LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 30—June 3, 2019, Page 2

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The commission approves the text, with the noted sentence removed, for presentation to the 2021 district
convention. The district is thanked for seeing to this necessary change and for providing the documents for
the commission’s review.
214. Pastoral Delegate Takes a Call within Circuit (19-2913)
A pastoral delegate wrote the Secretary of the Synod with the following situation: His circuit properly and
timely elected a pastoral delegate and a lay delegate from different congregations. Subsequently, the
pastoral delegate received a call from the congregation of the lay delegate and accepted it. The question
thus arose, whether the pastoral and lay delegates might both continue to represent the circuit, although
having become, after their election, connected with the same congregation.
The Secretary responded with his impression that the restrictions on congregations/parishes supplying more
than one delegate or alternate (Bylaws 3.1.2.1 [d][3], [h]) apply at the time of election. Provided both
delegates were validly nominated and elected under the bylaws, a pastoral delegate’s change of position
subsequent, which would leave him otherwise eligible to serve (i.e., in the same circuit), would not impact
the validity of that election or the resulting service of delegates elected. Both the pastoral and lay delegate
can serve, although the pastor has, subsequent to the election, come to be the lay delegate’s pastor.
The Secretary having brought the matter to the attention of the commission for its review, the commission
ratified the reply of the Secretary.
215. Review of 2019 Overtures and Support of Floor Committees (19-2910)
The Secretary presented the overtures submitted to the 2019 convention to the commission for study and
reflection, and the commission discussed those with constitutional or bylaw implications.
209. Future Meetings and Adjournment
After a joint working lunch with the Commission on Handbook, this commission provided its support to
the several floor committees. The commission will next meet July 18–19, 2019, in conjunction with the 67th
Convention of the Synod in Tampa, FL.
John W. Sias, Secretary

CCM Minutes – May 30—June 3, 2019 – Page 158