LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 7–8, 2006, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
September 7–8, 2006
Saint Louis, Missouri
150. Opening Prayer
Chairman Albert Marcis called the meeting to order. Wilbert Sohns provided an opening devotion based
upon 1 Peter 2:9–10, emphasizing the importance of the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers and the
identity that this passage and doctrine give to all Christians regardless of station in life.
151. Board for Communication Services Policy Manual (06-2457)
The Commission began its review of the Board for Communication Services Policy Manual and
discussed the purpose of such reviews in light of its duties described in Bylaws 3.9.2 and 3.9.2.2.4. The
policy manual review process will be continued at the time of the Commission’s next meeting.
152. Standard Operating Procedures Manual for Concordia University System Complaint Procedure
(06-2466).
Bylaw 3.8.3.8.9 (j) requires the Board for University Education to maintain a Standard Operating
Procedures Manual to serve as a comprehensive procedures manual for the complaint procedure provided
in Bylaws 3.8.3.8.5 and 3.8.3.8.9, the development and any amending of the manual to be done in
consultation with the Commission on Constitutional Matters. The same requirements exist for the Board
for Pastoral Education under Bylaws 3.8.2.7.5 and 3.8.2.7.9.
The Commission discussed a draft of the Standard Operating Procedures Manual submitted by the
executive director of the Board for University Education and asked the Secretary to encourage further
refinement of the document, also addressing issues surfaced by the Commission’s discussion.
153. Iowa District West Bylaw Changes (06-2470)
Amendments to the Bylaws of the Iowa West District were submitted for review by the secretary of the
district prior to their incorporation into the district’s Handbook. Upon review of the amendments and the
Bylaws of the district, the Commission offered the following observations and suggestions:
•

The reference to Synod Bylaw 4.7.3 in district Bylaw 9.29 f should reflect the terminology used
by the Synod Handbook, in which the word “section” is reserved for larger sections of bylaw
material such as “4.7,” etc.

•

Because districts are the Synod in that place, it is helpful if district handbooks utilize the same
principles of capitalization and grammar that are used for the Handbook of the Synod.

•

Paragraph b of district Bylaw 2.03 should be updated to make mention of all of the categories of
ministers of religion–commissioned as listed under Article V B of the Synod’s Constitution.

•

The listing under district Bylaw 2.13 should not include a circuit pastoral conference as an entity
eligible to submit overtures to a district convention (see Synod Bylaw 3.1.6.2).