# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_August 23 24 1971_S5
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

27. Adjudication and Appeals (Ag. 263 and 271): The convention adopted an entire new chapter on
appeals procedures (Res. 5-14). It created a synodical Commission of Adjudication but failed to elect
such a commission. It also changed District Boards of Appeals to District Commissions of Adjudication.
In the light of these developments the commission ruled: i
1.

That original cases on the synodical level shall still be dealt with by the synodical Board of
Appeals until the Synod elects a synodical Commission of Adjudication.

2.

That District Boards of Appeals shall continue to function as commissions of adjudication
instead of electing new commissions; however, these District commissions shall now be
governed by the new bylaws except for cases which are already under way.

The commission gave formal approval to the editorial changes made by the Secretary in this entire new
chapter of the Handbook, changing the word "region" to "District" throughout, and the new wording for
the following new bylaw paragraphs:
5.17.

Commissions of Adjudication

There shall be a District Commission of Adjudication for each District of the Synod and one
synodical Commission of Adjudication . . . .
5.21e.
Cases involving differences between congregations within the same District or between a
congregation and its District.
5.23

Venue of District Commissions

A District Commission of Adjudication shall handle matters involving parties all of which hold
membership in such District, provided that if an individual who is a party to such matter has
changed his membership subsequent to the occurrence which gives rise to the controversy, the
Commission of Adjudication for the District in which the
occurrence took place shall handle such matter.
5.47

!

Membership

Each District Commission of Adjudication shall be elected by its District and the synodical
Commission . . .
5.55

Disqualification
s

At the outset of any proceeding before a Commission of Adjudication or the Board of Appeals . . . .
.
(see also Bylaws 6.65, 6.75, 6.81, 6.83)
28.
Selective Fellowship (Res. 3-11): Several groups, among them the CCM, were directed to study
the question of selective fellowship. It was felt that the initiative should rest either with the President of