# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_February 10 12 2012_S13
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

97. Mid-South District Bylaws Review (11-2624)
With a February 3, 2012 email, the secretary of the Mid-South District submitted his district’s Bylaws
and proposed bylaw changes to the commission for approval. Upon review, the commission offered the
following recommendations (referenced according to proposed new numbering).
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Bylaw 1.2.4: Mention is made of the district’s Policy Based Governance Document. The
commission requests that a copy of this document be submitted for review as required by Synod
Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3.
Bylaw 1.3.2: The proposal that the second vice-president also serve as secretary (as also in
Bylaw 3.2.2.3) is contrary to the Bylaws of the Synod, where Bylaw 1.5.1.2 prohibits holding
more than one elective office.
Bylaw 4.1.1: Mention of the district’s Articles of Incorporation prompts the request by the
commission that this document also be submitted for review.
Bylaw 4.2.3: Although already clear in the Synod’s Bylaws (4.3.2), the commission recommends
including in the district bylaw the requirement that the district treasurer is to be a lay person.
Bylaw 4.2.4: When the board of directors determines the frequency of its regular meetings, it
must take into consideration the Synod’s requirement for quarterly meetings (Bylaw 1.5.3).
Bylaw Chapter 6: The title of this chapter, “Standing Committees,” does not appear to be
appropriate for the content of the chapter.
Section title 6.2: The words “upon Recommendation of the District President” do not hold true
for the district reconcilers, who are recommended by the circuit counselors of the district.
Section 6.2.2: This section on district reconcilers does not fit under “standing committees,” nor is
it complete, since reconcilers also serve on panels, serve at the Synod level, serve on expulsion
panels, etc. It may be easier just to refer to the Synod’s bylaws governing reconcilers’ work.
Bylaw 8.3.1, paragraph a: The proposed change to replace “clergy” with “official” should be
undone, as nominations for the president of the district may be made from the entire clergy roster
of the Synod (Synod Bylaw 4.3.1). Consent to serve would therefore include agreement to be
members of member congregations of the district upon assuming office and during the course of
their tenure (Bylaw 4.3.3).
Bylaw 8.3.2.1: Nominations for vice-president are to be from the clergy roster of the Synod
(Synod Bylaw 4.3.1) and not just the electoral region. Consent to serve would therefore include
agreement to be members of member congregations of the district upon assuming office and
during the course of their tenure (Bylaw 4.3.3).
Bylaw 8.4.2: See Synod Bylaw 3.2.4 for term of office requirements.
Bylaw 8.4.3.1: The commission noted mention of the district’s “transition policy” and requests
that it also be submitted to the commission for review (if not already included in the
aforementioned Policy Based Governance Document).
Bylaw 8.5.1: The commission noted that there is no mention of line of succession of vicepresidents in the event of a vacancy in the office of the President.

98. Minnesota North District Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws Review (11-2625)
The secretary of the Minnesota North District submitted the response of the district’s Bylaw and
Constitution Commission to the recommendations made by the Commission on Constitutional Matters
following earlier review of the district’s documents. The commission reviewed the changes now being
proposed and offered the following final recommendations, requesting that the district provide clean
copies with changes in place upon action of the district convention.
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