LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — July 17–25, 2013, Page 6

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

•
•

August 9–11 – Regular Meeting
November 8–10 – Regular Meeting

With time for the regular portion of its July 17–19 meeting having expired, the commission recessed its
meeting to join the convention floor committees for their pre-convention meetings.

Raymond L. Hartwig, Secretary
[Note: The following are supplemental minutes provided by Daniel Lorenz in the absence of the secretary
of the commission due to convention responsibilities. They are a record of meetings held as needed
during the 2013 Synod convention.]
223. Bylaw 3.9.2.2.2 Responsibilities
During the open and closed meetings of the floor committees and throughout the course of the
convention, members of the commission participated in the meetings in fulfillment of Bylaw 3.9.2.2.2.
Formal input was provided to various committees in writing and by email as deemed appropriate. Areas
of concern included the distinctions between “supervision,” “ecclesiastical supervision,” and “oversight”;
the possibility of creating what would effectively be operating boards reportable and responsible only to
the convention without reestablishing the requirements for such boards as were removed by actions of the
2010 convention; and assignment of responsibilities to boards or other agencies not consistent with their
enumerated functions and without amending the functions assigned by the Bylaws of the Synod.
224. Bylaw 3.9.2.2.1 Responsibilities
During the course of a convention, the commission is charged with the responsibility to “examine all
reports, overtures, and resolutions to the Synod asking for amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of
the Synod or which in any manner affect the Constitution and Bylaws, to determine their agreement in
content with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.” The commission did so in consultation with the
floor committees and those who submitted various proposed amendments and substitute resolutions, and
by reviewing those materials submitted to or published in each day’s edition of Today’s Business.
225. Eligibility of Seminary Staff to Serve on Concordia Historical Institute Board of Governors
(13-2683)
During the Tuesday session of the convention and following the election of a seminary staff member to
the Concordia Historical Institute Board of Governors, a challenge was made to the eligibility of such
member to serve. Bylaw 1.5.1.1 reads: “Unless otherwise specified or permitted by the Bylaws, chief
executives and executive directors, faculty, and all staff on either the national or district level shall not be
members of the board of an agency under which they serve, nor shall any such executives or staff be
members of the board of any other agency of the Synod.”
After review of 1989 Res. 5-01, it was clear that while the 1989 convention reinstated the right of faculty
to serve on agency boards other than the agency under which they serve, that same right was not granted
to staff. As such, the commission determined that the staff member could not serve as a board member of
an agency of the Synod, and the election was ruled invalid.
226. Commission Statement re “Commission on Constitutional Matters Special Report” (13-2684)
During the course of the convention, the commission was asked to make a brief presentation and
CCM Minutes – July 17-25, 2013 – Page 377