# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_September 3 4 2011_S48
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

(e) The requirement of the Synod of previous admonition called for in Article XIII of the
Constitution commences at this stage, if applicable. [2.15.3 (e)]
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A reconciliation committee may consist of any number of persons, chosen by the district president of the
accuser or the President of the Synod according to his understanding of the situation and persons involved
and in consultation with the ecclesiastical supervisor of the accused.
An expulsion from membership cannot take place without previous admonition (Constitution Art. XIII)
when such previous admonition is possible, even if futile. The activity of a reconciliation committee
contributes to satisfying this requirement.
Eighth Commandment protection of reputations is essential to this portion of the process as other persons
become involved.

1.6 Accuser brings matter to Synod President; receives manual
(f) Only after all the requirements of the consultation provided in this bylaw (Bylaw 2.15.3) have
been followed may the accuser bring the matter to the President of the Synod for action under the
correct bylaw provision determined by the accuser’s district president (paragraph [b] above). [2.15.3
(f)]
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It is the responsibility of the district president of the accuser or, when appropriate, the President of the
Synod to make certain that all of the requirements of a consultation have been followed.
Only after all reconciliation efforts included in the consultation requirements have failed to bring about
resolution of the matter and the accuser desires to proceed shall the district president of the accuser or,
when appropriate, the President of the Synod provide direction regarding the correct bylaw process to be
followed.

2. Commencing an Action (Bylaw 2.15.4–2.15.5)
2.1 President of Synod becomes/is made aware of allegations
Under this bylaw, the President of the Synod shall commence the following action when he becomes
aware of information or allegations that could lead to expulsion of a member from the Synod under the
provisions of Article XIII of the Constitution. The President of the Synod may become aware of such
information by his own personal knowledge. Such information or allegations may also be conveyed to
him in a formal written complaint or accusation made by a member of the Synod who has carried out the
above provision (Bylaw 2.15.3). [2.15.4]
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The right and responsibility to bring forward information that could lead to expulsion of a member from the
Synod is reserved for members of the Synod, that is, its congregations and ministers of religion—
commissioned and ordained.
A member congregation bringing forward information shall be represented by its chairman or a designated
member of the congregation. The congregation shall have identified and authorized its representative prior
to his/her signing of a formal complaint.
Use of this bylaw section is reserved solely for addressing information or allegations that could lead to
expulsion of district presidents or officers of the Synod from the Synod.
Information or allegations of lesser consequence, or that accuse a congregation or individual member of the
Synod or the President of the Synod, or that pertain to sexual misconduct or criminal behavior are to be
addressed by processes provided by other bylaw sections.
The formal written complaint, signed and dated, becomes a part of the official record of the matter begun
by the ecclesiastical supervisor who served as consultant and transmitted to the ecclesiastical supervisor of
the accused.

2.2 President of Synod investigates
In commencing such action, the President of the Synod:

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