# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_February 18 20 2011_S8
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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Under Bylaw 3.06, paragraph b (p. 24), the plenary and any sectional conference do not need
the consent of the district president or board of directors to conduct the business authorized
by Synod Bylaw 4.8.3, i.e., adopt and submit overtures to conventions.
Under Bylaw 3.14 (p. 26), mention should also be made of Synod Bylaw section 4.8
governing the activities of conferences.
Under Bylaw 3.20 (p. 26), the same concerns exist as described above under Bylaw 2.58 (see
above).
Under Bylaw 3.26 (pp. 27f.), Synod bylaw references should be checked in light of changes
made in the 2010 Handbook.
Under Bylaw 3.48 (p. 33), Synod Bylaw 4.1.1.2 makes clear that the Constitution and Bylaws
of the Synod are to be applied also on the district level. Paragraph a of this bylaw would do
well to reflect to a greater extent Synod Bylaw 4.5.1.
Under Bylaw 3.50 (p. 35) and Bylaw section 5.00 (pp. 41ff), the use of the term “divisions” is
terminology that the Synod’s Handbook uses only for districts, regions, or departments of
faculties. The terminology used by the Synod to describe its various ministries and services is
the word “department.”
Under Bylaw 3.66 (p. 38), this section will need to be replaced with the content of new Synod
Bylaws 1.5.7ff., which provide the process for removal of board members that is to be
followed by all agencies of the Synod.
Under Bylaw 5.10 (p. 43), the Synod bylaw reference in paragraph a will need to be changed
to reference to the work of the Board for National Mission and the Office of National Mission
under Synod Bylaw section 3.8.
Under Bylaw 5.12 (p. 44), paragraph a does not adequately fulfill the requirement of Synod
Bylaw 4.6.1 for a district “committee or board for stewardship.”
Under Bylaw 6.06 (p. 46), the description of the responsibility of the Committee on
Congregational Constitutions and District Membership in paragraph b should use the same
language as contained in Synod Bylaw 2.2.1 (b).
Under Bylaw 6.06 (p. 46), paragraph e, the existence of the guidelines provided by the
Commission on Constitutional Matters of the Synod can also be noted.
Under Bylaw section 7.00 (p. 47), provision 1 should also include mention of the Bylaws of
the Synod as in Synod Constitution Art. XII 2 and Bylaw 4.1.1.2 (a).
Under Bylaw section 7.00 (p. 47), a new provision 2 should be inserted indicating that review
by the Commission on Constitutional Matters of the Synod is required prior to submission of
proposed amendments to the district convention (Synod Bylaws 3.9.2.2.3; 3.9.2.2.3 [a];
4.1.1.2 [b]).

The commission thanks the Minnesota North District for its cooperation and for providing its Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws for review. The commission asks that it be given opportunity to review any
proposed amendments as a result of this opinion prior to their submission to the district’s convention.
29. Bylaw Section 1.10 Standard Operating Procedures Manual Revision
The commission carefully reviewed the final draft of the revision of the Bylaw section 1.10 Standard
Operating Procedures Manual incorporating changes by the 2010 LCMS convention and additional
improvements, this following consultation with the Secretary of the Synod and the Council of Presidents
as required by Bylaw 1.10.18.1 (j). A final copy of the manual is attached to the protocol copy of these
minutes.

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