LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — January 25–26, 2013, Page 10

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disputes are addressed by individuals meeting face-to-face. The Commission on Handbook therefore
proposes the addition of a sentence to Bylaw 1.10.5, as follows.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.10.5 Before any matter is submitted to the formal reconciliation process, the parties involved in a
dispute must meet together, face-to-face, in a good-faith attempt to settle their dispute in the
manner described in Matthew 18:15 and may involve the informal use of a reconciler. And
further, before any matter is submitted to the formal reconciliation process, the complainant(s)
must meet and consult with his or /her/their ecclesiastical supervisor(s) to seek advice and also so
that it can be determined whether this is the appropriate bylaw procedure (Bylaw section 1.10) or
whether the matter falls under Bylaw sections 1.8, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, or 2.17, or Bylaws 3.10.4.7.9
andor 3.10.5.6.9. In regard to this consultation:
(a) From this point forward in this process, in the case of multiple complainants or multiple
respondents, each complainant and/or respondent shall proceed singly and individually.
(ab) The district president of the complainant shall inform the district president of the
respondent that a consultation is underway. He may also seek advice from the vice-presidents
of his own district or from the district president of the respondent. The district president may
also ask for an opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) and/or the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR). The district president must follow
any opinion received from either the CCM or the CTCR, which shall be rendered within 30
days or such additional time as the district president may allow.
(bc) The district president shall require the complainant to follow the correct bylaw provision
under the circumstance, if any, and shall provide evangelical supervision, counsel, and care to
the party or parties.
(cd) If Bylaw section 1.10 applies, the district president shall require the complainant to meet
face-to-face with the respondent in the manner described in Matthew 18:15, if the
complainant has not already done so as set forth above.
(e) The reputation of all parties is to be protected as commanded in the Eighth
Commandment. The goal throughout is always one of reconciliation, of repentance and
forgiveness, even if the following proceedings are carried out.
Formal Efforts toward Reconciliation
1.10.6 If either any party to the dispute is of the opinion that informal reconciliation efforts have failed,
such party, in consultation with his or/her/its ecclesiastical supervisor, shall submit a request to
the administrator of the dispute resolution process, the secretary of the Synod or district, or an
appointee, as appropriate, that a reconciler be appointed to assist in seeking reconciliation….

(C) Content of Reconcilers’ Reports
(Bylaw 1.10.6.5)
Rationale
Current Bylaw 1.10.6.5, while it does currently list the components of the report of a reconciler in a
dispute case, will benefit from an expansion of its content to clarify expectations regarding the content of
a reconciler’s report. The Commission on Handbook proposes the following changes to the bylaw.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Page 37 – 01.25 to 01.26.13 – COH Minutes