LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 1–2, 2013, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTION MATTERS
St. Louis Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel
February 1–2, 2013
183. Call to Order, Opening Devotion, and Review of Agenda
Chairman Wilbert Sohns called the meeting to order with all members of the commission present. Neely
Owen, who served as devotion and prayer leader for the meeting, provided the opening devotion.
Chairman Sohns led the commission in a review of the agenda for the meeting.
184. Missouri District Final Bylaws Review (11-2608B)
With a January 23, 2013 email, the secretary of the Missouri District submitted a single amendment to his
district’s bylaws, adopted by the Missouri District convention in June, 2012, prior to approval by the
commission. After reviewing the district’s documents in light of previous recommendations of the
commission and noting in particular the additional amendment as submitted, the commission granted
approval to the district’s bylaws as amended.
185. English District Operations Manual and Employees’ Handbook Review (11-2613B)
Upon review of the Operations Manual of the English District as last revised in January, 2009, the
commission offered the following recommendations:
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Page 1, section I: Because the treasurer of a corporation is also an officer, the opening line of this
section would better read: “The rights and duties of the elected officers of the district” and list the
treasurer as one of the district’s officers, given that the treasurer and his duties come up under the
office of the president.
Page 1, section II, paragraph A: This sentence will better read: “The term Bishop may be used in
addition to or as an alternate the term to President” since the term “bishop” is not equivalent to
the term “president” in the Handbook of the Synod.
Page 3, paragraph 5 C: This sentence will more accurately read: “C. Assist the president in his
supervision of supervising the doctrine, the life….” since ecclesiastical supervision is the
responsibility of the district president.
Page 7, “Board of Directors” paragraph 1: In keeping with Synod Bylaw 4.5.1, the
responsibilities of the board of directors of a district are limited to the “general management and
supervision of the district’s business and legal affairs,…coordinating its work with the
Synod,…guided generally by the functions of the Board of the Directors of the Synod…,” etc.
The district’s existing paragraph should make clear that while the president of the district as its
chief executive (Bylaw 4.4.1) may also implement the policy and direction of the district board in
its area of responsibility, it is the president’s responsibility to provide overall direction and
leadership to the district.
Page 7, “Board of Directors” paragraph 2: Mention is made of a “Board of Directors Manual”
which describes the “duties of the board and its relationship to the president.” The commission
believes it has not seen this policy manual and requests opportunity to review it.
Page 7, “Committee for Stewardship” paragraph: This committee is said to “be appointed by the
president through the board,” which leaves question as to how this is done. Language such as
“appointed by the president in consultation with the board” (or whatever would be appropriate)
would be helpful to inform how this committee is appointed.