# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_July 10 11 2015_S12
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

In early June the commission received an electronic copy of the Michigan District Board of Directors
Policy Manual for review. Upon review, the commission recognized the need to ask the district board to
give further attention to the manual, specifically its delegation of so many of its responsibilities to the
district president. The commission noted that such delegation has resulted in the board no longer meeting
the Synod’s expectations for district boards of directors (Synod Bylaws 4.1.1.1, 4.1.1.2; Constitution Art.
XI E; Bylaws 4.5.1; et al.) and has altered the office of district president to an office other than described
in the Synod’s Handbook as one primarily of ecclesiastical supervision (Constitution Art. XII 6–9; Bylaw
section 4.4, et al.).
In addition, the commission asks that the district board of directors give particular attention to its
statement of its primary responsibility in policy section 1.6 in light of Constitution Art. XI E and bylaws
such as Synod Bylaw 4.5.1, including its use of the term “steward,” mindful that the Michigan District is
the Synod itself in the State of Michigan (Bylaw 4.1.1.1) and its policies must mirror the provisions for
boards of directors in the Synod’s Handbook. The commission therefore encourages further thought and
attention to the aforementioned major components of the policy manual prior to re-submitting the manual
for further review.
121. Follow-Up Questions re CCM Opinion 14-2724 (15-2771)
A pastor of the Synod, via a June 15, 2015 email, submitted “clarifying questions regarding CCM
Opinion 14-2724 on Bylaw 3.8.3,” the questions apparently prompted by a frequently-asked-questions
document provided by the Office of the President. As required by Bylaw 3.9.2.2 (b), the commission
notified those officers and/or agencies of the Synod directly impacted by the request and provided
opportunity for submission of information regarding the matter(s) at issue.
The commission noted that the questions as submitted reveal a need for clarification of the duties of the
Synod’s two foreign mission entities, the Board for International Mission (BIM) and the Office of
International Mission (OIM):
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•

The BIM is primarily a policy-making agency charged with “developing and determining policies
in support of mission and ministry in foreign countries” (Bylaw 3.8.3) and providing oversight of
the implementation of those policies by the OIM (Bylaw 3.8.3.1). The BIM also serves as the
Synod’s agency “through which workers and funds are sent to the foreign mission areas of the
Synod” (Bylaw 3.8.3).
The OIM implements the policies provided by the BIM “for the coordination of and in support of
ministries of the Synod in foreign countries” (Bylaw 3.8.3.1), including “placement and support
of foreign missionaries” (Bylaw 3.8.3.3). It also receives direction from the President of the
Synod through the Chief Mission Officer “on all aspects of its responsibilities” (Bylaw 3.8.3.4)
and offers recommendations to the BIM for policies (Bylaw 3.8.3.3) that will assist “in support of
mission and ministry in foreign countries” (Bylaw 3.8.3).

Question 1: The document that is commended publicly by the Office of the President for consideration
and clarification regarding the opinion of the CCM 14-2724 states that said opinion does not
address short-term mission trips. (1) Is this correct that the opinion does not address shortterm mission trips? (2) How can the length of time (short-term vs. long-term) be a
consideration when the bylaws do not address this difference? The Bylaws clearly state that
the BIM is the only sending agency through which workers and funds are sent to foreign
mission areas of the Synod. If the elected/appointed/hired people at the BIM are the only
sending agency, how does the length of time make a difference? The BIM’s own document
regarding short-term missions clearly points out the horrible things that have and can happen
if short-term missions are not done through the BIM. (3) What is the definition of a shortterm mission as opposed to a long-term mission?

CCM Minutes – July 10–11, 2015 – Page 96