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

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

for sending these documents for review and reminded to send a clean copy of the bylaws as finally adopted
to the Office of the Secretary for the commission’s files.
For future reference, the commission notes that the district has not yet addressed items noted in Op. 243032 related to “Policy-Based Governance” (some, 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 change to the district articles approved in Op. 22-2989, to include the relationship language required
by Bylaw 1.5.3.6, has been adopted and filed with the State of California and the commission; there remain,
however, historical issues with the wording elsewhere in the articles.
63. Florida-Georgia District Bylaws, Proposed Revision, Revised and Extended (24-3029A)
By an email of Nov. 5, the Secretary of the Florida-Georgia District forwarded for the commission’s review
a draft of bylaw revisions for his district, revised in response to Op. 24-3029 and extended with addition of
Bylaw D6.01. With regard to the latter, the commission understands “expectations of the current Synod
Handbook relating to congregational constitutions and bylaws” to refer to items in Synod’s Constitution
and Bylaws to which a member congregation is required to adhere in order to be a part of Synod (namely,
that “that they are in harmony with Holy Scripture, the Confessions, and the teachings and practices of the
Synod,” Bylaw 2.2.1 [b]; 2.4.1 [b]; Const. VI 5).
The commission finds the revision to have addressed all concerns identified in its previous review and to
propose changes (taking into account the understanding above) in harmony with the Constitution, Bylaws,
and resolutions of the Synod. These are approved for presentation to the district convention for adoption.
The district and its secretary are thanked for sending these documents for review and reminded to send a
clean copy of the bylaws as finally adopted to the Office of the Secretary for the commission’s files.
64. Concordia University System Articles and Bylaws, Proposed Revisions, Revised (24-3026A)
By an email of Nov. 18, the Assistant to the President of Concordia University System (CUS) forwarded
for the commission’s review a revised draft of changes to the entity’s articles and bylaws, pursuant to the
commission’s previous review in Op. 24-3026. The commission notes for future reference that the provided
redlines are relative to the previously submitted draft, not to the documents as presently in force. In its
review, the commission notes the following:
(A) Articles of Incorporation
•

Article Fourth: The commission finds the first paragraph to have addressed its concerns; the second
and third proposed paragraphs may be more detailed than required in articles and could be omitted.
Alternatively, the second sentence of the second paragraph should likely be revised as follows:
“Such visitations will provide support and be held accountable accountability for educational
institutions of the Synod maintaining and strengthening the their Lutheran identity of the
educational institutions of the Synod, each receiving (1) regular ecclesiastical fraternal counsel and
encouragement through annual, informal visitation; and (2) a formal in-depth ecclesiastical
visitation and reporting at least once every three years.”

•

Article Sixth: The first sentence of the added paragraph, as a summary of the foregoing, detailed
paragraph, is unnecessary and should be removed. The second sentence, “Any amendment to this
provision shall require the affirmative vote of the Synod in convention,” should be joined to the
existing paragraph.

•

Article Eighth: The language (printed here as clean) should be adjusted as follows:
These Articles of Incorporation shall be in conformity with the Synod’s Constitution,
Bylaws, and applicable resolutions of the Synod in convention. They may be amended by
the Concordia University System Board of Directors adopting a resolution by majority vote
CCM Minutes – December 6–7, 2024 – Page 49