LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 236

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7. STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

7-01
To Adopt Handbook Revision

Rationale

At its 1998 convention the Synod adopted Res. 7-01
empowering the Board of Directors “in consultation and mutual
concurrence with the President of the Synod, to appoint a
Commission on Structure [to] ... draft revisions to the format and
content of the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws [Handbook]
which will eliminate inconsistencies and make the Handbook
more usable for the Synod.” The resolution also spoke of a need
to clarify ambiguities and to identify content in the current
Handbook “which could be better handled as board manuals
and/or policy statements.”

In carrying out its assignment the Commission appointed by
the Board of Directors has reorganized the content of the
Handbook. The general pattern of this reorganization follows in
most cases a sequence from purpose to structure to procedures.
The Commission has taken great care to retain the entire content
of the current Handbook, has reordered and relocated Bylaws in
order to make the document more user friendly, and has made
minor changes when helpful to simplify, clarify, or eliminate
inconsistencies,

For purposes of simplification and order, the revised version
of the Handbook differentiates between two categories of Bylaw
material: (1) those paragraphs essential to the overall purpose,
structure, and functions of the Synod and (2) those policy and
procedure paragraphs that provide order for the everyday
operations of the Synod and its agencies that are to be included in
policy manuals. Both categories of Bylaw material are the result
of convention action, are therefore binding for all synodical
entities, and will also require convention action if changes are to
be made.

Last July the Commission shared its work in a preliminary
report that was provided to all congregations of the Synod and to
the Commission on Constitutional Matters. It has since
considered all suggestions and reactions received and herewith
advocates adoption of its final Handbook revision proposal as
provided to the delegates to the convention and made available to
all other interested parties.

Resolved, That the proposed revised Handbook provided by
the Commission on Structure be adopted.

Commission on Structure

7-02
To Move Property Ownership Bylaw to Constitution

Rationale

Current Bylaw 2.39 addresses the relationship of the Synod and
its members. Its final paragraph, d, speaks specifically to matters
of property. Because this is an absolute principle that pertains to
the autonomy of a congregation, the Commission recommends that
it be included in the Constitution of the Synod as paragraph 2 under
Art. VII.

Resolved, That current Bylaw 2.39 d, “Membership of a con-
gregation in the Synod gives the Synod no equity in the property of
the congregation,” be deleted from Bylaw 2.39 and included as a
new second paragraph of Art. VII of the Constitution; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That Art. VII of the Constitution therefore read,

Article VII Relation of the Synod to Its Members

1. In its relation to its members the Synod is not an ecclesiasti-
cal government exercising legislative or coercive powers, and with
respect to the individual congregation’s right of self-government it
is but an advisory body. Accordingly, no resolution of the Synod
imposing anything upon the individual congregation is of binding
force if it is not in accordance with the Word of God or if it ap-

237

pears to be inexpedient as far as the condition of the congregation is
concerned.

2. Membership of a congregation in the Synod gives the Synod
no equity in the property of the congregation.

Commission on Structure

7-03

To Add New Bylaw to Govern the Dissolution
of Synodwide Corporate Entities

Rationale

The Handbook of the Synod currently includes Bylaws govern-
ing the establishment, board composition, powers and duties, and
governing instruments of synodwide corporate entities. Not in-
cluded, however, is a Bylaw to govern their dissolution. The fol-
lowing resolution proposes the addition of a new Bylaw for that
purpose that is consistent with how such entities are created and
that continues to vest power and authority in the convention or
Board of Directors of the Synod.

Resolved, That the following proposed Bylaw 3.6.1.8 govern-
ing the dissolution of synodwide corporate entities be adopted by
the convention:

3.6.1.8 Dissolution of a synodwide corporate entity shall require
the approval of the Synod in convention or the Board of Directors
of the Synod.

Commission on Structure

7-04

To Include Policy and Procedure Bylaw
Sections in Policy Manuals

Rationale

For purposes of simplification and order, the Proposed version
of the Handbook produced by the Commission on Structure differ-
entiates between two categories of Bylaw material: (1) those para-
graphs essential to the overall purpose, structure, and functions of
the Synod (identified by decimal numbers); and (2) those policy
and procedure paragraphs that provide order for the everyday op-
erations of the Synod and its agencies that are to be included in pol-
icy manuals (identified by letters and numbers in parentheses).
Both categories of Bylaw material are the result of convention ac-
tion, are therefore binding for all synodical entities, and will also
require convention action if changes are to be made. To assure an
orderly process, copies of policy manuals should be maintained in
a central location.

This distinction between categories of Bylaw material will be
helpful to the Synod. Future proposed changes to those paragraphs
identified as essential to the overall purpose, structure, and func-
tions of the Synod will necessarily be given careful convention at-
tention. Those paragraphs that provide policy and procedure, on
the other hand, will be reviewed regularly as needs and conditions
change. Their identification will also facilitate their inclusion in
policy manuals of the Synod and its agencies, leading to the Com-
mission’s proposal of the following resolution.

Resolved, That an orderly policy manual be developed and
maintained by the board of each entity of the Synod to regulate its
operations; and be it further

Resolved, That all relevant policy and procedure material in-
cluded in the Handbook of the Synod also be included in these pol-
icy manuals; and be it further

Resolved, That the policy and procedure materia] obtained from
the Handbook be clearly and constantly identified in these policy
manuals as to its origin; and be it further

Resolved, That any change made to this Handbook Bylaw ma-
terial contained in policy manuals of synodical entities require na-

2001 Convention Workbook