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

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
St. Louis Airport Crowne Plaza Hotel
July 10–11, 2015
111. Call to Order; Opening Devotion
Chairman George Gude called the meeting to order with all members present. He called on Secretary
Hartwig, devotion and prayer leader for the meeting, to provide an opening devotion.
112. Missouri District Board of Directors Policy Manual Review (14-2721)
With a June 9, 2014 email, the secretary of the Missouri District submitted the district board of directors’
policy manual for review. The commission offered the following comments and recommendations:
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Under Policy 2.2, final paragraph: The commission suggests specific mention of Synod Bylaw
1.5.2 as foundational for all Synod agency conflict of interest policies, requiring annual signed
statements.
Under Policy 2.3, third paragraph: The Synod resolution referenced is 2013 Res. 7-05. Mention
should also be made, under Synod Bylaw 1.5.3, of the requirements of Synod Board of Directors
Policy 5.7.8 for agency electronic meetings.
Under Policy 2.4, the final paragraph would be more helpful and complete were reference also
made to Synod Bylaws 1.5.7–1.5.7.2 regarding removal of board members.
Under Policy 2.5, the first paragraph should include reference to Synod Bylaw 1.5.3.2 (a)
regarding limitations on delegation to executive committees.
Under Policy 2.5, the commission notes the mention of additional policy manuals in the third and
fourth paragraphs and asks that they be submitted for review.
Under Policy 3.0, first bullet, the second sentence regarding authorization of fund appeals is too
broad, the word “within” perhaps better replaced with “on behalf of.”
The title of Policy 4.0 would be more clear if it referred to policies “for the District as an Agency
of the Synod.”
Under Policy 4.0, the new paragraph regarding signatures on legal documents must indicate that
such documents are to be signed “by the president and one or more” of the officers listed
thereafter (see Synod Constitution Art. XII 9 d).
The second paragraph of Policy 5.4 should reflect 2013 Res. 6-18, which resulted in Synod
Bylaw 3.12.2.3, making convention delegate lists the responsibility of the Secretary of the Synod
and not to be disseminated.

113. Ecclesiastical Supervision Responsibilities of the President of the Synod (15-2750)
Via a February 2, 2015 email, a district president submitted three questions pertaining to the
responsibilities of the President of the Synod in the exercise of ecclesiastical supervision of individual
members of the Synod. After discussion, the commission agreed to carry this matter over to its next
scheduled meeting in September.
114. Abbreviated “Guidelines for Constitutions and Bylaws of Small and Developing Lutheran
Congregations” (15-2753)
Upon request of the Council of Presidents, the Secretary of the Synod developed the following guidelines
document to more appropriately serve the needs of ethnic groups and small congregations. After review
and discussion, the commission approved the document with several changes, the final version of the
document to read as follows.