LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 6–7, 2010, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
St. Louis Airport Crowne Plaza
November 6–7, 2010
8. Call to Order, Opening Devotions, and Prayers
Chairman Albert Marcis called the meeting to order with all members of the commission present. Wilbert
Sohns provided opening devotions (Hebrews 12:1-4) for both days’ sessions and prayers throughout the
meeting.
9. Draft of 2010 Handbook
Secretary Raymond Hartwig walked the commission through the latest (seventh) draft version of the 2010
Handbook, noting the most recent changes advocated during the most recent meetings of the Commission
on Constitution Matters and the Commission on Handbook. The commission agreed upon several final
changes to the draft document, specifically:
•

The return of the inclusion of former Bylaw 3.9.2.2.1 to the responsibilities of the Commission on
Constitutional Matters, deleting the words “and language” from the 2007 version of the bylaw,
thereby differentiating the work of the Commission on Constitutional Matters from that of the
Commission on Handbook, the latter’s delineation of duties including the responsibility “to
determine “agreement in language (terminology)” without reference to content (Bylaw 3.9.4.2
[a]), which remains the responsibility of the Commission on Constitutional Matters.
Clarification of bylaws speaking of duties of the hearing facilitator in dispute resolution and
expulsion processes by deleting the word “conduct” and replacing it with “administrate” to more
accurately describe his function during panel hearings (Bylaws 1.10.13.3; 1.10.15.3; 2.14.7.2 [e];
2.15.7.2 [e]; and 2.17.7.2 [e]).
Restoration of the wording of the draft version of Bylaw 3.12.2.3 as proposed in the preconvention issue of Today’s Business and adopted by the convention (Res. 8-17), resolving issues
that prompted discussion of the need for an additional bylaw change by the Board of Directors as
authorized by Res. 8-12A.
Dispensing with contemplated changes to Bylaw section 3.11 as not necessary in light of timehonored practice.

•

•

•

Secretary Hartwig also reviewed possible Res. 8-12A amendments to the Bylaws of the Synod by the
Board of Directors to address unresolved bylaw issues remaining from actions taken by the 2010
convention. After careful review by the commission of each proposal, the Secretary agreed that the
following proposals warrant consideration and approval by the board and will present them to the board
during its upcoming meeting:
•

•

2007 Handbook Bylaw 3.1.4.1 (b) lists standing exceptions to the provision that boards and
commissions of the Synod are to be represented at conventions of the Synod. The Board of
Directors will be asked to consider adding the Commission on Handbook to the list of groups
“who may be represented by as many of their membership as they deem necessary,” given the
commission’s assigned responsibilities as a result of convention restructuring.
2007 Handbook Bylaws 3.1.10 and 3.1.10.1 addressing post-convention publicity and
publications warrant amendment in keeping with changes made by the convention to bylaws
governing the distribution of other official convention publications by allowing use of the