LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 20–21, 2014, Page 2

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Presidents/Commission on Handbook/Commission on Handbook committee (see above) prior to possible
action by the 2016 Synod convention.
76. Review of Kansas District Bylaws (14-2733)
With a November 3, 2014 emailed memorandum, the secretary of the Kansas District submitted his
district’s bylaw revisions for review by the commission prior to submission to the district convention.
Upon review, the commission provided the following comments, recommendations, and requests.
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Article II 4 and 5: Mention of “the Bylaws of the Synod” in both paragraphs should read “the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.”
Article II 7: The commission requests the submission of the mentioned “District Operations
Manual” for review.
Article III 1, paragraph (a): The commission assumes that the first complete sentence of the
proposed wording is intended to read, “He is responsible for oversight of all functions of the
Board of Directors.” In addition, the final sentence of the same paragraph (a) will more accurately
read, “The district president also serves as an ecclesiastical supervisor to congregations and
professional workers,….”
Article III 1, paragraph (b): Because of the change to Bylaw 3.12.2.7 (a) by the Synod’s 2013
convention, the second sentence should read: “The vice-presidents shall be elected from the
clergy roster of the district and shall hold membership….”
Article III 1, paragraph (c): As required by Synod Bylaw 4.3.1, the first sentence should read,
“The district secretary shall be elected from the clergy roster of the district and shall….” The
commission also advises different wording for the second sentence better to reflect the duties of
the secretary in the Bylaws of the Synod: “The district secretary is responsible for conducting the
nominations process for the elections of the president and vice-presidents, facilitating the work of
the Nominating Committee, organizing the work of the Elections Committee, and maintaining the
District Operations Manual and related guidelines.”
Article III 1, paragraph (e): As stated in Bylaw 4.3.1, the one requirement for circuit visitor
elections is that they must be elected from the clergy roster of the district—membership in a
voting congregation of the circuit is no longer necessary. The first sentence will better read: “A
visitor for each circuit of the district may be nominated and elected from the clergy roster of the
district.”
Article III 2, paragraph (a) (I) (e): The new wording to add a “Pastor at large” to the membership
of the board of directors begs clarification, depending upon whether an ordained minister at large
is intended or whether this is to be specifically a parish pastor at large.
Article III, paragraph (b) (IV): The paragraph addressing board meetings to “meet the exigencies
of district operations” must (as required by LCMS Bylaw 1.5.3) satisfy the requirements of
LCMS Board of Directors policies 2.44–2.46 for electronic meetings, which read as follows
(provided for reference):
2.4.4 Electronic Meetings
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2.4.4.1 The board may conduct its meetings electronically using audio, video, or internet-based
conferencing technologies.
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2.4.4.1.1 In such cases, the technology must be allow for each board member to fully participate (hear,
speak, have or been given access to documents and other materials as appropriate), including the
opportunity to vote.
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2.4.4.1.2 Members must be given a reasonable opportunity to access the electronic meeting. If a board
member does not have access to the technology to be used, arrangements will be made for the member
to participate in person by coming to the LCMS international Center or other mutually agreed upon
location (prior arrangement necessary).
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2.4.4.2 As with any board regular or special meeting, minutes shall be kept that record a summary of the
major points of discussion and any action(s) taken.

CCM Minutes – November 20–21, 2014 – Page 53