LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 11, 2004, Page 2

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members elected by the Synod, three lay members appointed by the Concordia University System
Council of Members, and the synodical President or his designated representative. There are also
nonvoting members. Until the new BUE is fully constituted and convenes, it will be unable to perform its
important initial task of selecting a chairman who will carry out critical functions on its behalf, including
participation as an elector in the election process as described in Bylaw 6.11.
Bylaw 6.11 f provides that, at a meeting held to elect a university president, the four designated electors
shall be present and voting. Therefore, unless the new BUE is able to be properly constituted and
convened before the scheduled election and is able to accomplish the task of selecting a chairman, it will
not be possible to complete an election on September 16. In such a circumstance, the election must be
postponed as contemplated in Bylaw 6.11 h, which provides that “[t]he election shall be held on the day
designated in the notice published in the official periodical of the Synod or as soon thereafter as feasible.”
In the event an election is not completed on September 16, Bylaw 6.11 i further provides: “If the electors
are unable to finalize the slate or complete the election, they shall postpone the election and, if desirable,
request the Board of Regents to issue a new call for nominations.”
While it is important to fill the currently existing vacancy in a timely manner, it is equally important to
proceed in an orderly fashion, requiring those designated by the Synod to act on its behalf to do so only
after opportunity for due deliberation, contemplation, and the exercise of the judgment for which they
were chosen to serve.
294. Adjournment
Chairman Marcis closed the meeting with words of benediction.

Raymond L. Hartwig, Secretary

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