2544 (Article VI and Heterodox Congregations) – The Secretary was asked to obtain a progress report from the Commission on Theology and Church Relations. 09-2549 (North Dakota District Bylaw Amendments) – Materials having been received, this item will appear on the agenda for the February meeting. 09-2552 (Concordia University, Ann Arbor Bylaws) – The Secretary will provide a progress report to the commission. The Secretary will also provide the Bylaw proposal for removal of board members that is being drafted by the Commission on Structure for discussion at the February meeting. 09-2559 (Review of CPH Articles, Bylaws, and Policies) – With all materials now in hand, the commission will review these documents at its February meeting. 09-2562 (Florida-Georgia District Bylaw Amendments) – The commission will review these documents at its February meeting. 09-2563 (Council of Presidents Policy Manual) – Chairman Marcis will assign portions of the manual to commission members prior to the February meeting.