LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — January 25–26, 2013, Page 12

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1.10.12

After the training of the reconcilers and in consultation with the appropriate district presidents,
the Secretary of the Synod shall identify 25 of the reconcilers who exhibit skills in the proper
conduct of a fair and impartial hearing to comprise the Synod’s roster of hearing facilitators,
who shall be trained for such purpose.
(a) The term of service shall be six years, renewable without limit. Within three months
after conventions of the Synod, the Secretary of the Synod shall contact those hearing
facilitators whose terms have been completed to learn of their availability and willingness
to continue for an additional term.
(b) Any vacancies for an unexpired term or resulting from a decision not to continue at the
end of a term of service shall be filled in the same manner as described above as needed
and as requested by the Secretary of the Synod.

(F) Removal of Reconcilers from Office
(New Bylaw 1.10.10.4)
Rationale
The administrator of the dispute resolution process surfaced the issue of the absence of a provision in the
Bylaws for the removal of district-appointed dispute resolution process reconcilers (Bylaw section 1.10).
Strict adherence by reconcilers to the instructions provided in the Bylaws and Standard Operating
Procedures Manual is essential for uniformity and good order as reconcilers do their important work.
Given the absence of any bylaw provision to allow a reconciler to be removed for cause, the Commission
on Handbook proposes the following bylaw addition for adoption by the 2013 convention of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.10.10.4 A reconciler may be removed for cause from a district’s roster of reconcilers by that district’s
board of directors upon report of the administrator of the dispute resolution process after
consultation with the president of the district.

(G) Composition of Dispute Resolution and Appeal Panels
(Bylaws 1.10.13.1, 1.10.13.2, 1.10.15.1, 1.10.15.2)
Rationale
In order to broaden district representation and to avoid the appearance of unfairness or the potential for
undue influence, the Commission on Handbook proposes the following changes to the bylaws governing
the composition of dispute resolution and appeal panels, for adoption by the 2013 convention of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.10.13.1 Each Dispute Resolution Panel shall consist of three voting members, at least one of whom
shall be a pastor and one a layperson.
(a) Nine names shall be selected by a blind draw from the dispute resolution roster.
(b) No member of a panel shall be from the district in which the dispute arose or, if it is a
Synod question, from any district in which a party holds membership. No two members of
a panel shall be from the same district.
Page 39 – 01.25 to 01.26.13 – COH Minutes