LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — December 6–7, 2024, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Marriott St. Louis Airport, St. Louis, Mo.
December 6–7, 2024
58. Opening Devotion and Adoption of Agenda
Chairman Peters called the meeting to order with all members present. Following a devotion by Pastor
Karner based, on Friday, on Isaiah 11:1—12:6 and a reading from Solid Declaration XI 39–42 and, on
Saturday, on 2 Peter 3:1–10 and a reading from Augustine of Hippo on faith, hope, and love, the commission
proceeded with its previously-distributed agenda, as follows:
59. Southeastern District Bylaws, Potential Revisions (24-3041)
By an email of Nov. 12, the Southeastern (SE) District Office of the President forwarded for review two
overtures submitted to the district convention, one proposing to direct the district board of directors to
amend the district bylaws to remove the term limit for the district president and the other, to petition the
Synod to amend its Bylaw 3.1.2 (c) to “grant commissioned church workers the right to vote” and asking
that this to apply to “subsequent district conventions, per the Synod bylaws.”
With respect to the overture proposing to direct the district board of directors to amend the district bylaws
to remove the term limit for district president, the commission finds the possibility of removing such term
limits to be in harmony with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod but suggests that the
mechanism of amendment proposed is not clearly consistent with its understanding of SE Bylaw Article X,
“Amendments.” It would seem an amendment to SE Bylaw Art. IV 3 to add “…in any given office other
than President, which office shall be without limitation of tenure” could simply be put to the convention
for adoption under SE Bylaw Art. X 1, with appropriate notice given in pre-convention publications. To
such an amendment the commission gives its approval.
With respect to the overture to petition the Synod to amend its Bylaw 3.1.2 (c) to “grant commissioned
church workers the right to vote,” the commission finds that this fundamental change in polity would require
not only a bylaw but a constitutional change (see Const. Art. V, IX, XII 10), and that the overture as stated
is therefore inconsistent with the Constitution of the Synod. The commission also notes that the 2023
convention reaffirmed by Res. 9-08A “the historical and theological position of the Synod from its
foundation, that every parish is represented by one who holds the preaching office and one who holds the
hearing office (Small Catechism Table of Duties).”
Finally, the commission notes that the copy of district bylaws provided does not seem to reflect the changes
proposed and reviewed in Op. 22-2987. The commission’s remarks in that opinion remain relevant and the
commission asks the Secretary to forward such again to the district for its review and preparation of suitable
changes for adoption by the convention. The commission also requests for its review a copy of the district’s
articles as adopted and filed with the District of Columbia (presumably as approved by the commission in
Op. 19-2912).
60. Rocky Mountain District Bylaws, Potential Revisions (24-3036)
By emails of Sept. 24 and Nov. 5, the President of the Rocky Mountain (RM) District forwarded for the
commission’s review two overtures proposing to amend his district’s bylaws, one proposing to remove term
limits for the president, regional vice-presidents, district secretary, board of directors members, and circuit
visitors of the district; the other, to empower either the district board of directors or affected circuit forums
(depending on wording selected by the convention), upon request of the district president, to effect
realignment of visitation circuits within the district.
In reviewing the district’s bylaws to assess these overtures, the commission noted that RM Bylaw 3.02 B 2
is inconsistent with Synod Bylaw 4.7.3 (b), which controls. The language needs to be changed as follows:
CCM Minutes – December 6–7, 2024 – Page 44