LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 18-20, 2011, Page 5

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27. English District Bylaws (10-2578)
Upon request of the commission, a copy of the entire Bylaws of the English District was provided to
facilitate its review of recent changes. The commission reviewed the Bylaws document, Corporate
Operations Manual, and its Addenda and offers the following suggestions and recommendations:
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In its efforts to facilitate uniformity of grammatical usage in all official documents of the
Synod and its agencies, the commission will provide its document “Frequently Noted
Aberrations” to the district with the request that it give consideration to the guidelines as the
final version of its Bylaws is prepared.
In the Preamble (p. 4-8), as the document speaks of the district’s unique contributions to the
Synod, the inclusion of the content of Article III of the Synod’s Constitution (in addition to
its mention) would reflect the important fact that the objectives of the Synod are also the
primary objectives of its districts.
Article I (p. 4-8) could better reflect the nature of the Synod and its districts with a change of
title to some such as “Congregations of the District,” a reversal of the order of paragraphs A
and B, and the mention in current paragraph B of congregations exercising their authority
through delegate conventions.
Under Article III (p. 4-9), the commission encourages the district to consider former CCM
Opinions 00-2202 and 00-2215 regarding the parenthetical use of the title “Bishop” (copies
will be provided to the district with this review by the commission).
Under Article IV (p. 4-10), paragraph A 3, which has district vice-presidents elected by their
region and then ratified by the district convention, is in conflict with Synod Bylaw 4.3.1,
which requires that the mentioned district officers be elected “by each district.”
Under Article IV (p. 4-11), paragraph B 6 conflicts with Synod Bylaw 5.2.2.1 which provides
that it is solely the district president’s responsibility to fill circuit counselor vacancies.
Under Article V (p. 4-11), paragraph A should be reworded to mirror the wording and content
of Synod Bylaws 5.2.2 (a) and 5.4.2 (c).
Under Article VII (p. 4-11), the commission expresses concern with paragraph B and its
determination of “chief responsibility,” given the priorities placed upon district board of
directors responsibilities by Synod Bylaw 4.5.1.
Under Article VII (p. 4-12), paragraph K is of concern, as a district board of directors does
not authorize the district but rather acts on behalf of the district.
Under Article VII (p. 4-13), paragraph T will need to be replaced with reference to the
content of Synod Bylaw 1.5.7ff. governing the removal of board members of agencies of the
Synod.
Under Article VIII (4-13), paragraph A requires clarification, both of its intended wording
and its intended meaning.
Under Article X (p. 4-14), a new paragraph C should be added with such wording as “C. Are
presented for review to the Commission on Constitutional Matters of the Synod prior to
consideration by a district convention.”

The commission, upon reviewing the district’s Corporate Operations Manual, offers the following
comments and recommendations:
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Under “Elected Officers” (p. 4-19), the list of officers in section I does not include mention of
the Treasurer of the district, an officer of the district required by the LCMS Constitution, Art.
XII, paragraph 3.
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