LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 11–13, 2012, Page 10

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131. Northwest District Articles of Incorporation/Bylaws Review (12-2626 [B])
Upon receipt of the Northwest District Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws in response to the
commission’s initial review, final attention was given to the documents, with the following additional
comments offered by the commission (new wording underscored):
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Articles of Incorporation VII: This statement should read: “Amendments to the Northwest
District Articles of Incorporation shall conform to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod and
are to be approved by the Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters prior to the
convention.”
Bylaw 2.3.2: This bylaw must parallel the wording of Synod Bylaw 4.1.1.2, so as to read: “The
Bylaws of the Synod shall be primarily the bylaws of the district,….” (See earlier CCM response
to the Northwest district addressing this issue.)
Bylaw 2.3.3: The reference to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod should read: “…the
Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod.” (See earlier CCM response to the Northwest
district addressing this issue.)
Bylaw 2.3.4: The final lines of this bylaw must include review and approval by the Commission
on Constitutional Matters, so as to read: “…at least 30 days in advance of the convention,
provided that such amendments are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod or the laws of the State of Oregon, and provided that they have received prior approval by
the Commission on Constitutional Matters.”
Bylaw 3.3.3: Because of the requirement of Synod Bylaws 4.3.1 and 4.3.3 that such nominations
and elections are to be from the clergy roster of the Synod, the first sentence of this bylaw must
instead read: “Regional vice-presidents shall be nominated and elected from the clergy roster of
the Synod for each of the following geographical regions, it being understood that the vicepresidents must relocate to the appropriate geographical region if elected.”

With these changes, the commission gives its approval to the Bylaws of the Northwest District, thanks the
district for its cooperation, and requests that a clean copy with all changes in place be provided to the
Office of the Secretary of the Synod upon their adoption by the district convention.
132. Priority of a Pastor’s Call (12-2627)
With an email dated January 23, 2012, an ordained minister member of the Synod submitted for the
commission’s “consideration and clarification” the following question regarding “the hierarchy of call
documents vs. a congregation’s Constitution and Bylaws.” He prefaced his question with a description of
his situation and shared some of his thinking regarding the question.
Question: When it comes to the duties of a pastor, which has priority: a pastor’s call documents or the
congregation’s Constitution and Bylaws?
Opinion: The responsibility and authority of the Commission on Constitutional Matters is to interpret the
Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod. There is nothing in the Synod’s Constitution,
Bylaws, and resolutions that addresses this question. The questioner may want to request an opinion from
the Synod’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations.
133. SELC District Bylaws Review (12-2631)
The commission reviewed the Bylaws of the SELC District and offered the following responses
(proposed new wording underscored). Since there will not be opportunity for the commission to provide
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