LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 29, 2003, Page 5

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152. 5.2.2 (g)
153. 5.2.2 (j)
154. 5.2.2.1
155. 5.2.2.1 (b)
156. 5.2.2.1 (c-d)
157. 5.3
158. 5.3.1 (b)
159. 6.1.1
160. 6.1.1 7

Restore cross-reference, line 7, p. 149
Change right column reference to Bylaw 5.15 b, line 12, p. 149
Change right column reference to Bylaw 5.13 b, line 19, p. 149
Delete—no longer in Handbook, lines 30-31, p. 149
Change to 5.2.2.1 (b) and (c), lines 32 and 36, p. 149
Should read “commissioned ministers,” line 14, p. 150
Right Column should read Bylaw 5.03 b, line 4, p. 151
Restore “recognized as,” line 16, p. 152
Move to become #6 under 6.1.2.1, lines 40-42, p. 152

161. 6.1.2
162. 6.1.2.1 4

Restore “of The Lutheran…Synod.,” line 1, p. 153
Add right column reference to see also 1.6.1 (e)

147. Missouri District Proposed Bylaw Changes (03-2348)
The President of the Missouri District with an April 10, 2003 memorandum submitted a series of
proposed amendments to his District’s Bylaws that are being submitted to the District convention. After
review of the amendments, the Commission had no recommendations.
148. Reconsideration of Opinion 03-2347 re Publicity (03-2350)
In an April 23, 2003 e-mailed memorandum, the President of the Synod requested the Commission’s
reconsideration of its Opinion 03-2347. After discussion, action was deferred to the next meeting of the
Commission.
149. Implications of District Membership for Board of Directors Membership (02-2323)
A District President in a December 21, 2002 letter asked a series of questions regarding the consequences
of a member of the Board of Directors changing District membership to a District in which another
member of the Board already resides.
Question 1:

If there are two current members serving on the Board [of Directors of the Synod], each
elected from two separate Districts, and if one of these two individuals transfers to the
District in which the other individual holds membership and, therefore, District
representation, would this action in any way disqualify either persons from continuing to
serve on the Board, since they would both hold membership in the same District as a result
of the transfer?

Opinion: Bylaw 3.181 a, in addressing membership on the Synod’s Board of Directors, states: “The
Board of Directors shall consist of…four ordained ministers, one commissioned minister, and eight lay
persons. No more than one of these 13 may be elected from one District.”
First, there must be an understanding of synodical membership, which consists of congregations and of
individual members, that is, ordained or commissioned ministers (Constitution, Article V). The Board of
Directors consists of both individual members of the Synod and laypersons, all of whom are to be
members of voting congregations (Article X B 1).
Bylaw 2.41 indicates the District through which individual membership is held. An individual member
who is serving a congregation in a given District or who is serving a District must hold synodical
membership through that District (paragraph a), while an emeritus member has a choice of District
membership, as paragraph e states:
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