LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 3–4, 2021, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Hilton St. Louis Airport
December 3–4, 2021
100. Call to Order and Opening Devotions
Commission Chairman Dr. George Gude called the meeting to order with all members present except for
the Rev. Gerhard Bode, who was kept from attendance by a funeral. The commission welcomed a new
member, Mr. Scott A. Killian, who was appointed on September 9 to fill the remainder of the 2016–2023
attorney term (less than half remaining) of the Rev. R. Neely Owen, who resigned April 20. Dr. Gude
invited Rev. Peters to offer an opening devotion, which he did on the basis of 1 Tim 2 and Luke 12 and, on
Saturday, Mark 13 and Daniel 12. Dr. Gude then introduced the agenda for the present meeting and the
commission provided a brief orientation for its new member.
101. Texas District Bylaws, Bylaw 1.5.3.6, and 2016 Res. 9-02A (20-2943B)
The commission noted its receipt of notice of Synod Board of Directors action, taken as authorized under
Bylaw 1.5.3.6 and on August 26, 2021, to “grant the Texas District’s request for permission to satisfy the
relationship and asset disposition language requirements of Bylaw 1.5.3.6 by incorporating in its Bylaws
the compliant language approved in CCM Op. 20-2943B.” With this grant of permission by the Synod
Board of Directors and the incorporation of required language in the Texas District Bylaws, the commission
is able to conclude that the governing documents of the Texas District, adopted by the district convention
as approved in advance by the commission in Op. 20-2943B, are compliant with the requirements of Bylaw
1.5.3.6 and 2016 Res. 9-02A.
The Secretary reported briefly on the status of other districts’ governing documents, relative to Bylaw
1.5.3.6 and 2016 Res. 9-02A, as presented to the Council of Presidents at its November meeting:
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Nebraska, Rocky Mountain, Southern Illinois, South Dakota, Southeastern, and Southern Districts
have proposed article revisions or restatements that have yet to be adopted by conventions and filed
with their respective states.
Atlantic, California-Nevada-Hawaii, English, New England, and Northwest Districts are believed
to have articles still requiring revision to bring them into compliance with respect to Bylaw 1.5.3.6
relationship and/or asset disposition language requirements.
Florida-Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota North, Montana, New Jersey, Pacific-Southwest, and South
Wisconsin Districts may have adopted compliant articles but may not yet have filed them with their
respective states.
Central Illinois and Eastern District documents are of uncertain status.
SELC District articles have not yet been submitted for review.

With regard to district bylaws, in addition to further responses expected from Minnesota North (Op. 212964), Minnesota South (Op. 20-2959), and Northwest (Op. 20-2954AB) Districts, the commission is
informed that the following districts probably need to update bylaws to reflect changes made by the 2019
convention but have not yet submitted proposals to do so: Atlantic, Central Illinois, Eastern, FloridaGeorgia, Iowa West, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New England, Pacific Southwest, Rocky Mountain,
Southeastern, and South Wisconsin.
102. Oklahoma District Bylaw Proposal Resubmission (20-2947A)
By an email of May 18, 2021, the Secretary of the Oklahoma District forwarded a resubmission of the
district’s bylaw change proposal. The commission found the resubmission, which also included additions
at Articles III 3, III 4 h, III 5, and V 1 a, to have addressed the issues raised in Op. 20-2947. The additional
changes require some comment; the commission also noted a few other minor items for the district’s
attention:
CCM Minutes – December 3–4, 2021 – Page 73