# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_June 13 14 2014_S5
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

•
•
•

Paragraph (d) of Bylaw 3.10.3.2, added by the 2013 convention of the Synod, will need to be
added to the quotation of the bylaw on page 4.
Mention of Concordia College – Selma will need to be added to the key to the chart provided on
page 21.
There is no mention in the document of a colloquy program for parish assistants, the commission
assuming the reason for this to be that the parish assistant program is no longer being offered by a
Concordia University System school.

40. Application of Synod Constitutional Change to District Bylaws
The 2013 convention of the Synod amended the Constitution of the Synod by changing “circuit
counselor” to “circuit visitor,” a change that has been ratified by the congregations of the Synod. This
change must now be reflected in all appropriate Synod and district documents, including district bylaws.
Question has been raised whether such change, if it is the only change a district intends to make to its
Bylaws at its 2015 district convention, requires submission for review by the Commission on
Constitutional Matters prior to submission to the convention.
The commission’s response is that it will not be necessary to submit such change for prior approval
(Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3 [a]) since this is only a change of vocabulary by the Synod—both words having, by
definition of the Synod, the same connotation and use. However, it will be necessary for districts making
this change to their Bylaws to submit such amendments nonetheless to their district conventions for
adoption, then providing an electronic copy of amended documents to the commission with changes in
place following their conventions for the commission’s files (Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3 [b]).
The above does not apply to districts planning additional changes to their Bylaws. Their bylaw
documents, with all changes clearly identified for the commission’s review, must be submitted for prior
approval well in advance of district conventions to allow adequate time for the commission’s response—
which may involve requirements for and prior approval of additional changes prior to the conventions. In
every case, final copies of bylaw documents approved by district conventions must be provided to the
commission following the conventions for the commission’s files (Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3 [b]).
41. Revision of Bylaw Section 2.14 Standard Operating Procedures Manual (14-2713)
As required by Bylaw 2.14.10.3, in consultation with the Secretary of the Synod and with the concurrence
of the Council of President’s Convention Actions Committee, the commission reviewed and amended its
Bylaw Section 2.14 Standard Operating Procedures Manual, incorporating changes made to Bylaw
section 2.14 by the 2013 convention (final copy to be attached to the protocol copy of these minutes).
42. Preliminary Review of Council of Presidents Policy Manual (14-2714)
The commission spent significant time and effort completing its preliminary review of the Council of
Presidents Policy Manual. The following recommendations and suggestions (in addition to those noted
under agenda item 23 of the commission’s February 28–March 1 meeting minutes) were noted for
inclusion in the manual as the council completes its overhaul of the document, the final draft to be
reviewed by the commission prior to publication.
•

Chapter 16 (Intentional Interim Ministry), under the section attributed to “The Minnesota South
District,” paragraph 2 f: The third sentence , “Under no circumstances will the intentional interim
pastor be a candidate for the call to be permanent pastor…” is an overstatement. The right of the
congregation to call the pastor of its choice cannot be bound.

CCM Minutes – June 13–14, 2014 – Page 20