LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 26–29, 2016, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Hilton Airport Hotel & International Center, St. Louis
May 26–29, 2016 – Floor Committee Weekend
166. Call to Order, Opening Devotion, Review of Correspondence
Chairman George Gude called the meeting to order with all members present, except for the Secretary of
Synod, who was attending a simultaneous meeting of the Board of Directors. The chairman called on
John Sias to record minutes in the Secretary’s absence and on Tom Deadrick, devotion leader for the
meeting, for the opening devotion. Following the devotion, Chairman Gude reviewed correspondence
received and responses provided since the commission’s April 2016 meeting.
167. Concordia University System Bylaws (15-2762B)
The Commission reviewed changes made by the Concordia University System (CUS) to its Bylaws in
response to prior review. The Commission is satisfied with the changes and thanks the CUS for its
cooperation.
168. Board for International Mission Policy Manual (15-2790)
The Commission approved a minor change to the Board for International Mission Policy Manual.
169. Review of Overtures for the 2016 Convention
A significant portion of the meeting was given over to examination of overtures to be acted upon by floor
committees in preparation for the 2016 Convention. The Commission prepared itself to assist the floor
committees as it “shall be represented at the meetings of national convention floor committees
considering constitution and bylaw matters to ensure that they are in accord with the Constitution,
Bylaws, and resolutions of Synod” (Bylaw 3.9.2.2.2).
170. Meetings of the National Convention Floor Committees
The commission assisted the floor committees to assure that, in their preparation of proposed resolutions
for the 2016 Convention, that they would be in accord with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of
Synod. The commission will further review the first edition of Today’s Business in preparation for the
next meeting of the floor committees on July 8, 2016.
171. Constitutionality of Historical Appeal to President and Praesidium in Expulsion Cases (162791)
The commission reconvened, again with Secretary Hartwig absent due to Floor Committee Weekend
responsibilities, to consider an opinion request related to overtures presented. A district president, the
chairman of a floor committee, posed the following question to the commission: “Was the process for
appeal either to the President of the Synod or the Praesidium, operative in the bylaws between 1965–
2004, enabling the President or the Praesidium to initiate an expulsion case, contrary the Constitution of
Synod?” The commission discussed the question and resolved to meet by phone conference at a later date,
in an attempt to provide an opinion that would be helpful in guiding floor committee and convention
deliberations.