LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 11–13, 2011, Page 10

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70. Implementation of New Synod Structure (11-2600)
In a letter received July 21, 2011, a member of the Synod submitted a series of questions regarding the
restructuring that was taking place following the 2010 convention of the Synod, questions prompted by
articles in the Synod’s Reporter.
Question 1:

The June 2011 issue of Reporter on page 3 indicates that Rev. John Barton Day “will join
the Synod staff…as executive director of the church body’s new Life Together
department,” and later the article states, “The executive director of Life Together is one of
two new executive-level positions created to support the LCMS churchwide emphasis of
WITNESS, MERCY, LIFE TOGETHER,” and the article further states, “The other
position, executive director of Witness and Mercy—yet to be filled—will oversee
international missions.” Is this (the above) in harmony with the Bylaws and resolutions of
the 2010 Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod convention?

Opinion: The Synod has historically recognized and has variously defined “departments.” For example,
corporate Synod includes in Bylaw 1.2.1 (d) “…the departments operating under the supervision of the
Board of Directors….” Bylaw 1.5.4 recognizes an “accounting department” while not specifically
creating that entity. The board of directors under Bylaw 3.3.4.5 is authorized to allocate available funds to
the “…mission boards, commissions, councils, offices, and departments of corporate Synod….”
Concordia Historical Institute, under Bylaw 3.6.2, is declared to be the “official department of archives
and history of the Synod,” and the Bylaws recognize that colleges and universities will have various
departments. Bylaw 4.1.1.3 contemplates the existence of a “Department of Planning and Research,” and
Bylaw 4.6.1 (a) contemplates a “Department of Stewardship.” While the Synod itself has not created a
“Life Together Department” and nothing in the Constitution or Bylaws of the Synod provides for the
creation of a new “Life Together Department,” the creation of such a department is not expressly
prohibited.
At its 2010 convention, the Synod created two new offices—the Office of National Mission and the
Office of International Mission. Based upon information provided by LCMS President Matthew Harrison,
Rev. Bart Day will head the Office of National Mission. With respect to the use of the title “executive
director,” Bylaw 1.2.1 (h) defines such a position as the “top staff administrator of a mission board or
commission of corporate Synod.” The term has also been employed in other contexts, however, consistent
with the human resources policies of the Synod. As head of the Office of National Mission, it is not
inappropriate to use that title for Rev. Day.
With respect to the focus and emphasis of the Offices of National Mission and International Mission,
Bylaws 3.8.2.4 and 3.8.3.4 allocate responsibility for establishing that focus:
3.8.2.4 In carrying out its mission responsibilities, the Office of National Mission shall receive its primary
focus from the mission and ministry emphases developed triennially by the national Synod in
convention and from the policies developed and determined by the Board for National Mission….
3.8.3.4 In carrying out its mission responsibilities, the Office of International Mission shall receive its
primary focus from the mission and ministry emphases developed triennially by the national
Synod in convention and from the policies developed and determined by the Board for
International Mission….

It appears that the referenced Reporter article may have misunderstood the source and scope of an
emphasis on WITNESS, MERCY, and LIFE TOGETHER. The triennial emphasis for the Synod, as well
as for the Boards and Offices of National and International Mission, must originate from a process which
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