LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 2–4, 2012, Page 7

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Governing Policy
1. The Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) exists to interpret the Constitution, Bylaws, and
resolutions of the Synod and to insure that the governing documents of the Synod and its agencies are
in accord with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod (Bylaw 3.9.2). [Cf. Appendix A]
2. The voting members of the Commission on Constitutional Matters consist of three ordained
ministers and two lawyers. The Secretary of the Synod is a nonvoting member of the commission and
serves as its secretary (Bylaw 3.9.2.1).
3. The Commission on Constitutional Matters may submit overtures to a convention of the Synod
(Bylaw 3.1.6.2).
4. The Commission on Constitutional Matters shall be represented at the meetings of national
convention floor committees considering constitution and bylaw matters to ensure that they are in
accord with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod (Bylaw 3.9.2.2.2). Some questions
submitted to the commission at convention floor committee meetings may not be in writing until after
the opinion has been rendered. While attending floor committee meetings, the commission or
individual members thereof may be requested to provide information to assist the floor committees in
their work. Such comments are not formal opinions of the commission, and such information does not
constitute a binding opinion unless reduced to a formal written opinion and published as such.
5. All questions are to be submitted to the Commission on Constitutional Matters in writing by a
member (congregation, ordained or commissioned minister), official, board, commission, or agency
of the Synod (Bylaw 3.9.2.2). An exception has been questions submitted to the commission at
conventions of the Synod, some of which were not produced in writing until after the opinion was
rendered. Questions may also be submitted as authorized under Bylaw sections 1.10 and 2.14-2.17
and Bylaws 3.10.4.7.9 and 3.10.5.6.9. A request for an opinion may be accompanied by a request for
an appearance before the commission (Bylaw 3.9.2.2 [a]).
6. The Commission on Constitutional Matters shall examine all reports, overtures, and resolutions to
the Synod asking for amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod or which in any
manner affect the Constitution and Bylaws to determine their agreement in content with the
Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod (Bylaw 3.9.2.2.1). During the course of a
convention of the Synod, the commission is expected to review all proposed amendments or
substitute resolutions to ensure that they are in agreement with the Constitution, Bylaws, and
resolutions of the Synod. Such amendments are printed in Today’s Business. Commission members
are expected to attend all sessions of the conventions of the Synod. In this role as advisory
representatives, the commission or members of the commission may be requested to provide
information to assist the convention. Such comments are not formal opinions of the commission
unless reduced to a formal written opinion and published as such.
7. The Commission on Constitutional Matters is required to notify an officer or agency of the Synod
if a request for an opinion involves an activity of that officer or agency to allow the officer/agency to
submit in writing information regarding the matter at issue (Bylaw 3.9.2.2 [b]). All input received
from an officer or agency as a result of this notification will be kept confidential by the commission
and will not be published, unless the information provided is a publicly known fact. All letters of
notification allowing for such input from an officer or agency will state assurance that the
commission will keep confidential any responses received and will only use the information as
confidential background in assisting the commission in reaching its opinion. The commission is not
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