LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 2–4, 2012, Page 28

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3.0 NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, AND TERMS OF OFFICE
Specific procedures for the nomination and election of officers and board members should be included in the
bylaws. Provisions and procedures should also be provided for the appointment of additional officers and board
members. Congregations may or may not wish to include provisions restricting the holding of more than one
office, providing for term limits, avoiding conflicts of interest, and/or providing for or prohibiting absentee
ballots.
Example:
“The procedure for the nomination and election of elected and appointed officers and board members shall
be as follows.
3.1 A nominating committee appointed by the church council (or board of directors) shall present a slate of
candidates for each elected and appointed office. The slate shall normally provide two names [or: one
name] for each office. In the case of elected positions, additional nominations may be made from the
floor. No person shall be nominated without his or her consent.
3.2 A majority of the votes cast shall be required for all elections. Candidates receiving the lowest number
of votes shall be eliminated in each succeeding ballot.
3.3 All officers shall be elected for a term of ______. Other members of the church council and of boards
and committees shall be elected or appointed for a term of ______.
3.4 Officers and board members shall be inducted into office in a public service of the congregation.
3.5 In case of a vacancy in an elective office, the voters assembly shall elect [or: the church council shall
appoint] a successor to fill the unexpired term from a list of candidates provided by the nominating
committee. Service for more than one-half of a term shall constitute a full term.”
4.0 OFFICIAL DUTIES
In addition to the basic duties provided in the constitution, the congregation may want to detail responsibilities
further in the bylaws or in policy manuals, which must be in harmony with the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod. Congregations may wish to include provisions regarding the following: retention of the minutes and
records of the secretary as property of the congregation; bonding of the treasurer; some form of financial review
or audit; and the release of mailing lists. The Treasurer’s Manual provided to all congregations of the Synod is a
helpful resource. If such details are not included in the bylaws, provision may be made for such in job
descriptions developed by the church council or board of directors and, if desired, approved by the voters
assembly. In such case, a paragraph such as the following would be helpful in the bylaws.
Example:
“Officers and members of boards and committees shall perform the duties as provided in the constitution.
The congregation shall also have the right to detail and expand upon those responsibilities by the
development of job descriptions developed by the church council [board of directors] and approved by the
voters assembly.”
5.0 MEETINGS
The frequency and any other expectations of the meetings of the voters assembly should be specified in the
bylaws of the congregation. Many states require at least one such meeting annually.
Example:
“The voters assembly shall meet . . .”
6.0 RULES OF ORDER
In order that all things may be done decently and in order, the rules governing the conduct of the meetings
should be established in the bylaws.
Example:
“In addition to principles laid down in Scripture and in the constitution and bylaws of this congregation,
accepted parliamentary procedures such as Robert’s Rules of Order shall be followed.”

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