LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 23, 2024, Page 2

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52. California-Nevada-Hawaii District Bylaws, Proposed Revisions (24-3032A)
By an email of September 9, the Secretary of the California-Nevada-Hawaii (CNH) District forwarded a
revision of his district’s bylaws for review, pursuant in some measure to the commission’s review in Op.
24-3032. The district secretary noted that the district committee had not yet attempted to work on items
noted in the review related to “Policy-Based Governance” (some of which, indeed, had been carried over
from Op. 21-2968 and 22-2989). These items (involving at least CNH Bylaw Articles III A 3, B 2 c–i, and
G d; IV A 2 a) will remain to be dealt with in a future revision and the district is asked to continue working
toward improvement in these areas. The district secretary also noted that the district’s articles will not be
further revised at this time to address the issues noted in the previous review.
The proposed revision resolves the commission’s concerns regarding CNH Articles III A 2; III B 2 j; III F
c; IV C 3 b iii and 6 b i; V D 2; VI F 3 d, e and 4 c; VI I 2; and VIII A e and B 2. Part of its concern at Art.
V C 1 was addressed (relating to “unofficial” reports); its concern regarding there being established
standards for publishing of reports and overtures, remains. The revision provides for ranking of vicepresidents (Art. III A 1, III C 2 e, VI F 4 d) and inserts a provision for use of electronic balloting or tabulation
(new Art. VI I).
The commission notes reversion of all instances of Convention Workbook other than that at IV C 6 iv to
Convention Manual. While it would be preferable to render all instances Convention Workbook, to match
Synod’s nomenclature, Convention Manual could be used consistently.
With regard to the new Art. VIII B, the commission suggests the following change as necessary to comport
with Synod Bylaws and to achieve what is presumed to be the full, desired effect:
3.

In exceptional circumstances and upon the express direction of a convention of the District
or of the Synod, amendments may be made by a two-thirds majority of the Board of
Directors.
(a) Such amendments to the Bylaws shall be necessary to implement resolutions adopted
by a convention of the District or of the Synod.
(b) Such amendments shall be drafted by the District CCM and shall be approved by the
Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters.

New Art. VI E 1 provides in (b) for election procedures for positions other than President and VicePresident. Rules for elections of the President and Vice-President are not provided for. The district needs
to incorporate here, in full, the language of 2023 Synod Bylaw 4.7.3, including all of its subparagraphs (a–
d), so as to provide both procedures with clarity. These are to be used as applicable to each instance in the
elections and selections that follow in Art. VI F.
In the first sentence of Art. VI J 2 (as newly numbered), it may be clearer to say, “Whether the President is
unable to serve because of prolonged illness or disability and whether his incapacity is temporary or
permanent shall be determined by the Board of Directors,” so that it is clear that the board determines, on
the basis of some concise standards, and does not only “grade” as temporary or permanent, presidential
incapacity.
The commission notes a number of changes not occasioned by its previous review, with regard to some of
which it has new comments:
•

Article IV C 1 c: given the respective roles of the Office and Board of National Mission,
coordination with the offices might best be retained in addition to liaison with the Board for
National Mission; if the district engages in or interfaces with international work, the Office of
International Mission should also be included.

•

Article IV C 2 b i, v; 3 b i, iv: the commission does not understand the references to Synod Bylaws
3.8.2.3–4, or why sometimes one and sometimes the other are cited. Perhaps references to Synod
CCM Minutes – September 23, 2024 – Page 42