LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 2–4, 2012, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
LCMS International Center
November 2–4, 2012

164. Call to Order and Opening Prayer
[Note: The entire first day of the commission’s meeting was held jointly with the Commission on
Handbook and members of the staff of the President’s Office. The meeting was requested by the
Commission on Constitutional Matters to discuss solutions to bylaw issues remaining from the
restructuring decisions of the 2010 LCMS convention.]
Chairman Wilbert Sohns called the joint meeting to order. Participating from the Commission on
Constitutional Matters (CCM), in addition to the chairman, were: Daniel Lorenz, Philip Esala, George
Gude, Neely Owen, and Raymond Hartwig; from the Commission on Handbook (COH): Gordon Tresch,
Walter Rosin, Richard Nuffer, Albert Marcis, Marvin Temme, Wilbert Sohns, Ronald Schultz, and
Raymond Hartwig; Ronald Schultz, also as Chief Administrative Officer; Gregory Williamson, Chief
Mission Officer; and Barbara Below from the President’s Office.
After commenting on the “historic” nature of the meeting, Chairman Sohns called on Secretary Raymond
Hartwig, who served as chaplain for the CCM meeting, to provide an opening prayer.
165. Joint Discussion of Handbook-Related Issues
Chairman Sohns called on each member of the CCM to present a portion of the business of the meeting:
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Dan Lorenz provided general introduction and background information. Referring to CCM
Opinion 11-2600 and its content, he noted that lines-of-authority decisions of the 2010
convention, intended by the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance to
make the Synod better organized and efficient (already discussed in a November, 2011 joint
meeting of the CCM with the President of the Synod and his staff) beg further discussion,
clarification, and convention consideration.
George Gude addressed Bylaw 1.2.1 issues (paragraphs [h], [l], [n], [o], [t], and [u]) regarding
definitions for “executive director,” “mission board,” “oversight,” “supervision,” and “operating
boards,” in light of related Bylaws 1.5.5.1, 3.3.1.3, 3.4.3.1, 3.8.2.3, 3.8.3.3, 3.8.2.4, and 3.8.3.4.
Raymond Hartwig introduced discussion of issues related specifically to Bylaws 3.3.4.5
(allocation of funds by the Board of Directors), 3.8.2 (responsibility of the Board for National
Mission), and 3.8.2.7 and 3.8.3.6 (granting of Recognized Service Organization status).
Neely Owen called attention to relationship and definition issues currently present in Bylaws
3.4.3–3.4.3.1, 3.4.3.3–3.4.3.4, and 1.2.1 (b).
Wilbert Sohns led a lengthy discussion of the relationship between supervision and ecclesiastical
supervision as these terms are used in Bylaws 3.3.1–3.3.1.3; 3.8.2.1, 3.8.3.1, and other related
bylaws.
Philip Esala provided a “general/philosophical” summary to wrap up the presentations and
discussions.

During each portion of the CCM presentation, possible solutions arrived at by consensus were offered to
the Commission on Handbook for its use in developing 2013 convention bylaw amendment actions to