# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_December 1 2 2023_S5
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

•

Policy 6.1.1.1 could reference Bylaw 3.10.6 with regard to the colleges and universities, as this
bylaw provides for “policies of the Synod’s Board of Directors.” The reference to Bylaw 1.2.1 (d)
should be to 1.2.1 (w).

•

Policy 6.3.1.2 should likely be Policy 6.3.1.1 (c) for parallel structure.

•

Policy section 6.3.3 likely needs updating due to 2023 Res. 7-04B.

•

Policy 6.5.5.5 should reference not Bylaw 3.3.1.1 but 3.3.1.2.

•

Policy 6.10.1.1 (c) raises questions as to who is authorized to speak for the Synod in an official
capacity in this regard.

•

Policy 6.12.1.3 (c) should be a clear quotation of Bylaw 1.5.3.6. (See also 6.12.1.4 [c].)

•

Policy 8.2.4.5 (g): Policy 8.2.4.1 requires the application to go to the Office of the Secretary.

•

Policy 9.1: Once Concordia University System is restructured, appointment of members can be
removed from the schedule.

The commission understands that the board has already undertaken a review of sections that require
updating after the 2023 convention but includes all of the above for completeness. The commission thanks
the board for submitting its policies for review.
16. 2023 Revision of Standard Operating Procedures Manuals (23-3021)
The Secretary having prepared first drafts of the various Standard Operating Procedure Manuals to reflect
2023 bylaw changes and resolutions and to correct a few other minor items noted during the triennium, and
having presented areas of the same drafts having substantive changes to the Council of Presidents to
facilitate consultation, the commission took up its task of revising these documents for the new triennium.
In all cases where approval is subject to harmonizing changes by the Secretary, a perfected draft will be
circulated with the minutes for approval; where concurrence of the Council of Presidents is required, this
will be facilitated by the Secretary at the council’s February 2024 meeting.
(A) Standard Operating Procedures Manual: Dispute Resolution (Bylaw section 1.10)
As requested at the commission’s previous meeting, the Secretary drafted language implementing standards
and procedures for removal from office, for cause, of both reconcilers and hearing facilitators. The
commission reviewed the draft prepared by the Secretary and shared by him with the Council of Presidents
during its November 13–15 meeting, adjusting slightly the “removal for cause” process, as well as the
changes to Detailed Flowchart Step 1.2 (c). The commission gave its approval to the manual with the
changes indicated, subject to inclusion by the Secretary of harmonizing changes from other manuals (here,
an added footnote in Detailed Flowchart Step 1.3 [b] regarding Bylaw 3.10.6.8.1 [f]).
(B) Standard Operating Procedures Manual: Expulsion from Membership: Congregations and
Individuals (Bylaw section 2.14)
The commission reviewed the draft prepared by the Secretary and shared by him with the Council of
Presidents during its November 13–15 meeting, modifying General Regulation BB 2 and 6. The
commission gave its approval to the manual with the changes indicated, contingent on concurrence by the
Council of Presidents.
The commission noted the language of “a suspension being upheld,” in the instructions related to the
“question to be determined,” as potentially of interest for future study, as upon such a final determination
the suspension does not remain a suspension but is confirmed or carried out as expulsion. A revision to the
language for hearing panel determinations would need to continue to recognize the potential pendency of
expulsion on a subsequent appeal.

CCM Minutes – December 1–2, 2023 – Page 9