LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — April 8–9, 2022, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Hilton St. Louis Airport
April 8–9, 2022
118. Call to Order and Opening Devotions
Commission Chairman Dr. George Gude called the meeting to order with all members present. Dr. Gude
invited Rev. Bode to offer an opening devotion, which he did with a brief observation that the Gospel leads
us from “no room” [in the inn] to “many rooms” [which our Lord Jesus by his death and resurrection has
prepared for us in his Father’s house], followed by an opening prayer.
119. North Dakota District Bylaws as Adopted, Provisionally Amended (20-2948B)
By an email of January 27, the North Dakota (ND) District Secretary forwarded his district’s bylaws as
adopted by its 2022 convention. He noted a few changes made during the convention to the preapproved
proposal (Op. 20-2948A). These specific alterations now come before the commission for approval under
Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3 (b). The commission identifies the following correction as necessary for consistency with
Synod Bylaws, which involves a return to the previously approved language of Op. 20-2948A:
•

ND Bylaw 1.8.5.1: The concluding “if appointed, and to voice in the convention” is not a
duplication of what was just stated and needs to be restored. Advisory delegates have voice and
vote on floor committees only if appointed to them and have only voice in the convention.

The commission also notes three issues that may need to be addressed at the next district convention:
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•
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ND Bylaw 2.7.1.2: “moves out of the district” should read “is no longer a member of a member
congregation of the district.” (Synod Bylaw 4.3.3)
ND Bylaw 2.9.7.3: It is possible for the ballot to contain more than two candidates if there is a tie
for the second position (ND Bylaw 2.9.7.1.3). The removed text should therefore be restored.
ND Bylaw 2.9.9.1: It may be clearer to speak of the advisory lay delegates in the singular: “Circuit
Forums (representation consists of one voting pastoral delegate (if not vacant) and one voting lay
delegate representing each parish, plus an advisory lay delegates for each congregation in a multicongregation parish that does not supply the lay voting delegate, if desired) …” The commission
also notes an incomplete recitation of Bylaw 5.2.2 that may better be replaced, in its entirety, with
a reference to the relevant Synod bylaw. Features such as electronic meeting and voting and the
presentation of nomination details are absent.

Other than the indicated change in ND Bylaw 1.8.5.1, which will need to be reverted by the district board
of directors (as provided by Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3 [b]) to bring the bylaws into agreement with Synod Bylaws,
the commission approves the Bylaws of the North Dakota District as adopted. The district and its secretary
are thanked for this submission and reminded to file with the Office of the Secretary, for the commission’s
records, a clean copy of the bylaws as finally adopted (that is, with the noted issue in ND Bylaw 1.8.5.1
having been addressed).
120. Southern Illinois District Bylaws as Provisionally Amended (21-2975A)
The Secretary of the Southern Illinois District, by an email of March 30, submitted the bylaws of his district
as adopted by the convention. Except for changes related to the district’s Overture 2-07, these changes were
approved, prior to adoption, by the commission in Op. 21-2975. The commission now approves the bylaws
as finally adopted by the district convention. The district and its secretary are thanked for this submission
and reminded to file with the Office of the Secretary, for the commission’s records, a clean copy of the
Articles of Incorporation (previously approved) and Bylaws as finally adopted by the convention and (in
the case of the Articles) as filed with the State of Illinois.

CCM Minutes – April 8–9, 2022 – Page 88