LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 15–16, 2017, Page 5

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Opinion: The answer to the question submitted is no. Changing to a different region does not
eliminate the terms served in the old region in determining cumulative service for the purpose of
term limits. Even though they are from different regions, all regional vice-presidents are
considered to be holding essentially the same office (district regional vice-president), and all
regional board members of a given board are considered to be holding the same office (members
of the given board).
74. Oklahoma District Articles and Bylaws (17-2832)
By a May 17, 2017, e-mail, the Secretary of the Oklahoma District sent the Bylaws of his district
along with proposed revisions to the section dealing with Camp Lutherhoma and the Lutherhaven
Retreat Center (a.k.a. Camp Lutherhaven). Noting its concern about the present state of bylaw
adoption (the bylaws have apparently been treated as a “work in progress” for some years), the
commission understands the intention of the district to be that its 2018 convention will adopt the
Bylaws as presented as a whole, so that these will be the bylaws of the district until amended by
the bylaw-authorized process.
The commission notes that the district’s Articles of Incorporation (dated June 30, 1980, reviewed
from the commission’s files) do not contain either the relationship or asset disposition language
required by LCMS Bylaw 1.5.3.6 and 2016 Res. 9-02A. The district will need to revise its articles
in accordance with these requirements, subject to review by the commission, in its 2018
convention process.
With regard to the bylaws, the commission notes that the changes it requested in July 2015 (Op.
15-2767) have been incorporated. Attention will be required at a few other points:
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Bylaw III 3 h (“Reconcilers”): The word “pastors” should be replaced with “ministers of
religion—ordained,” as in LCMS Bylaw 1.10.10.
Bylaw III 4 a: The sole criterion for region membership is residence within the boundaries
(LCMS Bylaw 3.12.1). Here congregational membership or service is added, contrary to
the LCMS Bylaw.
Bylaw III 5 a: 2016 changes to Synod’s Bylaw 1.10.10 need to be incorporated here.
Bylaw IV 2 (“Nominations”): The sentence, “Each member congregation shall be entitled
to nominate, from the roster of ordained ministers of religion of the Synod, two (2)
candidates from the district for president and (2) candidates from the district for first vicepresident.” should read, “Each member congregation shall be entitled to nominate, from
the roster of ordained ministers of religion of the Synod, two (2) candidates from the district
for president and, from the roster of ordained ministers of religion of the district, (2)
candidates from the district for first vice-president.
Bylaw VI: Note changes to LCMS Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3 [b], which provides the procedure for
a board of directors to complete changes made by a convention to proposed bylaw
amendments. The district may wish to note or incorporate this feature in its own bylaws.
Appendix F (Job description for district president): This section must note that the primary
responsibilities of the district president, not fully enumerated here, are given in the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.

The commission thanks the district for its submission and looks forward to reviewing revisions of
bylaws addressing these points, so that the result may be approved for submission to the district

CCM Minutes – September 15–16, 2017 – Page 63