LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 1–2, 2023, Page 6

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(C) Standard Operating Procedures Manual: Expulsion from Membership: District President or Officer
(Bylaw section 2.15)
The commission reviewed very minimal changes (insubstantial except for date changes and bylaw updates)
made by the Secretary and gave its approval to the manual.
(D) Standard Operating Procedures Manual: Expulsion from Membership: President of Synod (Bylaw
section 2.16)
There were no substantive changes to this manual; the draft was approved.
(E) Standard Operating Procedures Manual: Expulsion from Membership as a Result of Sexual
Misconduct or Criminal Behavior (Bylaw section 2.17)
The commission reviewed the draft prepared by the Secretary. The commission gave its approval to the
manual, subject to inclusion by the Secretary of harmonizing changes from other manuals (here, including
material treating non-member university presidents, as drafted for Bylaw section 2.14), contingent on
concurrence by the Council of Presidents.
(F) Standard Operating Procedures Manual: Faculty and Administration Complaints and Appeal of
Termination: Seminaries (Bylaw 3.10.5.7.9)
A minimally updated draft has been prepared by the Secretary and forwarded to the presidents of the
seminaries for consideration and approval. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, approved the 2019 document
and its president indicated no issues with the minimally updated draft; Concordia Theological Seminary,
Fort Wayne, is not known with certainty to have adopted the former document and confirmation is being
sought.
(G) Model Operating Procedures Manual: Faculty and Administration Complaints and Appeal of
Termination: Colleges and Universities (Bylaw 3.10.6.9.6)
A minimally updated draft has been prepared by the Secretary and forwarded to the Concordia University
System board for consideration and approval. The previous edition was adopted in February 2020.
Concordia University System indicates it will be in communication with the Secretary and the commission
regarding its revision process.
17. Review and Revision of Guidelines for Congregational Constitutions and Bylaws (23-3019)
The Secretary extended a request for comment from district presidents, secretaries, boards of directors, and
constitution committees, by email of October 17, 2023, and with a deadline of January 14, 2024. This
requested:
•
•
•
•

Input from constitution committees, district secretaries, and district presidents regarding issues with
the guidelines, process of documentary review, or congregational governance in general.
Templates, other than the Synod ones, devised, promoted, or distributed by a district’s constitution
committee.
Constitutions/bylaws, in whole or relevant excerpt, recently reviewed that were either well worked
through or proved challenging for a constitution committee.
Guidelines or checklists in use by constitution committees in conducting their work.

Noted, since the last 2012 revision, are changes in congregational governance structures and new issues,
such as a need for clear guidance on inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity policies. It was
suggested that a guidance or checklist document should accompany the guidelines, for use in the work of
district constitution committees.
The Secretary will send a reminder of the request for input.

CCM Minutes – December 1–2, 2023 – Page 10