LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 26 – 27, 2014, Page 15

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(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent visitation circuits, as shall be
determined by each district on the basis of the following requirements: each pair of delegates shall
represent from 7 to 20 member congregations, involving an aggregate communicant membership
ranging from 1,500 to 10,000. [emphasis added]
As changed by the Synod’s 2013 convention, Bylaw 3.1.2 (a) now reads:
(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent visitation circuits, as shall be
determined by the district board of directors on the basis of the following requirements: each pair
of delegates shall represent from 7 to 20 member congregations, involving an aggregate confirmed
membership ranging from 1,500 to 10,000. [emphasis added to show the language changed]
Although this now places responsibility for creation of electoral circuits upon the district boards of
directors, it does not speak to realignment, change, or creation of visitation circuits. The methods and
manner by which visitation circuits may be accomplished remains the same as it was prior to the 2013
convention.
Question 2:

Does “as shall be determined by the district board of directors” refer only to the creation of
an electoral circuit by a district board of directors determining which two previously
established adjacent geographic visitation circuits shall be combined?

Opinion: Yes. As indicated in the response to question 1, there was no action taken by the Synod in
convention that altered the manner by which realignment of visitation circuits may be accomplished. The
referenced bylaw concerns only the creation of electoral circuits, which is accomplished by the district
board of directors adjoining existing visitation circuits.
Question 3:

In accordance with the answer(s) given by the CCM concerning these questions, what
would be the proper procedure for a district or district board of directors to follow to alter,
add, or adjoin visitation circuits to meet the bylaw requirements of an electoral circuit?

Opinion: Visitation circuits and their development are defined in the following bylaws:
5.1.1

A circuit is a network of congregations that “walks together’ for mutual care, support,
advice, study, ecclesiastical encouragement, service, coordination, resources, and
counsel—all for the sake of greater congregational participation in God’s mission.

5.1.2

Districts shall establish circuits according to geographical criteria.

There is nothing to prevent a district board of directors from acting on its own motion to realign visitation
circuits if the board has been authorized to do so by its district’s bylaws (see CCM Opinions Ag. 1751 A,
B “District Board of Director’s Authority,” September 26−27, 1986; and 03-2368 “Role of District Board
of Directors in the Configuration of Visitation Circuits,” September 30, 2003). As the commission noted
in its February 8−9, 1974 opinion Ag. 500 and reaffirmed in the 03-2368 opinion above, “a district
convention should realign circuits or at least specifically authorize the [district’s] board of directors to
take certain actions in connection with such realignment.” Without specific bylaw authority granted to the
district board of directors or a specific resolution by the district convention authorizing this to be done,
the district convention is the entity to act in this regard.

CCM Minutes – September 26–27, 2014 – Page 45