# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_November 2 4 2012_S2
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

address these and other issues discussed. More detailed minutes of the joint meeting (provided in the
minutes of the Commission on Handbook) are attached to the protocol copy of these minutes.
166. Bylaws 3.10.4.7.9 and 3.10.5.6.9 Revisions (Review of LCMS Seminary, College, and University
Complaint/Dispute Resolution Standard Operating Procedures Manuals)
Secretary Raymond Hartwig presented drafts of the Standard Operating Procedures Manuals to
accompany the Bylaw 3.10.4.7.9 and 3.10.5.6.9 processes for receiving and deciding complaints against
members of seminary, college, and university faculties and administrations. The commission reviewed
and approved the documents (attached to the protocol copy of these minutes) for use by the seminaries
(Bylaw 3.10.4.7.9 [j]) and Concordia University System (Bylaw 3.10.5.6.9 [j]) as appropriate.
167. Texas District Convention Bylaw Revisions (12-2640 [B])
With an April 25, 2012 email, the president of the Texas District submitted a series of proposed bylaw
amendment resolutions, already reviewed and responded to by the commission during its May 2012
meeting. During the review, the commission also made recommendations for existing district bylaws to
bring them into compliance with Synod Bylaws.
Upon review of the Texas District Bylaws following changes made by the 2012 district convention, the
commission noted that not all of its recommendations were followed and that additional changes were
made, the latter mostly editorial. The commission again surfaces the following issues for the district’s
attention:
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Regarding 2012 district convention Res. 03-05-12, the district did not restore the words “in
writing” in two places as previously advised by the commission. The commission again states
that the words “in writing” must be restored to mirror Synod Bylaw 3.12.2.1 (a) which
specifically uses those words. The commission also notes that the district’s old bylaw, which does
include the words “in writing,” is therefore still in operation until the next district convention,
when these words will need to be incorporated in the new version of the pertinent district bylaws.
The commission again also notes that “in writing” can refer to documentation that is
communicated electronically.
The recommendations made by the commission in Opinion 12-2640 with regard to existing
bylaws apparently were not acted upon, presumably due to the press of time leading up to the
district convention. It will be necessary for the district, therefore, to give the commission’s
comments attention leading up to its 2015 convention.
The input provided by the commission in regard to the district’s Preamble to the Bylaws were
also not addressed and will need to be given attention leading up to the 2015 convention.

To facilitate the district’s response to these ongoing concerns, a copy of Opinion 12-2640 will be attached
to this Opinion 12-2640 (B).
168. Rocky Mountain District Convention Bylaw Revisions (12-2655)
With an August 28, 2012 email, the president of the Rocky Mountain District provided a copy of district
convention Res. 2012-3b-07 which amended district Bylaw 1.01 governing the counties to be included in
the various geographic areas of the district. The commission gave its approval to the change, thereby
authorizing the district to function according to the amended bylaw, also reminding the district to provide
the complete set of Bylaws as amended along with copies of the district’s Articles of Incorporation and
Policy and Administration Manual.
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