LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 6–7, 2018, Page 5

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

These Articles of Incorporation may be amended as provided by the law under which this body is
incorporated (see Preamble above), provided that such amendments:
a. are not inconsistent with the Constitution or Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
or the Constitution and laws of the United States or the State of Minnesota; and
b. have been submitted to the Commission on Constitutional Matters of the Synod for review and
approval before presentation to and adoption by the district convention; and
c. are acted upon favorably at [either: a general regular or special meeting or: two successive
meetings (whether general regular or special)] of this corporation by the affirmative vote of a
two-thirds majority of the delegates present and voting or by a simple majority of all delegates,
whichever is less, certified by the presiding officer, verified by the secretary of the corporation;
and
d. shall thereafter be recorded with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota.
With regard to the bylaws, the commission notes two minor points requiring further attention:
•

•

MNN Bylaw 2.32: The word “be” should be removed along with “submitted.” Also, after “prior to
the Convention” the phrase needs to be added, “with printed copies available to designated
recipients upon request” (LCMS Bylaw 4.2.1 [g]); likewise in MNN Bylaw 2.72, after “of
electronic communication.”
Bylaw 2.56 [b] should read: “Congregations and the district president may nominate, and the
district president may suggest nomination of, pastors from the clergy roster of the Synod District
who are serving congregations or who are emeriti [Synod Bylaws 4.3.1 and 5.2.2 (db)].”

With the above changes incorporated, the proposed articles and bylaws are approved for presentation to the
district convention. The district is thanked for its cooperation with the review process and reminded to
submit a clean copy of its articles and bylaws as adopted.
144. Mid-South Bylaw 8.3.3.1 (d) Revision Proposal (17-2855A)
The Secretary of the Mid-South District forwarded for the commission’s review a proposed overture
striking one sentence of district bylaw 8.3.3.1, in order to harmonize the bylaw with changes made earlier
by the district’s board of directors in response to 2016 LCMS convention actions. The commission thanks
the district for its cooperation with the review process and gives its approval to this proposal.
145. Indiana District Proposed Articles and Bylaws (18-2881)
The Secretary of the Indiana District, by a March 17 e-mail, sent his district’s proposed revised articles of
incorporation and bylaws for review by the commission. The commission approves the articles as proposed,
noting that they satisfy the relationship and asset disposition language requirements of LCMS Bylaw 1.5.3.6
and 2016 Res. 9-02A.
With regard to the bylaws, the commission notes the following:
•
•
•
•

Bylaw 1.09 (c) mentions a policy manual, which the commission will need to review.
In Bylaw 2.35 (a), under “b) four Regional Vice-Presidents,” and again in Bylaw 2.81 (a) and 7.37
(j), a region does not have a “roster.” The Vice-Presidents are “nominated from the roster of the
district, with residence in the respective region” (LCMS Bylaw 4.3.1).
In Bylaw 7.15, names on a ballot should be listed in alphabetical order (LCMS Bylaw 3.12.4.1).
In Bylaw 8.01, the district may wish to add “f. If adopted in a further amended, not pre-approved
form, their adoption is subject to the procedure of LCMS Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3 (b).”

With required changes made, the commission approves the bylaw proposal for submission to the
convention. The district is thanked for its cooperation with the review process and reminded to submit a
clean copy of the articles and bylaws as adopted for the commission’s files.
146. Southeastern District Proposed Bylaw Revisions (18-2880)
CCM Minutes – April 6–7, 2018 – Page 112