LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 3-4, 2011, Page 3

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Article III, paragraph 4, subparagraph a: This paragraph does not accurately reflect the Bylaws of
the Synod regarding restricted and suspended status. The sentence in the middle of the paragraph
which begins “In order to be elected…” should be changed to two sentences and read as follows:
“In order to be elected to serve as an ordained or commissioned member of the board, he/she shall
be called to or be a member of a congregation of the circuit of the region of the district from
which elected. Called workers shall be on the roster of the Synod and not be on suspended status
(Synod Bylaw 2.13.4.2). Called workers on restricted status may not be elected to a position but
may continue to serve if holding an elected position at the inception of restricted status (Synod
Bylaw 2.13.2.3).”
Article III, paragraph 5, subparagraph a: The word “Synod” should replace “district” in the first
line, so as to read: “Within three months after the Synod convention, the district board….”
Article III, paragraph 6: Including “All officers” under accountability to the board of directors is
problematic, as the president of the district is accountable to the President of the Synod for the
discharge of his responsibilities. The commission advises staying with the language of Synod
Bylaw 4.5.1. In addition, the Handbook references at the end of the final sentence would better
read “(Synod Constitution Art. XI 8 1; Bylaw section 2.12).”
Article III, paragraph 7: This paragraph should be divided into two sentences after the word
“district.” The second sentence would more accurately read: “If the individual is on the roster of
the Synod (ordained or commissioned), he/she cannot be nominated or elected to an elected or
appointed office or position while on restricted status, or continue to serve if on suspended
status.”
Article III, paragraph 8: For more accurate wording, see Synod Bylaw 1.5.1.2.
Article III, paragraph 10, subparagraph c: This sentence should end with the words “district
president.” Ratification by the district board of directors is not required (Synod Bylaw 5.2.2.1).
Article IV, paragraph 1: The second sentence of the paragraph should read: “These shall be
elected at the prior regular district convention….”
Article IV, paragraph 2: Mention of circuit counselors nominations should be deleted from the
existing paragraph. A final sentence could then address the nominations and elections of circuit
counselors: “Each congregation of a circuit shall be entitled to nominate from the roster of
ordained ministers of the Synod candidates for the office of circuit counselor, from which names
(and names suggested by the district president prior to and nominated at the meeting) circuit
forums shall select circuit counselors as prescribed by Bylaw 5.2.2.”
Article IV, paragraph 3: This paragraph raises the question whether the regional elections of
board of directors members, these being district positions, should require ratification by the
district convention (as is the case with circuit counselors). The Commission on Constitutional
Matters intends to take this question to the Commission on Handbook for its attention. The
district may be well advised to consider including ratification by the convention (to constitute
election) in this section.
Article V, paragraph 1, subparagraph a: The third sentence would better read: “Each congregation
or parish (a parish being two or more congregations served by the same pastor) shall be
represented by one (1) pastor and one (1) lay delegate duly elected by the congregation or
parish….” The sentences that follow should more accurately read: “Advisory (non-voting)
delegates shall also attend in accordance with current applicable bylaws of the Synod. Other
advisory representatives from representative groups, such as youth, contract teachers, etc., may
also be invited to attend.”
Article V, paragraph 1, subparagraph b: Since the paragraph refers to “voting pastors,” the
commission suggests that it also refer to “duly elected lay voting delegates….”

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