LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 21–22, 2025, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Marriott St. Louis Airport, St. Louis
March 21–22, 2025
91. Opening Prayer and Adoption of Agenda
With all commission members present, Chairman Peters called the meeting to order. Following an opening
devotion (on Friday, on Matt. 2:13–15, 19–23, the Gospel for the day of St. Joseph; on Saturday, on Luke
11:14–28), the commission proceeded with its previously distributed agenda, as follows:
92. Southeastern District Bylaws, Further Proposed Revision (24-3041B)
By an email of March 19, the Southeastern (SE) District Office of the President forwarded for review three
proposed resolutions to amend the district’s bylaws, the first, addressing items identified in Op. 22-2987;
the second, allowing the president to serve a congregation while continuing to require him to serve the
district full-time; and the third, extending the term limits for all offices to four consecutive terms.
The commission finds these proposed changes to be in harmony with the Constitution, Bylaws, and
resolutions of the Synod and approves them for presentation to the convention. The district is thanked for
submitting the documents for review and requests, for its files, a clean copy of the bylaws as amended by
the district’s convention.
93. South Dakota District Bylaw Amendments, Adopted Contingent upon Approval (25-3057)
By an email of March 6, the South Dakota (SD) District President forwarded for the commission’s review
three amendments (Res. 1-03, -04, and –07) to the district’s bylaws, having been adopted by the district
convention, contingent upon the commission’s subsequent approval (under Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3[b]).
In its review, the commission noted:
•

The amendment adopted in Resolution 1-03 is in harmony with the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod. As stated in the first whereas of the resolution, districts are independent in the
administration of affairs which concern their district only (Const. Art. XII 12). The commission
notes for the district’s consideration that they may of the new Bylaw 3.01 (a) language suggests
optionality, while the references to consultation and delegation of stewardship (cf. Synod Bylaw
4.6.1) in SD Bylaw 1.25 b may suggest that the appointment of at least one executive officer is
presumed. Should none be appointed, at least the responsibility for stewardship would need to be
delegated elsewhere.

•

The amendment adopted in Resolution 1-04 is in harmony with the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod.

•

The amendment adopted in Resolution 1-07 is in harmony with the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod as there are no restrictions there placed upon district presidents that would prevent them
from serving congregations at the same time as they serve as district presidents. The commission
notes that the cited SD District Bylaw (2.05.e) did not prevent the district president from serving a
congregation as an assisting pastor; it only prevented him from serving as a vacancy pastor. It
would seem that if any bylaws would have prevented the district president from serving as an
assisting pastor (if at any substantial amount of time commitment, such as to detract from “fulltime” service of the district), these would have been Bylaws 2.01 (a) and 2.09 (b).
The resulting bylaw should read “He may serve as an assisting pastor.” The enabling language,
“contingent on approval of the Commission on Constitutional Matters,” is not to be included in the
bylaw language, as the commission has no authority to approve such arrangements.

CCM Minutes – March 21–22, 2025 – Page 68