LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — July 17, 2025, Page 4

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130. California-Nevada-Hawaii District Bylaws, Amendment due to Convention Action (25-3068)
By an email of June 19, the Secretary of the California-Nevada-Hawaii (CNH) District forwarded for the
commission’s review two bylaws proposed in response to district convention actions (which were also
forwarded) creating standing ministry committees for disability ministry and disaster response.
The commission notes that these are apparently proposed under CNH Bylaw VIII B, “Amendment by
Indirect Convention Action,” which provides (paragraph 2) that such amendments “shall be drafted by the
District Constitutional Matters Committee and submitted to the next District Convention for approval, after
first being reviewed and approved in advance by the Synod’s CCM.”
The commission questions whether these committees fall under the general provision of Synod Bylaw 4.9.1,
as cited, which seems to refer to meetings of conferences of ministers more than it does to meetings of
district committees, but accepts that the purpose may be generally to “consider matters of doctrine, exegesis,
and practical theology, and...for promotion of the basic activities of the church.” The commission therefore
suggests provisions (vi), in the disability committee bylaw, and provision (viii), in the disaster response
committee bylaw, be removed. (The commission also notes what it assumes is an extraneous “Chair” in
disability provision [i]), which should also be removed.)
With that change made, the commission finds these proposed bylaws to be in harmony with the
Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod and approves them for presentation to the next district
convention and for adoption. The district and its secretary are thanked for sending these documents for
review.
131. English District Bylaws, Unreviewed Amendment Contingent on Approval (25-3069)
By an email of July 7, the English (EN) District Secretary forwarded for review the bylaws of the district,
as having been amended by the recently concluded district convention. These contained, in addition to
changes approved in Op. 25-3060, an additional amendment of EN Bylaws 5.4.4–6, to adjust restrictions
on regional and congregational membership for individuals elected to the district board of directors. The
district requested approval after the fact under Synod Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3 (b).
The commission notes that the district has not availed itself of the suggestion to include explicitly in its
Bylaw 12.1 an allowance for use of the “adoption contingent” procedure, but notes also that the Bylaws of
the Synod are the primary bylaws of the district, rendering this possibility available, nonetheless. The
commission suggests, however, that for clarity’s sake, the district propose changes to its Article 12 to
include this possibility explicitly.
The commission finds these previously unreviewed, unapproved amendments to Bylaws 5.4.4–6 to be, in
substance, in harmony with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod.
With regard to the changes at EN Bylaws 5.4.4–6, at 5.4.5 (b), the district has incorrectly incorporated the
procedure from Bylaw 4.7.3 (b) (for president and vice-presidents) instead of that from Bylaw 4.7.3 (c) (for
other positions). This error is also present in existing Bylaw 5.4.4 (b), where, despite the language, Bylaw
4.7.3 (c) controls.
The commission also notes that new EN Bylaw 5.4.5, “one (1) layperson from each of the four regions of
the District,” is duplicative of the last part of Bylaw 5.4.4. Presumably the district’s intention was to remove
this last item from the list of Bylaw 5.4.4, for separate treatment in the new Bylaw 5.4.5.
Presuming these changes are adopted by the district board of directors by the required two-thirds vote, as
described in Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3 (b) and EN Bylaw 12.2, as applicable, the changes presented for approval after
the fact are hereby approved (as corrected) as in harmony with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of
the Synod, and will therefore come into force and effect. The district and its secretary are thanked for
sending this material for the commission’s review.

CCM Minutes – July 17, 2025 – Page 99