LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 20–21, 2014, Page 5

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Mission, while also interested in the worldwide mission of the church, recognizes that its primary purview
is and intends to be national, working in cooperation with the Synod’s districts.
The commission thanked the Board for National Mission for its patient efforts and cooperation.
82. Iowa District East Bylaws Review (14-2742)
With an October 31, 2014 email, the secretary of Iowa District East submitted his district’s Bylaws for
review by the commission. Upon review, the commission offered the following:
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Bylaw 1.2: Synod Bylaw 4.2.2 (a) requires the credentialing of both the pastoral and lay
delegates of a congregation. This paragraph would better read: “Each congregation or parish of
this district shall be entitled to two votes, one of which is cast by the duly credentialed clergy
delegate and one by the duly credentialed lay delegate (Synod Constitution Art. V A).”
Bylaw 4.1: Due to recent Synod bylaw changes, the first sentence will better read: “The elected
officers of the district shall be the president (elected from the clergy roster of the Synod), the first
vice-president, second vice-president, circuit visitors, and secretary (elected from the clergy
roster of the district), and the treasurer (who shall be a layperson).”
Bylaw 4.4: In each case that the “constitutions” of member congregations are mentioned, the text
should read “constitutions and bylaws.”
Bylaw 4.5: To properly mirror the language of Synod Bylaw 5.2.2, this bylaw paragraph will
more accurately read: “The circuit visitor is the principal officer of the circuit and serves under
the direction of and is accountable to the district president. The district convention shall ratify the
slate of circuit visitors selected by the circuits of the district according to the selection process of
the Synod bylaws. Convention ratification shall constitution election. The duties of the circuit
visitors shall be those outlined in the Synod’s Handbook (Bylaws 5.2.3–5.2.3.3).”
Bylaw 4.6: As the result of the 2013 convention decision, “circuit counselor” should now read
“circuit visitor.”
Bylaw 11.3.1: See Synod Bylaw 3.1.8 (b), which requires the mailing of printed copies of the
Convention Workbook to those most involved in the convention, i.e., each delegate and alternate,
all district officers, and all members of boards, commissions, and councils.
Bylaw 11.4: See Synod Bylaw 4.2.2 (a), which requires that the credentialing documents
provided by the district secretary be presented to the district secretary at the opening of the
convention, this to verify that the delegate was indeed in attendance at the convention and will be
entitled to participate in the vote of President of the Synod prior to the next following Synod
convention (Synod Bylaw 3.12.2.4).
Bylaw 11.4.2: The commission suggests that the name badges also distinguish between voting
and advisory delegates.
Bylaw 15.1: This paragraph should also include mention of the Bylaws of the Synod, so as to
read: “…provided they are not contrary to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.”

83. Missouri District Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation Review (14-2731; 14-2743)
With an August 5, 2014 email, the secretary of the Missouri District forwarded his district’s Bylaw with
proposed changes for review by the commission. The commission offered the following
recommendations:
• Article II D 1, paragraph a: Nominations of the two ordained ministers of religion for first vicepresident of the district are to be made from the “clergy roster of the district” (see Synod Bylaw
4.3.1).

CCM Minutes – November 20–21, 2014 – Page 56