LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 28–March 1, 2014, Page 4

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officer) requests recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship with the Synod, after consultation with
the Praesidium and approval by the commission, such recognition may be declared by the
President of the Synod subject to the endorsement of the subsequent Synod convention.” The
Commission on Theology and Church Relations may wish to use this wording in its manual.
The reference in the quotation of Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (d) to the “Board for Mission Services” requires
change to the “Board for International Mission” as a result of the restructuring of the Synod by
the 2010 convention.
Under Part III, which outlines the duties of the commission, at least one important duty—its
responsibility to provide opinions in dispute resolution parties and panels—is not listed. The
Commission on Constitutional Matters encourages that this duty be added to the list. The
commission also suggests, recognizing the difficulty associated with providing such opinions in a
timely manner, that consideration be given to the use of a subcommittee to facilitate the
development of such opinions.

23. COP Policy Manual Review (13-2699)
With the Council of Presidents in the process of reviewing its policy manual and submitting chapters for
review by the Commission on Constitutional Matters as they become available, the commission reviewed
the first fifteen chapters of the manual and offered the following recommendations and suggestions:
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Chapter 2, Section 2.2.5: The commission, noting that the list of bylaw references and duties is
not exhaustive, nonetheless recommends adding the following at the end of the list given its
importance among the council’s duties: “3.9.4.1 – COP participates in the appointment and
ratification process of members of the Commission on Handbook.”
Chapter 2, Section 2.2.9: The commission recommends adding the following parenthetical
statement after the words “local condition” near the end of the fourth paragraph: “(see 1973
convention Res. 2-12 regarding doctrinal resolutions).”
Chapter 2, Section 2.2.10: The commission advises substituting the following wording in place of
the current wording of the second paragraph of this section: “When a controversy arises in a
congregation or between two congregations, the district president has the power to investigate
‘even without formal request’ (Bylaw 4.4.6). Because the exercise of ecclesiastical supervision of
members is an objective of the Synod (Constitution Art. III 8), members of the Synod cannot
refuse an official visit by the president or his designee (Constitution Art. XII 7).”
Chapter 2, Section 2.3.6: The commission recommends that the third paragraph under this
section read in its entirety: “The limitation imposed by Article XI A l restricts the officers of the
Synod to acting only in a manner specifically granted in the Constitution and Bylaws or by
resolution of the Synod. Any action of a Synod/district president which is not mandated by the
Synod is an abuse of power and a violation of the promise made before God and the convention
which elected him at the time of his installation. (See Bylaw 3.3.1.3 [m] for a special provision
for the President of the Synod to act without being expressly invested with such power.)”
Chapter 3, Section 3.2.6: The second paragraph under this section adds a provision for the
chairman of the COP to call special meetings, which exceeds the provisions of Synod Bylaw
3.10.1.1: “The council shall meet three times a year and in addition at the call of the President or
at the request of one-third of the Council of Presidents.” Therefore, this provision will need to be
changed to mirror accurately the Synod bylaw.
Chapter 3, Section 3.2.8: The fourth paragraph should be changed to reflect readiness to testify
or produce records, in place of current wording which encourages that district presidents “avoid
testifying” (see Bylaws 1.10.18.1 [a]; 2.14.7.8 [d]; et al.).
Chapter 3, Section 3.2.9: Added also to this list should be: “Commission on Handbook − Five
candidates for each vacant position, selected by the council and presented through the office of

CCM Minutes – Feb. 28–March 1, 2014 – Page 10