LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 10–11, 2015, Page 3

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Bylaw 2.3.1: The president of a district does not appoint district reconcilers, which is the
responsibility of its board of directors (Synod Bylaw 1.10.10).
Bylaw 2.3.2.3: This committee must also examine the bylaws of congregations (Synod
Bylaws 2.2.1 [a] and 2.4.1 [a]).
Bylaw 3.1.1: Pastors also must submit their credentials before they are permitted to take part
in the convention (Synod Bylaw 4.2.2 [a]).
Bylaw 3.1.5: For paragraph c, see Synod Bylaws 3.1.8 (b) and 3.1.10.1 (a) for lists of
recipients of convention publications.
Bylaw 3.3.2.3: Paragraph c does not reflect the Synod’s required process for submission of
names of nominees for circuit visitor. That process is properly referred to in district bylaw
3.3.2.9.
Bylaw 3.3.3.1: The commission questions whether the new wording (second sentence) of the
paragraph belongs. It contains wording that is foreign to a district bylaws document. Also, the
final sentence of the paragraph does not comply with Synod Bylaw 4.73, which requires
majority votes for all elections, including the ranking of regional vice-presidents (compare
Synod Bylaw 3.12.2.7 [g]).
Bylaw 3.7.1: This paragraph requires additional wording to make mention of the need for
Commission on Constitutional Matters’ prior review and approval of proposed changes.

F. New Jersey District Bylaws (15-2748; 15-2748A)
Upon review, the commission noted that the following changes will need to be made to the document
proposals prior to submission to the district convention for approval:
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Bylaw 1.01: The final sentence of this paragraph will better read: “The Constitution of the
Synod is also the constitution of the district. The Bylaws of the Synod are primarily the
bylaws of the district” (Synod Bylaw 4.1.1.2).
Bylaw 2.01: Paragraph b will better read: “The legal convention is one which is convened
according to the Constitution and Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the
Bylaws of this district, and where at least one-third of the district’s voting members are
represented by at least one of their respective representatives (pastor or lay delegate)”
(Constitution Art. XII 14).
Bylaw 2.03: In paragraphs a and b, the mention of “voting congregation” will need to be
changed to “voting congregation or parish” (Constitution Art. V A).
Bylaw 2.10: Here (paragraph c) and elsewhere, circuit “counselor” should now read circuit
“visitor.”
Bylaw 2:10: In paragraphs c and d, not all board of director positions should be included
under Convention Nominations Committee responsibilities, since some are regional (circuit)
positions and the process provided for vice-presidential nominations should therefore also be
used for these regional positions (Synod Bylaw 4.7.2). Paragraph c, therefore, must include
“regional board of directors members” in the list provided. Paragraph d should speak of “atlarge” board of directors members as being under the responsibility of the nominating
committee.
Bylaw 2.21: Paragraph a should read “…clergy roster of the district with residence in the
designated region” (Synod Bylaw 4.3.1). Paragraph b will better read “…vice-presidential
area region,” thereby keeping terminology consistent with that of the Synod. And since the
suggested wording of paragraph a has already clarified the matter of regional residency, the
final phrase of the first sentence of paragraph d should be deleted: “…and, if applicable,
have consented to relocated into the vice-presidential area.”

CCM Minutes – April 10–11, 2015 – Page 65