# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_front and back matter_S1
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

The following is the Res. 12-14 bylaw draft reviewed by the commission on May 5–6, 2017 (17-2822):
The Secretary of the Synod brings the following motion to the Board of Directors:
WHEREAS, The 2016 Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in its Resolution 12-14
and according to Bylaw 7.1.2, directed the Secretary of the Synod to consult with the Council of Presidents
and develop ecclesiastical supervision bylaws addressing the present “unconstitutional state” of the present
bylaws “with respect to Constitution Art. XI B 1–3 and Constitution Art. XIII 2,” as indicated in CCM Op.
16-2791; and
WHEREAS, The required consultation concluded on April 25, 2017, having been extended by mutual
consent of the President of the Synod and the chairman of the Council of Presidents beyond the initially
specified six months; and
WHEREAS, The Secretary of the Synod has presented a complete draft of bylaws, incorporating the
direction of subsequent CCM opinions 16-2794 and 16-2797, as well as changes from the consultation with
the Council of Presidents, to the Commissions on Constitutional Matters and Handbook; and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters has given its approval of the bylaws proposed,
as to content, in its May 5–6 meeting, and the Commission on Handbook has given its approval of the
bylaws proposed, as to language, in its May 3 meeting, satisfying the requirements of commission review
under Bylaw 7.1.2; and
WHEREAS, 2016 Resolution 12-14 now calls upon the Board of Directors, acting under Bylaw 7.1.2, to
adopt the bylaw changes proposed, the board determining that they satisfy and do not exceed the direction
given by the convention in said resolution; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Board of Directors, acting under Bylaw 7.1.2 and at the express direction of the
2016 convention in Resolution 12-14, adopt the following changes to the Bylaws of the Synod.
(this motion requires passage by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors)
The proposed bylaw changes are as follow:
2.14 Expulsion of Congregations or Individuals
from Membership in the Synod
Preamble
2.14.1

no change
(a)
no change
(b) The action to commence expulsion of a congregation or individual from membership in
the Synod is the sole responsibility of the district president who has the responsibility for
ecclesiastical supervision of such member, under the supervision of the President of the Synod
(Const. Art. XI B 1–3). This Bylaw section 2.14, among others, provides the procedures to
carry out Article XIII of the Constitution, “Expulsion from the Synod.” However, it does not
provide the procedure for the expulsion of the district presidents and the officers of the Synod
(Bylaw section 2.15), the President of the Synod (Bylaw section 2.16), or individual members
in cases involving sexual misconduct or criminal behavior (Bylaw section 2.17).

Definition of Terms
2.14.2 The definitions of terms used in this bylaw are as follows:

CCM Minutes (Protocol Supplement) – May 5–6, 2017 – Page 27a