LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 16–17, 2013, Page 7

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Question: When Bylaw 3.12.2.5 (g) speaks of a “final ballot,” may this terminology be understood to be
a balloting process in a general sense, or does the language of the bylaw require the use of a
single ballot in the narrow sense of a single vote?
Opinion: Bylaw 3.12.2.5 (a)–(f) calls for the election of regional vice-presidents. Bylaw 3.12.2.5 (g)
then requires that a final ballot be taken. Each delegate will be given a single vote from among
the five selected vice-presidents, with the vice-president receiving the highest number of votes
serving first in line of succession and the successive ranking determined by the number of
votes received in that single ballot.
208. Minnesota South District Revised Policy Manual (13-2673)
With a May 8, 2013 email, a member of the staff of the Minnesota South District submitted his district’s
revised policy manual for review by the commission. The commission will take this up at a future
meeting.
209. Southern District Church Extension Fund Constitution and Bylaws (13-2674)
With a May 14, 2013 email, the president of the Southern District provided his district’s Church
Extension Fund Constitution and Bylaws for review, noting that they reflect the commission’s earlier
suggested revisions.
The commission reviewed the documents and noted that all commission recommendations were indeed
accepted and applied. The commission offers two additional comments:
•
•

Under paragraph 2.0 PURPOSE, the commission noted that loans to individuals are not allowed
by this paragraph. This may be purposeful, but the commission wishes to call attention to this
omission.
Under paragraph 11.0 DISSOLUTION, while the given wording is appropriate, the commission
has lately discovered the requirement of 2004 Synod Res. 4-11 that the proffered wording of the
resolution must be included in agency documents.

The commission asks the Southern District Church Extension Fund to consider these two comments and
provide to the commission the wording of any changes made to these two paragraphs.
210. Review of Remaining Agenda Items
The commission addressed the following items on its agenda as follows:
o The submission of overtures to the 2013 convention provides a complete report of the
activities of the Commission on Handbook.
o Chairman Sohns reported on correspondence that he received and responded to since the
previous meeting.
o Any Handbook errors will now be addressed by and following the 2013 convention.
The commission also reviewed briefly the business to be held over to the next meeting or otherwise
pending:
o CHI Policy Manual Review (08-2523)
o Article VI and Heterodox Congregations (09-2544)
o Southern District CEF Operations Manual (11-2605 [C])
o Indiana District Articles of Incorporation (11-2619 [B])
CCM Minutes – May 2013 – Page 363