# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1917_S49 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1917. than those mentioned may be elected to serve on the Board of ' Directors. 12. The Districts shall have the privilege of regulating their own internal affairs, it being understood, however, that such regula- tion shall serve the best interests of Synod. 13. The regular sessions of the Districts shall be held in those years when Synod does not regularly convene. Only Synod may make an exception to this rule. . 14. A District Synod shall be duly qualified to transact business, if the meeting has been constitutionally convened and at least one- third of its voting membership is represented by one of its delegates (a pastor or a lay member). 15. In case of urgent necessity the District President shall be empowered to convene a special session of his District, provided, however, that he previously, after having informed the President of Synod and the voting membership of his District of the purpose of such special session, have the consent of at least a majority of the latter. ; Article XIII. — Expulsion from Synod. 1, Members who act contrary to the doctrinal basis of Art. LI and the conditions of membership in Art. VI, or who, disregarding all admonitions, persist in leading an ungodly life, shall be expelled. 2. The District Synods, as a rule, expel such members; never- theless, any member expelled by a District shall be permitted. to make an appeal to Synod. 3. If an expelled pastor or teacher holds office in a congregation which is a member of Synod, then such congregation, if it has not already done so, shall be held to depose him from office, and deal with him in accordance with the Word of God, notwithstanding any appeal he may have made. If a congregation persistently refuses to do so, the District shall take such congregation to task; and, if all negotiations and admonitions fail of their purpose, such con- gregation shall forfeit its right of membership in Synod. 4. All those who are expelled from Synod do thereby, as a matter of course, lose all rights of membership and any property rights vested in Synod. The latter also holds good in the case of any member who, for any reason, severs his connection with Synod. Article XIV. — Amendments to Constitution. 1. Amendments may be made to this Constitution, provided that they conflict in no wise with the provisions laid down in Art. IT and Art. VI. 2. Amendments, to be considered by Synod, must be presented in writing. A separate vote must be taken on each amendment pro- osed. A motion for amendment shall not be considered unless at east two-thirds of the voting members present shall vote in favor of such amendment. 3. A motion for amendment, duly voted upon and carried, shall be published by the President and Secretary of Synod within three months after the close of the synodical convention in three succes- sive issues of the official organs of Synod, and thus be submitted to _ the vote of the various congregations of Synod. 4, After a majority of the congregations shall have registered their vote in writing with the Secretary of Synod, the result of the vote shall be announced by the Secretary through the official organs of Synod. Such amendment to the Constitution shall, upon the pub- lication of the fact, immediately become effective. 4 49