# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S226
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

226 a Constitutional Matters

procedure shall thereafter follow the provisions of this Article.
The administrative officers of the District shall’ be responsible for
the defense of a Dikstrict decision.

16. All provisions herein with reference to appellants .and
appellees shall apply also to plaintiffs and defendants in all cases
of original jurisdiction.

Article IV. General Rules Governing Boards

1. The Board of Appeals upon assuming jurisdiction shall
promptly forward to all parties concerned a copy of these Reg-
ulations.

2. The Board of Appeals shall be governed in their acts and
judgments in accordance with Christian Principles, by the gen-
erally accepted rules of justice.

3. If a question of membership in Synod or eligibility for
service in Synod is involved, the Board of Appeals shall review
‘ the matter in Christian charity according to the Constitution of
Synod and its By-Laws.

4. In cases of excommunication, the Board shall be especially
careful to determine whether the sin is of ‘such a nature as to
make the person an heathen man and a publican.

5. If an appeal in a matter of church discipline by a congre-
gation is in question, the Board of Appeals shall recognize the
Sovereignty of the Christian congregation: and may: only review
the action of the congregation according to the principles laid down
in Scripture and advise the congregation accordingly, Either the
congregation’s action will be upheld, or it may be advised to review
and eventually to revise its action. If the case is appealed and
the Board of Appeals decides that a person has been improperly
excommunicated and the congregation does not revise its action,
the congregations of Synod shall not be required to respect such
an excommunication. The District shall take such action towards

_ the congregation as it may deem necessary.

6. In cases of excommunication, unanimity in the Board of
Appeals is required as far as the judgment is concerned, while there
may be disagreement as to procedure on the part of the congre-
gation. In other cases a majority is sufficient.

7. In cases where a hearing by the entire Board would cause
considerable inconvenience and expense, the Board, in its discre-
tion, may authorize a subcommittee of its members to conduct a
hearing or hearings, in which case a stenographic report of such -
hearing shall be made available for the entire Board. .