LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 10–11, 2015, Page 2

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to the district secretary after the circuit forum has selected its candidate for circuit visitor for
the next triennium.
D. Iowa District East Bylaws (14-2742A)
Upon review, the commission approved the district’s Bylaws document as revised with the exception
of the one matter yet to be addressed.
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Bylaw 11.3.1: The current wording “The district office shall make the convention workbook
available to…” does not comply with Synod Bylaw 3.1.8 (b) which requires that printed
copies be provided to all named in the bylaw (see Synod Bylaw 4.2.1 [a]).

E. Eastern District Bylaws (15-2747; 15-2747A)
After review, the commission noted that the district will need to replace all mentions of “circuit
counselor” with “circuit visitor” in keeping with the Synod’s 2013 convention action and Constitution
and Bylaw changes. The commission also offers the following recommendations or requirements
regarding the proposed bylaws.
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Bylaw 1.1.1.1: The Bylaws of the Synod speak of the district president as the chief executive
of the district (Synod Bylaw 4.4.1). They do not speak of the district board of directors in this
manner (first sentence of paragraph). The district is advised to adhere to the description of
board responsibilities already provided in Synod Bylaw section 4.5.
Bylaw 1.1.1.3: The Synod’s description of the responsibilities of a district board of directors
does not include this function. There are many district president responsibilities that fall
outside the purview of a review by the district’s board of directors (Synod Bylaw section 4.4).
Bylaw 1.1.2.5: The proposed wording of this bylaw must be changed to be consistent with
Synod Bylaw 1.5.2 regarding conflicts of interest.
Bylaw 1.1.3.2: The first paragraph must be consistent with Synod Bylaw 1.5.3 which
requires all agencies of the Synod to meet “at least quarterly.” The second paragraph must be
congruent with Synod Board of Directors Policy 5.7.8.1ff. regarding electronic meetings.
Bylaw 1.1.3.4: The commission noted the mention of a policy manual, which must be
submitted to the commission for review (Synod Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3).
Bylaw 1.1.3.5: This paragraph must conform to Synod Bylaw 1.5.3.5, which requires all
agencies of the Synod to develop policies and procedures to make official minutes available.
Bylaw 1.1.3.6: In paragraph a, it should be noted that an executive committee is subject to
the restrictions provided in Synod Bylaw 1.5.3.2 (a).
Bylaw 1.1.4.2: This bylaw must reflect Synod Bylaw 1.5.4 (d) which speaks of sharing, upon
request, quarterly financial statements of boards as reported to the board of directors.
Bylaw 1.1.5.1: This paragraph should be redone to speak of conferences of “ordained and
commissioned ministers (Synod Bylaw 4.8.2).
Bylaw 1.1.7.1: This paragraph must be changed to agree with Synod Bylaw 1.10.10.1 which
states that reconcilers’ terms of service are six years.
Bylaw 1.2.3.1: District vice-presidents are to be elected from the clergy roster of the district
(Synod Bylaw 4.3.1).
Bylaw 1.2.4.1: The district secretary is to be elected from the clergy roster of the district
(Synod Bylaw 4.3.1).
Bylaw 2.1.1.5: The district president has no supervisory responsibilities over recognized
service organizations. In addition, this bylaw should reflect Synod Bylaw 4.4.5, which speaks
of ordained and commissioned ministers of the Synod as being members of the Synod
“through his district or are subject to his ecclesiastical supervision.”
CCM Minutes – April 10–11, 2015 – Page 64