LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 18−19, 2005, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
St. Louis Crowne Plaza Hotel
April 18−19, 2005
50. Call to Order and Opening Devotion
Chairman Albert Marcis called the meeting to order. Will Sohns served as chaplain for the meeting,
providing devotions based on John 10.
51. Standard Operating Procedures Manuals (04-2404)
The Commission discussed at length the latest draft of the standard operating procedures manuals for
Bylaw sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, and 2.17, noting the proposed changes advocated by the Convention
Action Committee of the Council of Presidents, Ambassadors of Reconciliation, legal counsel, and the
full Council of Presidents at its February 19−22 meeting. After proposing additional changes, the
Commission agreed that the Secretary should provide a latest draft of the manuals to the Council of
Presidents at its April 23−27 meeting in Fort Wayne.
52. Review of “Guidelines for Constitutions and Bylaws of Congregations” (04-2412)
The Commission discussed at length the need for a thorough revision of its “Guidelines for the
Constitution and Bylaws of a Lutheran Congregation” to reflect 2004 convention actions and to take into
consideration growing interest by congregations in varied organizational structures. The Secretary was
instructed to write letters to district constitution committee chairmen (with copies to district presidents)
asking their assistance in identifying questions and issues to be addressed and requesting copies of any
supplemental materials used by district committees. Assignments were also handed out to Commission
members as the Commission began its review.
53. Doctrinal Resolutions and Statements (04-2416)
In a December 14, 2004 letter, the Executive Director of the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations (CTCR), acting on behalf of his Commission, forwarded four overtures (7-93, 7-94, 7-95, and
7-96) that had been submitted to the 2004 convention of the Synod and placed by a floor committee into
Omnibus Resolution A for referral to the CTCR. In his letter he stated that in the opinion of the CTCR,
“the concerns raised in the overtures would be more properly considered by the Commission on
Constitutional Matters.”
The Commission noted that the omnibus resolution containing the four overtures had not been adopted by
the convention, thereby relieving the Commission of bylaw responsibility to provide an opinion.
However, the Commission did discuss pertinent background materials and resources and agreed that the
concerns raised have value and beg further response from a future convention of the Synod. The Secretary
was instructed to respond by letter to the CTCR, the letter to include a copy of this paragraph of the
minutes. A copy of the letter and copies of the convention overtures are also to be forwarded to the
President of the Synod, with copies of the letter also to be provided to the parties who originally
submitted the overtures to the convention.