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

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The Synod now uses residence to determine qualification for election to district or regional
positions (Synod Bylaw 4.3.1). Its bylaws also expect that all officers and other elected persons
are and will continue to be members of member congregations of the Synod (Synod Bylaw 4.3.3).
And a primary principle of the Synod throughout is its requirement that all district elections must
be by district convention action and by majority vote (Synod Bylaw 4.7.3).These over-arching
principles must be applied throughout districts’ Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws when
nominations and elections are being discussed. Reflecting these broad principles, Section 2 of
Article V will more accurately read:
The board of directors shall consist of the following:
a. Elected at large: the president, the secretary, and three (3) ministers of religion—
commissioned who are members of the district.
b. Selected on a regional basis and elected by the district convention: five (5) vice-presidents
who are ministers of religion—ordained and residents of the regions they will represent.
c. Selected on a regional basis and elected by the district convention: ten (10) laypersons who
are residents of the region they will represent.
d. Appointed by the board of directors: a treasurer who is a layperson and a member of a
member congregation of the district.

Under Article VI, the end of this paragraph should include mention of review by the Commission
on Constitutional Matters, so as to read: “…provided the same have been reviewed and approved
by the Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters and are not inconsistent with this Charter,
or with the laws of the land, or with the existing Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.”
Under Article VII, the three mentions of the word “clergy” in this paragraph must be replaced
with the word “pastoral” in each case to properly reflect Article V A of the Synod’s Constitution,
which requires that one of a congregation’s votes is “to be cast by the pastor and the other by the
lay delegate.”
In the Preamble paragraph to the Bylaws, it is not accurate to speak of the district “adopting and
holding as its own” the Synod’s Constitution. The Constitution of the Synod is already the
Constitution of each district by default (Synod Bylaw 4.1.1.2), as are the Synod’s Bylaws and
resolutions. This preamble paragraph will therefore more accurately read: “The Florida-Georgia
District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is an independent corporation under the laws
of the State of Florida. It shall do all in its power to promote the Synod’s aims and purposes, and
shall be subject to the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod. For the more efficient
execution of its own local affairs, the district adopts the following rules and regulations as Bylaws
to its legal Charter.”
Under Bylaw D1.01, the reference to “Article IX” of the Charter should now be “Article VII” as a
result of changes that are being proposed throughout the documents. Similar cross reference
changes will be required throughout the document.
Under Bylaw D1.02, the listing of advisory members in this paragraph is different from the list
provided by Article V B of the Synod’s Constitution and is inaccurate and problematic. If the list
is to be provided in this district bylaw, it should be quoted verbatim.
Bylaw D1.03 should be eliminated. There is no restriction in the Synod’s Bylaws preventing
advisory members from holding office. In addition, the current wording, which grants only one
exception (serve on the board of directors) contradicts Synod bylaws which do grant opportunity
for advisory members to hold office.
Under Bylaw D1.05, paragraph b, the formula for determining the district’s advisory delegation
to the Synod’s conventions lacks the important consideration contained in Synod Bylaw 3.1.3.1
(c). The first sentences of the paragraph will better read: “b. One (1) advisory delegate shall be
elected for every sixty (60) advisory ordained ministers and specific ministry pastors, and one (1)
advisory delegate shall be elected for every sixty (60) commissioned ministers on the roster of the

CCM Minutes – May 11, 2015 – Page 81