LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 15–16, 2017, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Hilton Airport Hotel, St. Louis
September 15–16, 2017
65. Call to Order, Opening Devotion
Chairman George Gude called the meeting to order with all members present except for Gerhard
Bode, Sr., and Larry Peters, both kept from attendance by parish responsibilities. Tom Deadrick
offered an opening devotion on Friday, based on a presentation once offered by Dr. Brighton,
which focused on six Bible verses for personal evangelism. On Saturday, he offered a devotion
based on Paul’s words to preachers in 2 Timothy 4:1–5.
66. Eastern District Bylaws (Articles) and Regulations (Bylaws) (17-2813A)
By a June 22, 2017, e-mail the president of the Eastern District forwarded proposed Bylaws
(Articles) and Regulations (Bylaws) of his district for review, with changes made in response to
the commission’s May 2017 review (Op. 17-2813). The commission notes that the changes
indicated by May 2017 review were made by the district. The following points were also noted:
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Eastern (EA) District Bylaw 3.1.1 does not explicitly account for 2016 changes to LCMS
Bylaw 4.2.2, which changes allow for district convention registration to be done ahead of
time, by mail. The district may wish to incorporate this possibility explicitly, for clarity’s
sake.
EA District Bylaw 3.3.2.3 does not mention the need to elect, at every other district
convention, a representative to the LCMS Committee on Convention Nominations (LCMS
Bylaw 3.12.3.1). Inclusion of such mention may be a helpful reminder.

The commission notes that the relationship and asset disposition language required by LCMS
Bylaw 1.5.3.6 is present in the Eastern District Bylaws, which fulfill the function ordinarily
performed by articles of incorporation.
The commission thanks the Eastern District for facilitating the timely review of its bylaws and
regulations, which (with or without the specific changes suggested here, as the district determines)
are now approved for presentation to the district convention. The district is reminded to file with
the commission the versions adopted by the convention.
67. SELC District Bylaws (16-2786B)
By a March 9, 2017, e-mail, the bylaw revision committee of the SELC District forwarded the
district’s proposed bylaws for review. The commission notes that many of the items previously
noted were dealt with satisfactorily. A few items continue to demand attention:
•

Preamble, lines 19–29: Insofar as these provisions deal with congregations, they are in
conflict with Const. Art. VII, to wit, “In its relation to its members the Synod is not an
ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or coercive powers, and with respect to the
individual congregation’s right of self-government it is but an advisory body. Accordingly,
no resolution of the Synod imposing anything upon the individual congregation is of
binding force if it is not in accordance with the Word of God or if it appears to be
inexpedient as far as the condition of a congregation is concerned.” At line 20: The
resolutions and acts of the district are binding on the circuits, as such, but not on the several

CCM Minutes – September 15–16, 2017 – Page 59