LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — July 27–August 3, 2023, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
in conjunction with the 68th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Baird Center (formerly Wisconsin Center), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
July 27–August 3, 2023
186. Call to Order and Opening Prayer
Commission Chairman Dr. George Gude called the meeting, which immediately preceded and coincided
with the Synod’s 68th Regular Convention, to order with all members present, opening with prayer. He
noted the agenda, in which the commission proceeded as follows. The commission also prepared, following
its own meeting, to provide assistance to the floor committees and then the convention, as charged in Bylaw
3.9.2.2.1–2, with the aim of assuring that consideration of constitution and bylaw matters were “in accord
with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod.”
187. Proposed Amendment to LCEF Bylaws re Change of Membership Cap (23-3013)
By an email of July 24, 2023, the President and CEO of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri
Synod requested the commission’s review of a proposed change to the synodwide corporate entity’s bylaws
to adjust its membership cap on district membership from 135 to 67.
Noting its previous review of this matter (Op. 22-2984) and contingent upon the adoption of Res. 9-02 [D],
which would properly incorporate the LCEF membership cap into LCMS Bylaws (as noted as the first
contingency in the LCEF Board of Directors resolution), the commission approves of the proposed LCEF
bylaw change as consistent with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod. However, the
commission observes that LCEF may do well to describe in more precise terms than those proposed how
rounding occurs in the assignment of district delegates to achieve the stated number. On the basis of the
language alone, this is entirely unclear. (Compare preferable but still not detailed language in Res. 9-02
[D]’s proposed Bylaw 3.6.4.2.2.)
188. Proposed Amendments to Convention Resolutions (23-3012)
The commission reviewed several proposed amendments to resolutions published in the First Edition of
Today’s Business, upon request either of their submitters or of floor committees to which they had been
recommended.
(A) Proposed amendment to Res. 10-06, “To Amend Bylaw 2.11.2.2 regarding Candidate Status”
By an email of June 21, a member of the Synod requested the commission’s opinion on a proposed
amendment to Res. 10-06. The commission found the proposed amendment to be in accord with the
Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod.
(B) Question with regard to the effect of Res. 9-07, “To Provide for Continuity of Service in Regional
Positions,” upon the districts of the Synod
By an email of June 20, a district secretary requested the commission’s opinion on three questions regarding
Res. 9-07 as proposed. The commission responds as follows:
Question 1:

If the proposed revision to Synod Bylaw 3.12.2.8 offered in Resolution 9-07 is approved
by the convention, would the change be limited to the members of Synod boards listed in
that bylaw or would it also impact the residency requirements established in Synod Bylaw
4.3.3 for members of district boards?

Opinion:
The effect of the change to Bylaw 3.12.2.8 would be limited to the members of Synod
boards as listed in the bylaw. It would not apply to district boards, which are regulated in this regard instead
by Bylaw 4.3.3.

CCM Minutes – July 27–August 3, 2023 – Page 153