LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 3–4, 2017, Page 2

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Bylaw 3.10.5.2 gives the composition of a seminary board of regents, reading (as it has since the
production of the 2010 Handbook):
3.10.5.2 The board of regents of each theological seminary shall consist of no more than thirteen
voting members:
1. Three ordained ministers, one commissioned minister, and three laypersons shall be
elected by the convention of the Synod.
(a) Elected and appointed seminary boards of regents members may serve a
maximum of two consecutive six-year terms and must hold membership in a
member congregation of the Synod.
(b) Not more than two of the elected members shall be members of the same
congregation.
2. A vice-president of the Synod shall be designated by the President of the Synod.
3. A district president other than the geographical district president shall be appointed
by the Council of Presidents.
4. Four members may be appointed as voting members by the board of regents.
Appointed members may not vote on the appointment of other members of the board.
In order to achieve continuity, a plan of staggered terms for the appointed board members
will be adopted by each board of regents.
The provision in question (that “[a]ppointed members may not vote on the appointment of other
members of the board”) was added in 2007 Res 3-05A, when the bylaw was outlined differently (2007
Proceedings, p. 139):
3.8.2.5.2 The board of regents of each theological seminary shall consist of nine no more than
thirteen voting members:
1. Three ordained ministers, one commissioned minister, and three laypersons shall be
elected by the convention of the Synod.
(a) Elected and appointed seminary Seminary boards of regents members may be
elected to serve a maximum of two consecutive six-year terms and must hold
membership in a member congregation of the Synod.
(b) Not more than two of the elected members shall be members of the same
congregation.
2. A vice-president of the Synod shall be designated by the President of the Synod.
3. A district president other than the geographical district president shall be appointed
by the Council of Presidents.
4. Four members may be appointed as voting members by the board of regents.
5. Appointed members may not vote on the appointment of other members of the board.
6. In order to achieve continuity, a plan of staggered terms for the appointed board
members will be adopted by each board of regents.
The 2007 Proceedings note that the fifth above provision was added by amendment, with the comment:
“After the Commission on Constitutional Matters reported that the amendment would affect other
appointed members of the board such as the officers of the Synod, discussion continued until debate
was terminated, the amendment was adopted, and the resolution was adopted as amended [Yes: 742;
No: 214].” There is no record of any opinion of the commission to this effect; it is merely advice offered
to the convention. Nonetheless, it seems reasonable to conclude from this note in the minutes that the
convention accepted generally the literal sense of the language it was adopting, that “other appointed
members” (i.e., beyond those appointed under the fourth provision) would not be able to vote on the
CCM Minutes – February 3-4, 2017 – Page 21