LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 16–17, 2013, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel, St. Louis
May 16–17, 2013

201. Call to Order / Opening Devotion / Review of Agenda
Chairman Wilbert Sohns called the meeting to order with all members present. He called on George Gude
(who served as devotional leader for the entire meeting) for an opening devotion, after which Chairman
Sohns provided an overview of the agenda for the meeting.
202. Review of Overtures to 2013 LCMS Convention
A major portion of the meeting was spent in careful review of the overtures to be acted upon the floor
committees of the 2013 Synod convention. The commission noted a number of areas of concern to bring
to the attention of the committees during their May 17–20 meetings.
During the course of the review, it was noted that one or more of the overtures made reference to the
policy manuals of the Boards for National and International Mission, not yet submitted to the commission
for review (Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3). It was agreed that Chairman Sohns should communicate via letter (with
copies to floor committee chairmen) to the mission board chairmen regarding the commission’s need to
see the policies being developed by their boards in order properly to review proposed convention actions
and provide assistance to the committees.
During the review, it was also agreed that copies of the commission’s Opinion 09-2573 would be
provided to Floor Committee 4 and the commission’s governing policies to Floor Committees 4 and 6.
203. “Fellowship of Peers” (13-2665)
In a letter dated January 23, 2013, a member of the Synod submitted two questions regarding the meaning
of “fellowship of peers” in the dissent process of the Synod, given new developments in electronic media,
past practice, etc. The commission considered a draft response, also consulting with former LCMS
President Ralph Bohlmann for further insights into the origin of the phrase and practice of the Synod. The
commission will continue its discussion of its response at its next meeting.
204. Ecclesiastical Supervision (13-2669)
In a letter dated March 12, 2013, the commission received a series of questions submitted by six district
presidents regarding presidential authority and ecclesiastical supervision issues. In a letter dated March 6,
2013, the six district presidents who submitted the questions then submitted revised questions “narrowing
the scope of their inquiry,” as follows.
Question 1:

Article XI B 1 of the Synod’s Constitution declares:
1.

The President has the supervision regarding the doctrine and the administration of
a. All officers of the Synod
b. All such as are employed by the Synod;
c. The individual districts of the Synod;
d. All district presidents.