LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — July 17, 2025, Page 5

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The commission also reiterates its suggestions (Op. 25-3060) with regard to the clarity of Bylaw 5.1.2 for
potential future reconsideration.
The Secretary noted an update from the outgoing EN Dist Secretary to the effect that the district’s last
changes to its articles of incorporation were apparently not received by the State of Illinois. These are being
filed by mail and the district will update the commission when the state responds to the filing.
132. South Wisconsin District Bylaws, As Adopted (25-3052A)
By an email of June 25, the South Wisconsin (SW) District Secretary forwarded for the commission’s
review the bylaws of the district as amended by the 2025 district convention.
The change (Res. 2-01) to Bylaw 1.25 (b) was adopted as approved in Op. 25-3052A.
The change (Res. 2-02) to Bylaw 1.45 seems to have been prompted by the commission’s finding in Op.
20-2939 that SW Bylaw 1.45 (e), as it stood, was “in violation of Const. Art. VII and Bylaws 2.2.1, 2.4.1,
and 4.4.6, and cannot be used.” The change, instead of striking (e), dealing with advisory and more than
advisory interpretations of congregational governing documents, in its entirety as suggested, struck (c)
instead, which empowers the district Committee on Constitutional Matters to “interpret, within the
limitations of Synod Bylaw, the bylaws unique to [the] district and resolutions of the district in cases of
controversy. Its opinion shall be binding unless overruled by the district.” To this provision, to be clear, the
commission had and has no objection. Res 2-02 did strike the last sentence of (e), dealing with “more than
an advisory interpretation” of a congregation’s documents. These changes were made without the
commission’s prior approval. It now reviews them, after adoption, under Bylaw 3.9.2.2.3 (b), finding:
•

The district struck its Bylaw 1.4.5 (c). It was not required by the commission’s Op. 20-2939 to do
so, and to the extent said opinion was taken to require this change, it was misunderstood.
Nonetheless, the district has amended its bylaw in this regard. The Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod do not require a district to have a committee charged with authoritative interpretation of its
own documents. The commission therefore does not object to this amendment and it comes into
force and effect. This is a change the district is of course welcome, in its next convention, to revisit.

•

The district struck the second sentence of Bylaw 1.4.5 (e), removing the ability of the district
committee to give “more than an advisory interpretation” of congregational governing documents.
This change is consistent with Op. 20-2939 and is approved to come into force and effect. As to
the advisory opinions described in what will remain of Bylaw 1.4.5 (e), the district is cautioned as
it was in Op. 20-2939 that any such opinion “possesses no authority under the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Synod” (see said opinion for details).

The commission received from the district a copy of the district’s articles as amended in accordance with
Op. 17-2834, as adopted in June 2018, together with an endorsement indicating their filing with the State
of Wisconsin on December 27, 2022. It was noted that this filing is not reflected in the state’s online
database.
The district and its secretary are thanked for sending these documents for review.
133. Reconsideration of Op. 24-3031A re Adjunct Seminary Faculty (24-3031A)
By a joint communication of May 6, the presidents of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, requested that the commission reconsider elements of its Op. 23-3031
(attached), including:
•

The commission’s reading that the term faculty, when used in the Bylaws of a Synod seminary
faculty, unless otherwise specified, includes part-time or temporary faculty.

•

The commission’s reading that the term staff described in Bylaw 3.11.1 embraces the faculty of a
Synod seminary.
CCM Minutes – July 17, 2025 – Page 100