LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — May 25, 2021, Page 6

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96. Minnesota North District Proposed Articles and Bylaws (21-2964)
By an email of January 15, 2021, the Minnesota North District Secretary forwarded his district’s proposed
articles and bylaws for the commission’s review.
With regard to the articles, the commission notes no changes, except those previously approved and once
acted upon by the convention and awaiting their second adoption in accordance with the district’s procedure
for amending articles. With regard to these, the commission requests for its files a clean copy as finally
adopted and filed with the state.
With regard to the bylaws, the commission notes:
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In MNN Bylaw 2.18, the commission questions the definition of “special officer” (also used in
MNN Bylaw 3.54) and notes that a board of directors does not ordinarily approve reports of
officers or other agencies; usually the district president has this responsibility (by analogy from
Synod Bylaw 3.1.8 [a]; see Synod Bylaw 4.2.1 [a]).
In MNN Bylaw 2.24, the change of advisory to individual is incorrect and should be reversed.
Likewise, in MNN Bylaws 2.36 (in the title and three subsequent instances), 2.38, 2.70, and 3.10
(b)(3).
The language of MNN Bylaw 2.36 (a) must be replaced in its entirety with the language of Synod
Const. Art. XII 10 b.
MNN Bylaw 2.36 (d) should read: “Only a pastor called by and installed in a congregation or
parish in other than an ‘assisting capacity only,’ as defined in the Bylaws of the Synod, may serve
as that congregation or parish’s voting pastoral delegate.”
MNN Bylaw 2.34 (c) should indicate that the advisory delegate in this instance is an advisory lay
delegate.
The newly inserted MNN Bylaw 2.34 (d) should read instead: “A pastor called to a congregation
in an assisting capacity only, as defined in the Bylaws of the Synod, is not eligible to serve as a
voting delegate of that congregation.”
In MNN Bylaw 2.34 (e), the commission notes that this requirement—if understood to preclude
registration at the time of the convention—would seem to conflict with MNN Bylaw 2.34 (a). If
the intention here is to require earlier submission to allow for floor committee service or to ensure
some other arrangements, that should be indicated, but it should be made clear that this “shall”
does not preclude acceptance of valid credentials at the time of the convention.
In MNN Bylaw 2.42, it should be made clear that only voting representatives of congregations or
parishes count toward the quorum.
In MNN Bylaw 2.58 (b), regional (conference) membership of the vice-presidents is determined
not by residence but by congregational membership: “…and residing holding membership in a
congregation of the local conference…”
In MNN Bylaw 2.58 (d), the sending of nominating ballots, especially for president and vicepresident, to all individual members is unusual but theoretically permissible.
In MNN Bylaw 2.66 (f), the procedure seems unclear. What prior elections are referred to here?
In MNN Bylaw 3.10 (b)(3), the lay delegate to the Convention of the Synod is an advisory
member of the circuit forum.
In MNN Bylaw 3.20 (b), regional (conference) membership of the vice-presidents is determined
not by residence but by congregational membership: “…and have residence hold membership in a
congregation within the conference…”
As a specific example of the potential of inexhaustive references giving a false impression, in
MNN Bylaw 3.26 (a)(3), the district secretary has broader duties than those analogous to those
assigned to the Secretary of the Synod, for example, handling district convention credentials and
administering certain aspects of dispute resolution within the district.

CCM Minutes – May 25, 2021 – Page 71