LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 22–23, 2019, Page 7

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based on Synod Bylaw 2.8.1 as to the rostering of this individual, with further action by the Council of
Presidents as to whether this individual meets the standards necessary for rostering under Bylaw 2.7.5.
Their decision on the basis of this re-evaluation is determinative of the individual’s roster status.
204. District Membership of Bylaw 3.2.5 (c) Committee Member (19-2908)
A member of the Synod’s Committee for Convention Nominations (CCN), also a member of the “Bylaw
3.2.5 (c)” continuing committee for vacancy nominations (CCVN, coining the term for sake of
abbreviation), has accepted a call that will result in his transfer to a district other than the one he represents
on the committee. Another member of the committee, a member of the Synod, noted on the one hand that
the member in question had been properly appointed by the plenary CCN to the CCVN while a CCN
member properly representing his then-district, and on the other hand that the representative nature of the
CCN, alternating between seventeen and eighteen districts of the Synod each triennium, would seem to be
disrupted by the member’s movement from a district in the Bylaw 3.12.3.1 list to one on the Bylaw 3.12.3.2
list. He then asked whether the member in question may continue to serve on the Bylaw 3.2.5 (c) committee,
given that he will no longer be a member of the district he represented on the CCN.
The commission notes that even before the CCN submits its final report (Bylaw 3.12.3.6), although the
members are elected by certain districts of the Synod each triennium as listed in 3.12.3.1–2, the members
of the CCN act on behalf of the whole Synod. Bylaws do not require as a qualification for election that the
member elected by a district be a member of that district. Finally, the CCN elects the Bylaw 3.2.5 (c)
committee from among its membership by electing its chairman and two other of its members to serve in
the particular capacity of screening nominees for vacancies that occur in the upcoming triennium. The
members of this smaller committee represent and are selected by the CCN as a whole, and serve the whole
Synod. The commission therefore finds that transfer of a member of the Bylaw 3.2.5 (c) committee to
another district after the submission of the CCN’s final report does not vacate the member’s position on the
“Bylaw 3.2.5 (c)” continuing committee for vacancy nominations.
205. Camp Luther Bylaws (19-2900)
The executive director of Camp Luther, Three Lakes, WI, sent the camp’s bylaws, as last revised in 2015,
for the commission’s review. The commission notes, in Article V, that with regard to telephonic and
electronic meetings of the board of directors, these would need to be conducted in accordance with LCMS
Board of Directors policies (Bylaw 1.5.3 and LCMS BOD Policies, e.g., 2.4.3–4). With regard to
termination of office, members of the board would need to be removed in accordance with LCMS Bylaws
1.5.7–1.5.7.1. Camp Luther is thanked for forwarding its bylaws for the commission’s review.
206. Lutheran Haven Articles and Bylaws (19-2904)
The commission notes that Lutheran Haven has been designated a recognized service organization of the
Synod, and that despite its historic connection with the SELC District of the LCMS, is regarded by the
commission as such. The granting of such status (Bylaw 6.2.1) indicates that the organization is
“independent of the Synod” and “under the governance and policies of its own board, etc.” The board thanks
Lutheran Haven for sending its documents for review.
207. New England District Bylaw Revision (19-2905)
By an e-mail of Jan. 22, 2019, the secretary of the New England District forwarded his district’s bylaws, as
amended in the 2018 district convention, for the commission’s review. The commission approves the
changes indicated, noting the following points requiring attention in the remainder of the bylaws:
•

Bylaws 3.01–3.03: The president may be elected from the clergy roster of the Synod; other elected
officers must be drawn from the clergy roster of the district (LCMS Bylaw 4.3.1).

•

Each instance of circuit counselor needs to be updated to read circuit visitor (LCMS Bylaw section
5.2)
CCM Minutes – March 22–23, 2019 – Page 155