LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 10–11, 2015, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD
Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel, St. Louis
April 10–11, 2015

93. Call to Order
Chairman George Gude called the meeting to order with all members of the commission present. Larry
Peters, devotional leader for the meeting, provided the opening devotion.
94. Review of District Bylaws
Due to the proximity of district conventions and the pressing need for the commission to review district
bylaw change proposals, a large amount of meeting time was devoted to the following reviews, each
request submitted by one of the officers of the districts. In some cases, district Articles of Incorporation
were also reviewed.
A. North Wisconsin District Bylaws (14-2705B)
Upon review, noting that all of its earlier recommended changes had been incorporated into the
proposed bylaws, the commission approved them as submitted.
B. Missouri District Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws (14-2731A; 14-2743A)
After review, noting that all changes to the proposed Bylaws were in order, the commission approved
the district’s Bylaws as submitted. The commission also reviewed legal counsel’s response to a
question the commission raised regarding the Missouri District’s mention of its 501 (c) (3) status in
its Articles of Incorporation. The commission was satisfied with the response from legal counsel.
C. Mid-South District Bylaws (14-2735A)
Upon review, the commission noted the changes that were made following its earlier review and
offered the following additional recommendations and requirements.
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Bylaw 1.1.3: The following phrase must be added to the end of paragraph b: “…, the
amendments becoming effective only after approval by the Commission on Constitutional
Matters of the Synod.”
Bylaw 1.2.4: The commission noted that it is waiting to receive this document for further
review.
Bylaw 6.1.1.2: More accurate wording for the new paragraph (a) would be: “…solicit names
from the rostered congregations and individual members of the Synod in the district.”
Bylaw 8.2.2: The current wording of this bylaw does not take into consideration the
possibility of electronic balloting.
Bylaws 8.3.2.1 and 8.3.4.2: Placing paragraph (b) (1) into the bylaws appears to conflict with
the general purpose of a ground-up nominations process by including a capacity to influence
elections top-down, giving the appearance of impropriety (Synod Bylaw 1.5.1.3). The
paragraph should be removed.
Bylaw 8.3.5.2: The bylaws do not assign this role to the secretary of the district. Names of
nominees are to be received by the current circuit visitor, who reports the results of the vote