# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_July 10 11 2015_S8
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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Article III, section 1, subsection e – Due to Synod bylaw changes, the first sentence must be
changed to read: “A visitor for each circuit of the district shall be elected from the ordained
minister roster of the Synod district.”
Article III, section 4, subsection a, first paragraph – In order to agree with the terminology of the
Synod, the first sentence should speak of “nine (9) members elected selected at regional caucuses
and ratified by the district in convention, which ratification constitutes election.
Article III, section 4, subsection a, first paragraph – The sentences in the middle of the paragraph,
in order to mirror recent changes to Synod bylaws, must read: “In order to be elected and
continue to serve as an ordained or commissioned member of the board, he/she shall be called to
or be a member of a congregation of a the circuit of the region of the district from which elected,
with residence in the designated region. Called workers shall be on the roster of the district Synod
(ordained and commissioned), and not be on suspended status (Synod Bylaw 2.13.4.2).
Article III, section 4, subsection a, first paragraph – The final sentence will need to be changed to
read, “In order to be elected and continue to serve as a lay member of the board, he/she must be a
member in good standing of a congregation of the circuit of the region of the district from which
elected, with residence in the region” (Synod Bylaws 4.7.1; 3.12.2.7 [a]).
Article III, section 4, subsection a, third paragraph: A fifth condition should be added to this
paragraph regarding electronic meetings, to read: “…and (4) such practice does not contradict
state law; and (5), under Synod Bylaw 1.5.3, is consistent with LCMS Board of Directors Policy
5.7.8 for agencies of the Synod.
Article III, section 4, subsection b, paragraph ii: Given the Bylaw requirement that the
Commission on Constitutional Matters must examine and review all agency bylaws and
governing documents (Synod Bylaws 3.9.2; 3.9.2.2.3), mention of the “bylaws of each camp
board” prompts the commission to request copies of these documents for review.
Article III, section 6: In addition to the exception of the Synod President from accountability by
the district board of directors, the parenthetical statement should also include mention of “circuit
visitors – Synod Bylaws 5.2.3 [a]; 5.2.3.3).
Article IV, section 1: The proposed change to the third sentence of this paragraph must be
changed back to the original wording in accord with the principle articulated by Synod Bylaw
3.12.3.6 (a), where “at least two candidates and at least one alternate” are to be selected for each
position. See also Synod Bylaw 4.2.1 (a).
Article IV, section 2: The final two sentences will better read: “Selection of the circuit visitor
shall be by election by written ballot (Synod Bylaw 5.2.2 [d] [c]). The individuals selected by
their circuits will then have their names submitted to the district convention. for ratification,
which shall The resolution submitting these names to the convention will be subject to
amendment. Upon adoption of the resolution, such ratification shall constitute election to the
office.
Article IV, section 3: Since these board members are selected by their regions and submitted to
the district convention for ratification, the same is true as in the above bullet. The final sentence
should therefore read: “The individuals selected by their regions will then have their names
submitted via a resolution to the district convention for ratification which. This resolution will be
subject to amendment. Adoption of the resolution shall constitute election to the board.
Article IV, section 4: Here again, since these vice-presidents are selected by their regions and
submitted to the district convention for ratification, this paragraph beginning with its second-last
sentence, should read: “The regions other than the region from which the first vice-president was
elected shall caucus at the convention to select elect their vice-presidents. These names shall be
submitted to the district convention, such resolution being subject to amendment. The district in
convention will then ratify and rank the vice-presidents (see Synod Bylaw 3.12.2.7 [g]).
Article V, section 1, paragraph a: Voting delegates to district conventions must be accredited as
required by Synod Bylaw 4.2.2. The third sentence of the paragraph will better read: “Each
CCM Minutes – July 10–11, 2015 – Page 92