# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_October 21 22 2016_S2
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

6. Review of Changes to SELC District Bylaws (16-2786A)
With a September 21 e-mail, the SELC District sent a new revision of proposed amendments to the SELC
District Bylaws (previously reviewed in April). Upon review of the revised draft, the commission offers
the following recommendations:
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The newly inserted preamble material (lines 5–20) mimics the content of LCMS Bylaws 4.1.1,
4.1.1.1, and 4.1.1.2, applying what the LCMS Bylaws say about the relation of Synod to districts
to the relation between districts and circuits. The CCM requested, instead of this, that the
relationship of the SELC District to the Synod be spelled out in the preamble, reproducing the
core content of LCMS Bylaws 4.1.1, 4.1.1.1, and 4.1.1.2 in the SELC Preamble. For example,
lines 5–20 of the SELC draft might be replaced with: “The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is
not merely an advisory body in relation to the SELC District, which district exists to achieve
Synod’s objectives (LCMS Const. Art. III) and carry on Synod’s activities within its jurisdiction.
The SELC District is the Synod itself, performing the functions of the Synod within its
jurisdiction. Resolutions of the Synod are binding upon the district. The Constitution of the
Synod is also the constitution of the district, and the Bylaws of the Synod are the district’s
primary bylaws. The additional bylaws that follow are not to conflict with the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Synod.”
The April review (Op. 16-2786) indicated, with regard to SELC District Bylaw 11.5.1 that “[t]his
paragraph must also include mention of parishes in order to mirror Constitution Art. V A (‘every
congregation or parish is entitled to two votes’).” In this draft, “congregation” has appropriately
been changed to “congregation or parish” in lines 334 and 335 (in the redlined document). The
explanation of “parish” at lines 336–338 is accurate and helpful. “Congregation or parish” is
again appropriate at line 351, although the parish may not have officers other than those of the
included congregations, as implied by line 354. There, “congregation’s officers” would be
sufficient.
At lines 10, 15, and 20, “or parishes” is misleading, as parishes do not participate as such in
circuits, but as their individual congregations. At line 68, “parish” is incorrectly included (a
parish as such is not removed from membership). At line 74, it is unnecessary.
At lines 251, 258, and 366 “or parish” may be included if the district wishes, but it is not
necessary to satisfy Synod’s requirements.
At lines 373, 374, 376, 382, 385, 390, 392, 411, 459, and 473 the inclusion of “parish” is a
divergence from Synod’s nominations procedure, in which congregations within parishes retain
the right to nominate independently. The words “or parish” should be removed in these locations,
on account of this and also for logistical reasons.
SELC District Bylaw 11.5.2 is now redundant with 11.5.1 and must be removed.
At SELC District Bylaw 6.2.3(a), the maintenance of the district roster is the president’s duty
(LCMS Bylaw 4.4.7) and doesn’t involve the district secretary.

The commission thanks the SELC District and its counsel for its efforts to revise its bylaws and for
allowing the commission to carry out its duty to review proposed changes. The commission looks forward
to reviewing the proposed changes again once the above recommendations have been acted upon.
7. Review of the Bylaw Section 1.10 Standard Operating Procedure Manual (16-2798)
The commission completed its review of the Bylaw Section 1.10 Standard Operating Procedure Manual,
as drafted by the Secretary of the Synod to incorporate 2016 convention actions (including Resolutions
12-04A, 12-08, and 12-09) and other clarifications and amplifications. Confidentiality and
disqualification provisions, in particular, were improved upon. Also included were more procedural detail

CCM Minutes – October 21–22, 2016 – Page 2