LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 10–12, 2012, Page 7

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covering many other responsibilities of the Concordia University System, include no reference to carrying
out responsibilities for prior approval of initial theological faculty members of the Synod’s colleges and
universities.
Question 2: If the correct text cannot be established until the next Synod convention, what policy
regarding prior approval should the CUS Board operate under until then?
Opinion: The correct text can be established. The Board of Directors of Concordia University System
does not have prior approval of initial appointments of college/university theological faculty members
and does not need to establish such a policy.
153. Circuit Counselor’s Manual Review (12-2647)
With a May 29, 2012, email, the chairman of the Clergy Call and Roster Committee of the Council of
Presidents submitted his committee’s final draft of the Circuit Counselor’s Manual for review by the
commission. Upon review, the commission returned a marked copy of the manual showing a number of
recommendations for final changes (attached to the protocol copy of these minutes).
154. District Convention Registration Fees (12-2649)
With an emailed June 2, 2012 letter, a pastor of the Synod submitted a series of questions and
supplemental information regarding a district’s requirement that convention fees be paid prior to the
registration and accreditation of delegates.
Question 1: May a district charge a registration fee to delegates of a district convention?
Opinion: There is no provision in the Handbook of the Synod that addresses the subject of charging a
registration fee to delegates to conventions. It is, however, common practice in the Synod for districts to
request payment of convention registration fees by district congregations in order to offset the operating
costs of the district convention. This practice resembles (but is not identical to) the national Synod’s
practice of offsetting convention costs by various means including a “district levy per communicant
member” (Bylaw 3.1.9 [d]).
Question 2: May attendance at such district convention be contingent upon payment of a registration
fee?
Opinion: Past commissions have already issued two opinions on this issue. In its March 13, 1992 opinion
(Ag. 1928), in response to an inquiry regarding a proposed change to a district bylaw (“Only those
congregations that have paid their convention registration fee by the opening of the convention shall have
their delegates seated”), the commission opined:
In responding to this question, the commission notes that Bylaw 4.23 accrediting of delegates [see 2010 Bylaw
4.2.2 (a)] deals with the accreditation of such delegates at the district convention. It states, “The delegates of a
voting congregation shall stand accredited and entitled to vote upon presenting to the secretary at the opening of
the convention the proper credentials provided by the district secretary and signed by two of the congregation’s
officers….” The commission notes that at neither the synodical nor the district level does certification involve
finances as one of the requirements for certification. While the congregation can rightly be expected to pay the
assessment, that payment cannot be required for the certification and seating of delegates. Such accreditation
cannot be conditioned on the payment of money.

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