LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 13–14, 2013, Page 3

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bylaws, so long as the ONM does not bypass corresponding district ministries but works in conjunction
with them.
Question 2: Can such regulation be respected by including in the BNM policies a general statement
assuring that districts will not be bypassed, while individual policies may speak extensively
of working with congregations and schools?
Opinion: As stated in the commission’s August 9–10, 2013 opinion (13-2687), repeated mention of
congregations could suggest a failure to “recognize that it is the role of the national mission board and
office to relate to districts and their ministries.” BNM policies should consistently reflect that the primary
mode of the ONM’s relation to congregations and schools is through districts and their ministries.
However, in specific cases where the “coordinative role” assigned the ONM so dictates (see, for example,
the 2013 resolutions above), BNM policies may appropriately speak of interfacing directly with
congregations and schools. Even in such instances, BNM policies should reflect that the ONM does not
bypass corresponding district ministries, but works in concert with them.
With the above clarification in mind, the commission reiterates that the BNM “will want to look critically
at every reference to congregations in its proposed policies” (Opinion 13-2687). Carefully crafting
policies that make clear the coordinative roles of the Office of National Mission in relation to districts and
their ministries to their congregations and schools will be time and effort well spent (Bylaw 3.8.2.6).
7. Regional Board and Vice-President Issues (13-2689)
The Boards for National and International Mission each have ten regional members (Bylaws 3.8.2.2 and
3.8.3.2): “Five laypersons and five individual members of the Synod (one each from each region of the
Synod) elected in the same manner as are regional members of the Board of Directors of the Synod
(Bylaws 3.12.1 and 3.12.2.5).” Certain members of the Board of Directors are elected according to
regions (Bylaw 3.3.4.1), as are vice-presidents two through six (Bylaw 3.12.2.7). Current bylaws provide
no instruction regarding whether or how to proceed when a relocation or vacancy occurs in a regional
position. The Commission responded to questions from the Secretary of the Synod as follows.
Question 1: In the case of a mission board, the Board of Directors, or vice-presidents two through six of
the Synod, when a regionally elected board member or officer relocates to a different region
of the Synod during his/her term of office, can this individual finish out his/her term as
elected, or must he/she resign because his/her congregational membership is now in another
region (Bylaw 3.12.1 [b])?
Opinion: 2010 Resolution 8-14A “To Elect Five Vice-Presidents by Geographic Region” stated in its
whereas paragraphs its expectation that the establishment of five geographic regions, “created for
representational purposes to improve communications and coordination of functions,” would serve to
establish stronger connecting links between the congregations, districts, and the Synod. The Synod would
thereby “benefit from improved representation from all areas of the nation.” Specifically, regional vicepresidents would serve as “geographic representatives of the church to improve communications and
coordination of functions between the congregations within the geographical regions and the national
Synod.” The same expectations were reiterated by Res. 8-16A “To Ensure Regional Representation on the
Board of Directors.”
In addition, Bylaw 3.12.1 (b), which speaks of regional elections, states that “individuals will be
considered part of the geographic region where their congregational membership is held,” while Bylaw
CCM Minutes – December 13–4, 2013 – Page 3