# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_February 23 2013_S46
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

87. Overture to the 2013 Convention (Revision of Definitions)
Overture to the 2013 Convention
To Revise Definitions in the Handbook
(Bylaw Section 1.2.1 et al.)
Introduction
Subsequent to the 2010 Synod convention, the Commission on Constitutional Matters and the
Commission on Handbook were tasked with identifying and updating all bylaws related to the adopted
resolutions. In the course of that assignment, some bylaw clarifications were overlooked and some were
incorrectly updated.
Additionally, during the course of the triennium, a number of questions arose which suggested that
clarification of certain definitions would be appropriate and helpful.

Resolved, That the 2013 LCMS convention adopts the following bylaw changes to Bylaw 1.2.1:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.2 Definition of Terms
1.2.1

The following definitions apply to are for use in understanding the terms as used in the entire
Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod:
(a) Agency: An instrumentality other than a congregation or corporate Synod, whether or not
separately incorporated, which the Synod in convention or its Board of Directors has caused
or authorized to be formed to further the Synod’s objectives Objectives (Article III of the
Constitution).
(1) Agencies include each board, commission, council, seminary, university, college,
district, Concordia Plan Services, and each synodwide corporate entity.
(2) The term “agency of the Synod” does not describe or imply the existence of principal
and agency arrangements as defined under civil law.
(b) Chief Executive: The top staff administrator of an a separately incorporated agency of
the Synod, who may be referred to as president, other than a mission board or commission.
(c) Commission: A group of persons, elected or appointed as prescribed in the Bylaws,
rendering a precisely defined service function of the Synod and responsible, as the case may
be, to the Synod in convention, to the President of the Synod, or to the Board of Directors of
the Synod. The commissions of the Synod are:
(1) Commission on Constitutional Matters
(2) Commission on Doctrinal Review
(3) Commission on Handbook
(4) Commission on Theology and Church Relations
(d) Concordia Plans: Concordia Plan Services is a controlled entity of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod created to manage the Concordia Plans. The Concordia Plans,
Page 116 – 02.23.13 – COH Minutes