LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 189

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in Matthew 18:15, if the complainant has not already
done so as set forth above.
(e) The reputation of all parties is to be protected
as commanded in the Eighth Commandment. The
goal throughout is always one of reconciliation, of
repentance and forgiveness, even if the following proceedings are carried out.
Formal Efforts toward Reconciliation
1.10.6	If either any party to the dispute is of the opinion that
informal reconciliation efforts have failed, such party,
in consultation with his or/her/its ecclesiastical supervisor, shall submit a request to the administrator of the
dispute resolution process, the secretary of the Synod or
district, or an appointee, as appropriate, that a reconciler
be appointed to assist in seeking reconciliation. …

(D) Clarification of Eligibility of District Reconcilers
(Bylaw 1.10.10)
Rationale
Regarding the service of district reconcilers, current Bylaw
1.10.10 limits the selection of ministers of religion—ordained to
“pastors” (parish pastors actively serving congregations of the
Synod), thereby removing from consideration all other ordained
ministers. The same concern exists in Bylaws 1.10.13.1 and 1.10.15.1.
The Commission on Handbook proposes the following bylaw
changes.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.10.10

(C) Content of Reconcilers’ Reports
(Bylaw 1.10.6.5)
Rationale
Current Bylaw 1.10.6.5, while it does currently list the components of the report of a reconciler in a dispute case, will benefit
from an expansion of its content to clarify expectations regarding
the content of a reconciler’s report. The Commission on Handbook
proposes the following changes to the bylaw.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.10.6.5

Upon conclusion of the formal reconciliation meeting or meetings, the reconciler shall prepare a written
report which contains
(1) the actions of the reconciler,reconciler;
(2) the issues that were resolved,resolved;
(3) the issues that remain unresolved,unresolved;
(4) anda statement whether reconciliation was
achieved.achieved;
(5) Attached to the report shall be (a)the statement of
the complainant as to informal reconciliation efforts;
(b6) the statement of the matter in dispute; and
(c7) any reply by the respondent.
All communication that takes place during the
reconciliation process shall be considered strictly
confidential, including all oral and written communications of the parties. The report, therefore, shall
not contain any such No information,shared in confidence shall be included in the report. nor shall it
contain any opinion of the reconciler regarding the
dispute. The report and the attachments shall be forwardedprovided only to the parties to the dispute and
the secretary of the Synod or district as appropriate.

R e s olu t i on s

Within three months after conventions of the Synod,
each district board of directors shall appoint a district
roster of four reconcilers (ministers of religion—
ordained, ministers of religion—commissioned, and
laypersons), no more than two of whom shall be pastors ordained ministers, from a list supplied by the
circuit counselors of the district.

1.10.13.1	Each Dispute Resolution Panel shall consist of three
voting members, at least one of whom shall be a
pastorminister of religion—ordained and one a layperson.
1.10.15.1	Each Review Panel shall consist of three voting members, at least one of whom shall be a pastorminister
of religion—ordained, and at least one a layperson.
(E) Reappointment of Hearing Facilitators
(Bylaw 1.10.12)
Rationale
Current Bylaws 1.10.12–1.10.12.3, which speak of the appointment and service of hearing facilitators, do not address the
question of reappointment after terms of service of six years. The
Commission on Handbook proposes the following addition to
Bylaw 1.10.12 to address this issue.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.10.12

After the training of the reconcilers and in consultation with the appropriate district presidents, the
Secretary of the Synod shall identify 25 of the reconcilers who exhibit skills in the proper conduct of
a fair and impartial hearing to comprise the Synod’s
roster of hearing facilitators, who shall be trained for
such purpose.
(a) The term of service shall be six years, renewable
without limit. Within three months after conventions
of the Synod, the Secretary of the Synod shall contact those hearing facilitators whose terms have been
completed to learn of their availability and willingness to continue for an additional term.
(b) Any vacancies for an unexpired term or resulting from a decision not to continue at the end of a
term of service shall be filled in the same manner as
described above as needed and as requested by the
Secretary of the Synod.
2 0 1 3 C o n v e n t io n P r o c e e d i n g s

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