LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — January 25–26, 2013, Page 29

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(F) Role of Commission on Handbook When Bylaws are Amended
Rationale
When the 2010 LCMS convention created the Commission on Handbook (Bylaw 3.9.4ff.) and assigned
duties to the commission relating to proposed amendments to the Bylaws of the Synod (Bylaw 3.9.4.2
[a]), mention of those duties was not made in Bylaws 7.1.1 and 7.1.2. To eliminate confusion regarding
the differing duties of the Commission on Handbook and the Commission on Constitutional Matters with
respect to bylaw amendments, the Commission on Handbook proposes that Bylaws 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 be
amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
7.1

Amendments to the Bylaws may be made using one of two procedures, provided they are not
contrary to the Constitution of the Synod.

7.1.1

Amendments may be made by conventions of the Synod.
(a) They shall be presented in writing to a convention of the Synod.
(b) They shall be specified as bylaw amendments and considered by a convention floor
committee.
(c) They shall be examined by the Commission on Constitutional Matters prior to presentation
to the convention to determine that they are not in conflict as to content with the Constitution
and Bylaws of the Synod.
(d) They shall be examined by the Commission on Handbook prior to the convention to
determine that they are in agreement in language (terminology) with the current Handbook.
(e) They shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the delegates present and
voting.

7.1.2

In exceptional circumstances and upon the express direction of a convention of the Synod,
amendments may be made by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors.
(a) Such amendments to the Bylaws shall be necessary to implement resolutions adopted by a
convention of the Synod.
(b) Such amendments shall be drafted by the Secretary of the Synod and shall be reviewed by
the Commission on Constitutional Matters and the Commission on Handbook.
Commission on Handbook

66. Overture to the 2013 LCMS Convention (District Membership/Ecclesiastical Supervision)
Overture to the 2013 Convention
To Address District Membership/Ecclesiastical Supervision Issues
(Bylaw Section 2.12 et al.)
Introduction
Extensive discussions involving the Commission on Handbook, the Council of Presidents, and Synod
officers and staff in an effort to address ongoing and newly surfacing district membership and
ecclesiastical supervision issues, especially as pertaining to Bylaw section 2.12 “District Membership and
Page 56 – 01.25 to 01.26.13 – COH Minutes