LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 23, 2013, Page 17

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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
1.10.6.5 Upon conclusion of the formal reconciliation meeting or meetings, the reconciler shall prepare
a written report which contains
(1) the actions of the reconciler,;
(2) the issues that were resolved,;
(3) the issues that remain unresolved,;
(4) anda statement whether reconciliation was achieved.;
(5) Attached to the report shall be (a)the statement of the complainant as to informal
reconciliation efforts;
(b6) the statement of the matter in dispute; and
(c7) any reply by the respondent.
All communication that takes place during the reconciliation process shall be considered strictly
confidential, including all oral and written communications of the parties. The report, therefore,
shall not contain any such No information,shared in confidence shall be included in the report.
nor shall it contain any opinion of the reconciler regarding the dispute. The report and the
attachments shall be forwardedprovided only to the parties to the dispute and the secretary of
the Synod or district as appropriate.

(D) Clarification of Eligibility of District Reconcilers
Page 87 – 02.23.13 – COH Minutes