LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — July 13–19, 2007, Page 14

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213. Specific Ministry Pastor Program (07-2500)
A pastor of the Synod, in a letter dated July 9, 2007, asked the following question regarding the proposed
Specific Ministry Pastor Program to come before the 2007 convention.
Question:

Should not the specific ministry pastor have to be listed in Article V B of the Constitution?
Simply changing Bylaw 2.13 to accommodate this new category of pastor would seem to be
very contrary to the purpose of Article V—namely, to list every sort of member of the Synod
that there can be. The proposed Specific Ministry Pastor Program pastors are not envisioned
as an existing category of pastor put on restricted status (the purpose of Bylaw section 2.13)
but a wholly new category of pastor. Therefore, wouldn’t amending Article V B to add a new
category of pastor be necessary? And thus, wouldn’t avoiding amending Article V B by
trying to fit the Specific Ministry Pastor Program into Bylaw 2.13 in fact be unconstitutional?

Opinion: All specific ministry pastors would be ordained and their relative placement under Constitution
Art. V A or B would depend upon their ministry role. If in charge of a congregation, they will fall within
Article V A; if not, they will fall under Article V B in one of the categories listed.
214. Amendments for Specific Provisions of Special Sessions of the Synod (07-2501)
In a letter received July 9, 2007, a member of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Structure and Governance
submitted the following question regarding possible bylaw changes governing special sessions of the
Synod.
Question:

Is it in harmony with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod to add or amend bylaws
which establish specific provisions (such as the provisions set forth in Bylaws 3.1.6–3.1.10.1)
for the implementation of a special session (convention) of the Synod?

Opinion: Yes, it is in harmony with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod to add or amend the
Bylaws to establish specific provisions for implementation of a special session of the Synod. Article VIII
of the Constitution does not specify the manner in which special sessions are to be held or conducted. The
specifics of Synod conventions are left to the provisions of the Bylaws.
Any amendment to the Bylaws must be presented to and examined by the Commission on Constitutional
Matters prior to presentation to the convention to determine that it is not in conflict with the Constitution
and Bylaws of the Synod, as required by Bylaw 7.1.1 (c).
215. Certification of Voting Delegates (07-2502)
In a letter dated July 10, 2007, the President of the Synod submitted a series of questions regarding the
certification process for voting delegates to Synod conventions.
Question:

Does Bylaw 3.1.3.2 constitute the entirety of the process of certification of all voting and
nonvoting delegates to a convention of the Synod who are duly elected in accordance with
Bylaws 3.1.2, 3.1.2.1, 3.1.3.1, and 3.1.4ff.?

Opinion: Yes. Bylaw 3.1.3.2 states,
All district voting and nonvoting advisory delegates and representatives and their alternates shall
be certified before attending a convention of the Synod.
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