LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 11–13, 2011, Page 37

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Opinion: When a parish crosses district lines, it is nonetheless entitled to representation at district
conventions by one pastor and one lay member. The pastor is a voting delegate to the convention of the
district of which he is a member. The lay vote is shared by the congregations as in any other parish,
presumably in a manner that is fair and equitable. The district membership of the congregation of the lay
delegate determines the district convention that he/she will attend as a voting delegate.
84. Review of Northern Illinois District Proposed Bylaw Amendments (11-2622)
With an emailed November 10, 2011 letter, the commission received four proposed actions intended for
submission to the 2012 Northern Illinois District convention advocating changes to the district’s bylaws.
A copy of the district’s current Bylaws was also included. Upon review of the submitted bylaw change
recommendations, the commission offered the following recommendations for change to the proposed
overtures:
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Ov. 2-08: The recommendation for a new bylaw chapter governing amendments to the Bylaws
should properly refer to the Synod’s commission as the “Commission on Constitutional Matters.”
Ov. 2-01: Section A, paragraph 1 d must be changed to require the election of “two laypersons to
the Board of Regents, Concordia University Chicago,” as required by Synod Bylaw 3.10.5.2 [1].
Ov. 2-01: Section B, paragraph 4 a must be changed to allow for nominations of ordained
ministers for vice-president positions from the clergy roster of the entire Synod (Synod Bylaw
4.3.1).
Ov. 2-01: Section B, paragraph 4 d must be changed to speak of the “selection of the circuit
counselors by circuit forums.”

As the commission reviewed the proposed bylaw changes within their context, the commission had
opportunity also to review the existing Bylaws of the district and offers the following additional
recommendations:
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Chapter I, paragraph A 3: This provision regarding circuit convocations might be better located
elsewhere in the bylaws, perhaps within a discussion of circuits under paragraph C, which could
then also include mention of circuit forums as well as circuit convocations.
Chapter II, paragraph B 1 b: The commission asks whether the use of ex officio as stated is
intended, as ex officio members are also voting members unless indicated otherwise.
Chapter III, paragraph A 4 a: Mention of the development of a long-range plan should also
include mention of the mission and ministry emphases resulting from actions taken by the 2010
Synod convention.
Chapter III, paragraph D 1: The words “renewable once” at the end of the second sentence must
be deleted since this provision was removed from the corresponding bylaw of the Synod.
Chapter III, paragraph E 2 a: This would be an appropriate location for mention of the
requirement that proposed amendments to the Bylaws of the district require prior review and
approval by the Commission on Constitutional Matters.
Chapter V, paragraph A 1 d: As noted in the review of the proposed overtures above, this
paragraph must be changed to require the election of two laypersons to the board of regents
(Bylaw 3.10.5.2 [1]).
Chapter V, paragraph A 2: As noted in the review of the proposed overtures above, this
paragraph should be changed by replacing the word “election” with the word “selection” to echo
the wording of Synod Bylaw 5.2.2 (c).

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