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

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regional positions and included in the Bylaw 3.12.3.5 (f) list become available only as floor nominations
at the convention and only if the convention so orders by a simple majority vote (Bylaw 3.12.3.7 [c]).
Question 6: Will it suffice to satisfy Bylaw 3.12.3.5 (f) expectations if the final list of qualified persons is
published in the Convention Workbook as part of the Committee for Convention Nominations
report?
Opinion: Yes.
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B. The remaining questions were prefaced with the information that this will be the first convention to fill
regional positions for which there will be incumbents who will have served first terms. It was also noted
that the nominations process outlined by Bylaw 3.12.2.7 is understood to be the process that is required to
be used for all regional elections.
Question 7: Is it correct to assume that the principle articulated by Bylaw 3.12.3.4 (d) pertains only to
that nominations process that is the responsibility of the Committee for Convention
Nominations and does not apply to regional elections?
Opinion: Yes.
Question 8: Given the relatively quiet nature of board service, especially on mission boards, whose
members may escape public notice but whose six years of experience may be regarded as
valuable and a consideration for reelection, to what extent, if any, may incumbency be made
known in the regional nominating ballot process?
Opinion: There is no basis for making incumbency known in the “regional nominating ballot process.”
Bylaw 3.12.4.1 requires that in all elections, all names shall be listed “without any distinctive mark,
except where regional representation is a preference or requirement of the Synod.” The same principle
applies in the nomination process, to avoid giving anyone an unfair advantage over others who may be
nominated. At the same time, the fact of incumbency may be helpful to know, especially since
incumbents are not automatically nominated by reason of their incumbency in the regional nominations
process. It may therefore be noted in explanatory material accompanying nominating ballots that
incumbency information is available via the Internet or Lutheran Annual, or by direct inquiry to the
boards having regional positions open for nomination and subsequent election.
119. Board for International Mission Policy Review (15-2769)
With a June 8, 2015 email, the Chief Mission Officer of the Synod submitted the Board for International
Mission policy, “Operative Directives for Implementing LCMS Bylaw 3.8.3 (Referencing CCM Opinion
14-2724),” for review by the commission, stating: “The BIM, in adopting this new policy at its regular
quarterly meeting on May 31, 2015, wanted to express
• a sincere desire to work with congregations and districts under existing agreed-to bylaws to effect
an orderly coordination and timely purposeful calling of LCMS-rostered church workers serving
in foreign mission areas of the Synod; and
• an equally sincere desire to avoid the quenching of the work of the Holy Spirit.”
After review, the commission approved the policy document as being in agreement with the Constitution,
Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod, offering a single suggestion for clarity:
• Second bullet in the “Applicable Definitions” section: The commission suggests that the words
“All areas outside the fifty states…” would better read: “All areas Areas outside the fifty
states…,” which would sound less sweeping and better suit the mention of “[e]ach foreign
mission area…” in Synod Bylaw 3.1.4.3.
120. Michigan District Board of Directors Policy Manual Review (15-2770)
CCM Minutes – July 10–11, 2015 – Page 95