# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S225
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Constitutional. Matters - 226

the right to require the submission of any other documents which
it deems essential or helpful in judging the case. Certified copies
of parts of congregation minutes shall suffice for filing with plead-
ings, but the minute book itself shall be produced at the hearing.
. 6 The Board may permit any party to amend its pleadings at
‘any time prior to final judgment.
7. Each party shall inform the Board and the opposite party
of the names of probable witnesses within a reasonable time before
‘the hearing, If notice is not possible, such witnesses may be heard
if the Board consents, but the opposite party shall have oppor-
<tunity to produce witnesses in rebuttal at any adjourned hearing
if necessary.
8. The Board shall fix the time and place of hearings, and all
‘ parties shall receive reasonable notice thereof.
’. .9, The Board shall endeavor to elicit all information and
evidence which shall bear on the case, without regard to technical
rules of evidence, and any member of the Board may participate
in the discussion.
10. The Board shall determine whether a hearing shall be
public or private, and it shall also determine whether an official
stenographic record shall be necessary.
11. At the beginning of a hearing the Board shall state all facts
on which there is agreement between the parties as shown by the
pleadings and shall require the parties to enter into stipulations on
all uncontradicted facts adduced during the hearing. The Board
shall endeavor to secure from all parties stipulations as to facts
not mentioned in minutes or documents or as to the real meaning
of loosely 'drawn resolutions or documents which may be variously
_ interpreted.
. 12. Where facts are in dispute, the appellant and his witnesses _
shall be called first and shall be followed by the appellee and his
witnesses. The Board shall determine the extent of the testimony
‘which it requires, and all parties shall be given the opportunity of
rebuttal.
13. After the presentation of the evidence, the Board shall hear
the arguments in the same order.
14. The Board of Appeals shall make every effort to conciliate
or settle each. case before final judgment. It shall not be required
to render an immediate decision unless the case is very clear, but
its decision shall not be unreasonably delayed.
15. In all cases appealed from a District convention to Synod,
the Opinion of the District. Board of Appeals and the judgment of
the District convention shall form the basis of the appeal. The
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