# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_April 10 11 2015_S15
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100. Pastoral Colloquy Bylaws, Policies, and Application Review (15-2758)
The commission reviewed the bylaws, policies, and application for pastoral colloquy submitted by the
First Vice-President of the Synod and offers the following recommendations.
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Throughout the documents, references to the Synod’s handbook should be changed from the 2010
to the 2013 Handbook.
The final sentence of the description of the second category of “Specific Requirements for
Eligibility for Colloquy” on page 5 of the policies document (and elsewhere that pertains) should
be changed to read: “This category does NOT apply to LCMS members who while members of
LCMS congregations have obtained Master of Divinity degrees outside the LCMS (see below).”

101. Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty (15-2759)
Via a March 16, 2015 email, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Synod forwarded proposed Articles
of Incorporation and Bylaws for a new legal entity under the name “Lutheran Center for Religious
Liberty.” The commission, after review of the documents, gave its approval, also encouraging that the
new entity’s board of directors, when constituted, adopt a policy for conflict resolution.
102. Amended and Restated Concordia University System Bylaws Review (15-2762)
Via a March 23, 2015 email, the Director of Institutional Research and Integrity of Concordia University
System submitted its Bylaws for review by the commission. The commission responded as follows.
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Article I: Given the content of this article, the title “Council of Members” would seem to describe
more accurately the content of what follows.
Article I Section 1: Given the content of the second paragraph, the title “Synod Delegates” would
seem to better describe what follows.
Article I Section 1: The final phrase of the third paragraph, “…to serve for a maximum of three
three-year terms, appointed or re-appointed at the end of each term” can be deleted, since its
content is repeated in the following paragraph.
Article I Section 3: The new wording at the end of the paragraph will require the following
additional wording as follows: “Electronic voting shall be permitted for the conduct of business,
provided that notice is given in conformity with these Bylaws, the Bylaws of the Synod, the
Synod Board of Directors policies for agencies of the Synod, and as may otherwise be permitted
by applicable law.”
Article II: Given the content of this article, replacing the colon with the word “and” would better
describe what follows, thereby to read “Board of Directors and Officers.”
Article II Section 1: The third item in the list of Nonvoting Advisory Members will better read:
“3. The Chief Mission Officer or his/her representative” as in Synod Bylaw 3.6.6.3.
Article II Section 1: In place of the sentence, “The three lay members selected by the Council of
Members shall have financial or administrative or academic expertise,” there should be a full
restatement of or reference to the qualifications listed in Synod Bylaw 3.6.6.3 for persons elected
or appointed to the CUS Board of Directors.
Article II Section 1: In the second-last paragraph, the “final ballot” will likely not be the final
ballot. Deletion of “final” will be more accurate.
Article II Section 1: As the final paragraph currently reads, each elector would cast three votes
throughout the election process, which of course is not the intention.

CCM Minutes – April 10–11, 2015 – Page 77