# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_June 13 14 2014_S12
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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The commission will be suggesting other or additional Synod bylaw references throughout its
review. Such bylaw references, while helpful, also require regular review and updating as the
Synod’s Handbook changes from convention to convention.
Bylaw 1.2.2: The commission recommends adding reference also to Synod Bylaw 1.3.4.1 at the
end of the paragraph.
Bylaw 1.6.1: Resolutions of the Synod and district are in a different category, addressed by
district Bylaw 1.6.2 which follows. The first sentence should read: “The Constitution, Bylaws,
rules, and regulations of the Synod….” At the end of this paragraph, Synod Bylaw references
should be 1.7.1 and 1.7.3.
Bylaw 1.6.2: This bylaw should include reference to Synod resolutions also. The first sentence
should read: “The district expects every member congregation to respect district and Synod
resolutions and to consider….” At the end of this paragraph, reference to Synod Bylaw 4.1.6
should be added to read: “[Synod Bylaws 1.7.2; 4.1.6]”
Bylaw 1.6.3: It should be made clear that it is doctrinal resolutions that are being referred to in
this bylaw, as is made clear by Synod Bylaw 1.8.2. The pertinent phrase will better read:
“…uphold the doctrinal resolutions of the Synod and the district.”
Bylaw 1.7.1: The Synod Bylaw reference at the end of the paragraph should more accurately read
“[Synod Bylaw 2.2.1]”
Bylaw 1.7.2: The second-last sentence of the paragraph would better read “in good standing,” and
the bylaw references at the end will better read “[Synod Bylaws 2.2, 2.4.1, and 2.4.2]”
Bylaw 1.8.5.1: The Synod bylaw references will better read “[Synod Bylaws 4.2.3; 3.1.3]”
Bylaw 1.8.6: The Synod bylaw references at the end of the paragraph will better read “[Synod
Bylaws 4.2.2 (b) and 4.2.3 (c)]”
Bylaw 2.1.2: The Synod bylaw references should read “[Synod Bylaws 4.3.1 and 4.3.2]”
Bylaw 2.1.7: The Synod bylaw references would better read “[Synod Bylaw 1.5.2, especially
1.5.2 (c)]”
Bylaw 2.2.1: The Synod bylaw reference should also include reference to Constitution Art. XII
7−9.
Bylaw 2.3.2: This paragraph will require change in light of CCM Opinions 13-2689 and 13-2692.
No longer residing in the region where elected results in no longer being able to serve. The first
sentence of the paragraph should therefore be deleted and the second sentence should be changed
to read: “If a vacancy should occur in any vice-presidency by succession to the presidential office
for the balance of an unexpired term, resignation, moving outside the region, or otherwise, the
vacancy shall be filled….”
Bylaw 2.6.1 d: Because congregational visitation is the responsibility of the district president
(although he may call on the circuit visitor for assistance), and because circuit visitors may call
on circuit congregations for purposes outside the formal visitation program, this paragraph would
better reflect the more general kind of visiting that circuit counselors do by reading: “d. Conduct
visits in a spirit of….”
Bylaw 2.7.4 b: It should be made clear that provision of policies for the president to carry out his
role and responsibilities should not include his duties as ecclesiastical supervisor, in which case
the district president is accountable to the President of the Synod.
Bylaw 2.8.2.15: Unless stated otherwise, ex officio membership includes voting privilege. If this
is not intended, it should be made clear that this is “non-voting ex officio membership.”
Bylaw 2.9.3: Synod Bylaw 4.2.1 (a) stipulates that the Synod’s bylaws governing conventions
(and therefore elections) pertain also to districts, and Synod Bylaws 3.12.3.6 (a) and
3.12.4.1require that there be at least two candidates and one alternate for each position to be filled
by election. The first sentence of this district bylaw will therefore require change to read: “After
names have been solicited, the Committee on Nominations shall select at least two candidates and

CCM Minutes – June 13–14, 2014 – Page 27