LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — October 21–22, 2016, Page 5

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properly (by election and not by the clock of Bylaw 2.11.2.2[a] running out) non-candidates. The
following question arises from the change in status of those members:
Question: What impact does 2016 Res. 12-03 have on the text and application of Bylaw 2.11.2.2,
including especially its subparts (b) and (c), and especially with regard to those now placed on
candidate status who, for whatever reason, are temporarily not demonstrably willing to consider a
call or appointment to any of the offices of ministry specified in Bylaw section 2.11?
After discussion, further action was deferred to the commission’s November meeting.
11. Review of Handbook Changes (16-2799)
The commission reviewed a draft of the 2016 Handbook, prepared by the Secretary of the Synod, to
reflect all changes made by the convention except those still underway as part of the Bylaw 7.1.2 process
initiated by Res. 12-14. The timeline of these changes will likely result in a provisional Handbook being
published, which will be correct in all other aspects but those potentially touched on by Res. 12-14. Those
sections will be indicated as subject to the provisions of CCM Op. 16-2791 until they can be brought into
conformity with the Constitution of the Synod.
Constitutional changes were incorporated from 2016 Resolutions 11-09, 11-18, and 11-19 and were
annotated as subject to ratification by the congregations before March 15, 2017. Bylaw changes were
incorporated from 2016 Resolutions 6-01, 7-02B (with the insertion relocated in the bylaws for better
organization), 7-03A, 7-06B, 9-02A, 11-03A, 11-04B, 11-05, 11-08A, 11-11, 11-12, 11-13, 11-15A, 1117, 11-20, 12-03, 12-04A, 12-05A, 12-07A, 12-08, 12-09, 12-11 (without the bracketed portion from
Today’s Business, which was excluded at the time of adoption), and 13-04B.
The commission approved a few non-substantial edits to the draft, as correctly conveying the sense of
what was passed while clarifying the language. It suggested to the Commission on Handbook that nonsubstantial changes be made at 1.10.4 [f], 2.14.7.8 [g], and 3.3.3.2 [b] to correctly render language
specific to the dispute resolution and expulsion processes, and at 1.10.5, to include in the list of other
bylaw paragraphs referenced also 3.10.6.7.1. At 1.10.18.1 [h][3], friendly amendment text was relocated
to render a more sensible effect, and at 3.9.4.1, language was adjusted to make clear that the term
specified applied to all voting members.
The commission resolved to suggest to the Commission on Handbook that a glossary including often
confusing terms like parish and member would be a helpful addition to the Handbook. It also noted
suggestions for future work on the Handbook:
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Bylaw 1.10.5 could explicitly spell out (as 2.14.4.1 does) what to do when a dispute involves the
(otherwise) “appropriate ecclesiastical supervisor.” This is presently addressed in the Standard
Operating Procedure Manual only.
In Bylaw 1.10.12, the procedure adopted does not take into account the timeline of training and
evaluation (for potential hearing facilitators). This may call for revision by a future convention,
after consultation between the Secretary of the Synod and the districts.
In Bylaw 1.10.18.1 [a], “any organization owned or controlled by the Synod” should be replaced
with “corporate Synod or any agency of the Synod,” the language consistently used elsewhere.
With regard to Bylaw 3.12.3.6, the authorization of Res. 11-14, for the “Bylaw 3.2.5 Committee”
to be able to adopt changes to the report of the Committee for Convention Nominations between
its final report and the convention, should be incorporated in the bylaw at some point.

The commission also noted for its own work that the Bylaws guiding consultation as to which procedure
is to be followed in case of a complaint, particularly against a seminary or college or university faculty
member, deserves to be clarified by interpretation and perhaps by Standard Operating Procedure Manual
or bylaw improvements.

CCM Minutes – October 21–22, 2016 – Page 5