LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 52

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52

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

Oregon), the Rev. Dr. Jason D. Lane (Concordia University Wisconsin), the Rev. Dr. David I. Lewis (Concordia Seminary, St. Louis), and the Rev. Dr. Andrew E. Steinmann (Concordia University
Chicago). In this quadrennium (2019–2023), the commission has
rendered two decisions regarding material already in print and one
decision in response to an appeal from the author. In keeping with
the Bylaws of Synod, which govern the doctrinal review process,
the commission seeks to ensure that all materials published by the
Synod through its official organs and Concordia Publishing House
are clearly in agreement with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions.
Roland Ziegler, Chairman
R11

Commission on Handbook
The Commission on Handbook (Bylaws 3.9.4–3.9.4.2) consists
of eight individuals, five voting members and three nonvoting advisory members. Three of the voting members are individual members of the Synod (ordained or commissioned ministers) and two
of the voting members are attorneys. The three nonvoting advisory
members are the Secretary of the Synod, the Chief Administrative
Officer of the Synod, and a member of the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM). The voting members are appointed by
the President of the Synod for six-year, once-renewable terms from
nominees provided by district boards of directors and selected as
candidates by the Council of Presidents. Names of the members of
the Commission on Handbook are listed in the Workbook Directory.
The primary responsibility of the Commission on Handbook is
to provide for the ongoing maintenance and management of the
Handbook (Constitution, Bylaws, and Articles of Incorporation of
the Synod–Bylaw 3.9.4). Specific responsibilities of the commission are detailed in Bylaw 3.9.4.2 as follows: (1) assisting convention floor committees when developing amendment proposals to
the Constitution, Bylaws, or Articles of Incorporation of the Synod
to determine their agreement in language (terminology) with the
existing Handbook; (2) in consultation with the CCM, revising the
Handbook of the Synod immediately after each Synod convention
in order to bring it into harmony with the resolutions and changes
adopted by the convention; (3) maintaining a complete file of succeeding handbooks so comparison can be made between current
and preceding provisions; (4) carrying out assignments by Synod
conventions relating to the Handbook; and, (5) responding to requests from Synod agencies to propose new provisions to address
specific Handbook-related issues that arise between conventions of
the Synod.
Following the 2019 convention of the Synod and in consultation
with the CCM, the commission incorporated all the revisions to the
Bylaws that were adopted by the convention and to the Constitution
that were adopted by the convention and subsequently ratified by a
two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the voting congregations of
the Synod (cf. Const. Art. XV 4). Electronic versions of the current
November 2019 printed Handbook are available in both Adobe®
PDF and Microsoft Word formats on the Synod’s website under the
“About” menu, then the “Leadership” link, and then the “Commission on Handbook” tab lcms.org/coh.
Since the 2019 convention of the Synod and as part of its Bylaw responsibility for the ongoing maintenance and management of
the Handbook, the Commission on Handbook has adopted several
2023 Convention Workbook

minor corrections and non-substantive editorial changes to the Bylaws. These corrections and changes primarily have been to punctuation, format, or terminology, thereby providing greater clarity
and consistency throughout the Bylaws. All changes immediately
are posted on the electronic version of the Handbook available as
the “Update Edition” on the Synod’s website (as noted above) and
are in Adobe® PDF format.
Over the course of its meetings this triennium, the commission
has received inquiries, recommendations, and input from various
Synod agencies, commissions, councils, committees, and task forces concerning certain portions of the Constitution and Bylaws of
Synod. The commission has responded both by providing appropriate feedback and by formulating and approving several proposed
revisions to the Handbook in the following subject areas: Dispute
Resolution Processes, Synodwide Corporate Entities, Synod Membership Status and Limitations, Cross-Circuit and Cross-District
Multi-Congregation Parishes, Clarification of Commission on Theology and Church Relations Bylaw Provisions, Circuit Visitor Election Procedures, Procedures for Election of District Presidents and
District Vice-Presidents, Procedures for Electronic Registration of
Voters for the President of Synod, and several Practical Bylaw Considerations. These subject areas are being submitted in the form of
corresponding overtures for consideration by the 2023 convention
of the Synod. In each case, action by the convention to adopt the
proposed changes will both support and enhance the Synod’s constitutional objectives (Const. Art. III) and bylaw purposes (Bylaw
1.1).
The commission will have met nine times between the 2019 and
the 2023 conventions. Due to logistical considerations resulting
from the COVID-19 pandemic and recognizing the importance of
good stewardship of time and money, seven of the commission’s
meetings were held remotely using electronic means. The minutes
of each commission meeting are publicly available on the Synod’s
website under the “About” menu, then the “Leadership” link, and
then the “Commission on Handbook” tab lcms.org/coh.
Dale L. Sattgast, Chairman
R12

Commission on Theology and Church
Relations
The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR)
has three primary functions: (1) to “assist the President of the Synod at his request in discharging his constitutional responsibilities
for maintaining doctrinal unity within the Synod” and “for maintaining doctrinal integrity as he relates to other church bodies”;
(2) to “provide guidance to the Synod in matters of theology and
church relations”; and (3) to assist the members of the Synod in
their witness regarding “societies, lodges, cults, or any organizations of an unchristian or anti-Christian character” (2019 Bylaws
3.9.5.2–3.9.5.4). Further CTCR responsibilities include responding
to expressions of dissent (Bylaw section 1.8) and approving church
body requests for altar and pulpit fellowship (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2). It
also renders official theological opinions as requested or mandated
by the Synod Bylaws.
The CTCR consists of sixteen voting members and four advisory members. Elected members include two parish pastors, one
parish teacher, and two laypersons chosen by the Synod’s convention. Appointed members include four Council of Presidents (COP)