LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 3–4, 2021, Page 7

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of responsibility for some administrative functions? (In Article III B 2 e, “insure” should read
“ensure.”)
Article III B 2 j: The district president’s native duties of ecclesiastical supervision, counsel and care
of congregations and individual members are listed last, almost as a catchall. While surely not the
intent, this may be an impression best avoided by restructuring the provisions.
Articles III C 1 b and III C 2 b: Cf. Bylaw 3.3.2. The district board can’t direct a vice-president to
represent the district president in some capacity; the district president must do this (except in case
of the president’s determined incapacity).
Articles III C 2 d and III D c: Regional offices may be selected by regional caucuses (cf. Bylaw
5.2.2, regarding selection and election of circuit visitors) but must be elected by majority vote of
the whole district convention (Bylaw 4.7.1, 3), with the slate of those selected presented for
ratification by the district convention and the convention retaining the right to amend the slate, such
ratification constituting election.
Article III C 2 e: Some form of ranking seems to be necessary to provide for order of succession
(Bylaw 4.7.1) in case of resignation or temporary or permanent incapacity of the President or First
Vice-President; likewise, for cases in which the “next district officer in line” must act (e.g., Bylaw
1.10.5 [f]).
Article III F c: Rather than “proceedings,” which may refer to the convention, it seems “minutes”
is meant here. Executive session minutes should probably be excluded explicitly.
Articles III F d, IV C 6 b iv, V C 1, V C 3: Language of “Convention Manual” should probably be
standardized to that of Bylaw 4.2.1 (g), if this refers to the Convention Workbook.
Article IV A 1 should read “in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod, the
Bylaws of the District, Resolutions of the Conventions…”
Article IV A 2 a: Again, much responsibility is placed on the district president to make sure these
committees work and to keep them working. It does allow a president to shape his “administration,”
if that’s what these are, but this may be another opportunity to consider whether the district might
need to free more of its district president’s time for core visitation and ecclesiastical supervision,
counsel and care efforts by assigning other administrative responsibilities otherwise or to a lesser
degree.
Article IV C: Much in this section may require updating to reflect post-2010 Synod structure.
o Article IV C 1 a: This work would properly be coordinated with the Office of National
Mission (as noted in subsequent sections) and, to the extent that the missions of
congregations have in view international missions, the Office of International Mission.
o Article IV C 1 b: It may be well to note that the committee would also need to work in a
manner congruent (as noted below) with “objectives of the Synod as set forth in Const. Art.
III, and mission and ministry emphases adopted by the Synod (Bylaw 3.8.2.4), as well as
resolutions of the district, as regard its area of work.”
o Articles IV C 2 b i, IV C 3 b i: liaison would be principally to the Office of National
Mission.
o Articles IV C 2 b v, IV C 3 b iv: again, consistent with the suggestion above, better
language would be: “congruent with the Objectives of the Synod as set forth in Const. Art.
III, and mission and ministry emphases of the Synod (Bylaw 3.8.2.4), as well as resolutions
of the district, as regard its area of work.”
o Article IV C 3 b iii: The language of “conflict[ing] directly” with the Articles of
Incorporation may lead to interpretive challenges. The language would better be stated
positively, in terms of receipt and administration of gifts directed toward the constitutional
objectives and mission priorities of the Synod and of the district.
o Article IV C 4 b iv: This language “incorporate changes made by the district in convention
to its bylaws or articles” might be more clearly stated; the convention should be adopting
the language, not giving direction to the committee for later development.

CCM Minutes – December 3–4, 2021 – Page 79