LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 2–3, 2018, Page 8

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With regard to the district’s bylaws as proposed, the commission notes the following:
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Bylaw 1.14: This passage should also note the bylaws of member congregations, which are also
subject to review and approval.

•

Bylaws 2.32 and 2.72: The district may wish to avail itself of the option of electronic distribution
of convention materials (LCMS Bylaw 4.2.1 [g]). In any case, the procedure adopted should be
clear.

•

Bylaw 2.36: “All non-voting ordained and commissioned ministers who are members of the Synod
within the district shall serve as advisory delegates” (LCMS Bylaw 4.2.3). Even those who are not,
strictly speaking, advisory members of the Synod (i.e., who might have been voting delegates from
their congregations, had they been selected as such) are advisory delegates to the district
convention. Non-voting pastors of congregations need to be added to the list of advisory delegates.

•

Bylaw 2.38: The use of “advisory member” as opposed to “advisory delegate” improperly excludes
non-voting pastors. The district, like the Synod, also has certain “advisory representatives,”
including members of the board of directors, who may be worthy of mention.

•

Bylaw 2.56 [b]: The district president may also suggest nominees to the circuit forum (Bylaw 5.2.2
[b]).

•

Bylaw 3.10 [b][1–2]: This passage does not seem to adequately take into account the distinction of
visitation and electoral circuits. It is the visitation circuits that are expected to meet at least twice
per year (LCMS Bylaw 5.3.1) and meet (of course) to select circuit visitors. Convocations (LCMS
Bylaw 5.4.1) also relate to visitation circuits. Under [b][3], the proper reference for electoral
circuits is now, instead of LCMS Bylaw 5.3.3, LCMS Bylaw 3.1.2 [d].

•

Bylaw 3.20 [b]: The requirement that a regional vice-president have residence within the
conference should be noted here.

•

Bylaw 3.34: Regional board members (Bylaw 3.36 [b]) must reside within the conferences they
represent. This, not membership in congregations of the region, is the standard for regional
representation (LCMS Bylaw 4.3.3).

•

Bylaw 6.06 [b–c]: The committee also needs to review and approve congregational bylaws (LCMS
Bylaws 2.2.1-2.4.1).

•

Bylaw 6.08 [e]: The LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters does not interpret the district
bylaws, except to determine if they are in conformity with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions
of the Synod. (Likewise, the district committee does not authoritatively interpret the Constitution
and Bylaws of the Synod.) This section also needs to note that changes require prior approval of
the LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters.

•

Bylaw 7.00: The district should more clearly incorporate the provision of LCMS Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3
[b], adding a step 6 indicating that the Board of Directors can, by the procedure specified in the
LCMS Bylaws, reconcile with the CCM any changes to district governing documents that are
adopted by the convention in amended form.

•

Lutheran Island Camp: The commission notes that it needs to review the documents of this
(apparent) agency of the district.

The commission requests the district to address these items and resubmit their bylaw proposal for further
review and approval before presentation to the district convention.

CCM Minutes – February 2, 2018 – Page 96