LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 1–2, 2019, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Hilton Airport Hotel, St. Louis
November 1–2, 2019
5. Call to Order and Opening Devotion
Commission Chairman Dr. George Gude called the meeting to order with all members present, calling on
Secretary Sias to open with devotions. He did so on the basis of readings for All Saints’ Day, on Friday,
Rev. 7:9–17 and, on Saturday, Psalm 149 and 1 John 3:1–3.
6. Review of Inactive Agenda Items
The commission noted one opinion request and three policy manual reviews carried over on its agenda from
the previous triennium. These items having long ago been tabled, pending further input or progress from
submitting parties, the commission determined to remove the following from its agenda:
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Follow-up on opinion 16-2784A (Michigan District Board of Directors)
Eastern District Governance Policy Manual (Op. 17-2807)
North Dakota District Policy Manual (Op. 17-2843)
Mid-South District Accountable Manager Governance Document (Op. 14-2736)

Submitting agencies may file new requests for review or opinions at any time they are prepared to do so.
The commission notes that where it has indicated that the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the
Synod require changes to provisions of policy manuals, such provisions need urgently to be revised, as with
regard to them agencies may be operating improperly, or outside their authority, and possibly subjecting
themselves needlessly to liability.
7. SELC District Proposed Bylaw Changes (19-2918)
By a September 4, 2019, e-mail, counsel for the SELC District forwarded proposed changes to SELC
District Bylaw section 10.4, related to electronic meetings of the district board of directors. The commission
finds the additions to be consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod, provided that any form
of electronic meeting or electronic attendance used is consistent with LCMS Board of Directors policies
governing such meetings, as may be amended from time to time (LCMS Bylaw 1.5.3; see LCMS Board of
Directors Policy Manual at www.lcms.org/bod, especially policies 2.4.3–6).
Elsewhere in the SELC Bylaws, the commission noted a few areas requiring clarification or updating:
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Bylaw 9.3: The words “congregation or which” should instead read “congregation that”
Bylaw 11.5.1: In keeping with changes to Const. Art. XII 10 b (2019 Res. 9-05, unless the same
should fail of ratification), it should be added that a congregation that is part of a multi-congregation
parish, but not the congregation supplying the voting lay delegate, may elect and depute an advisory
lay delegate.
Bylaws 11.5.2 and 7: In keeping with changes to Const. Art. XII 10 b (2019 Res. 9-05, unless the
same should fail of ratification), advisory members should be renamed advisory delegates.

With these changes incorporated, the commission gives its approval to the bylaw proposal and thanks the
SELC district for submitting its documents for review.
The Secretary was asked to draft a letter to district boards of directors indicating the areas of district bylaws
likely to be impacted by the changes effected by the 2019 convention, including the above, as well as the
change to district-level regional representation and perhaps other elements. It was also proposed that a
mechanism be suggested, like that already in use in several districts, that would allow a district board of
directors, with CCM approval, to modify district bylaws to reflect changes explicitly and concretely
required by changes to LCMS bylaws, without waiting until the subsequent district convention.
CCM Minutes – November 1–2, 2019 – Page 2