LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 8, 2026, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
Internet Conference Meeting (Zoom.us)
September 8, 2026
1. Opening Prayer and Adoption of Agenda
With all commission members present except for Atty. Deadrick, Chairman Peters called the meeting to
order and opened with prayer for the work and for the absent brother.
2. Lutheran Church Extension Fund Articles and Bylaws, Proposed (26-3084)
By an email of July 24, 2026, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lutheran Church Extension
Fund—Missouri Synod (LCEF) forwarded proposed articles and bylaws for review, along with a narrative
explanation relating the changes to convention actions, prior opinions of the commission, and a notification
by the Missouri Office of the Secretary of State that the articles must include a statement classifying LCEF
as a “public benefit corporation.” These require those approvals described in Bylaw 3.6.1.7.
The commission finds the proposed amendments to LCEF articles and bylaws to be in harmony with the
Synod’s Constitution and its Bylaws as amended by its 2026 convention (in particular considering the
changes to Synod Bylaws 3.6.4–3.6.4.4.1 and 3.6.1.8). It does so noting:
•

Bylaws, Introduction: The change to Synod Bylaw 3.6.4 does not seem to have been incorporated
here. The commission approves an additional change from “financial resources and related
services” to “financial, real estate, and other related resources and related services.”

The commission therefore approves the amendments as proposed, and the additional one noted, for
presentation to the LCEF membership and adoption (noting, of course, that approval by the Synod Board
of Directors is required by Bylaw 3.6.1.7 [a] before such would become effective).
In review of the articles and bylaws relative to language required by 2026 Bylaw 1.5.2.4 to be present, the
commission finds (relative to the lettered subparagraphs of the same):
(a) Relationship language is required to be present in the articles to state “That all provisions of [these]
Articles of Incorporation and [attendant] Bylaws, as well as [the Corporation’s] governance and
operation, are subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the Bylaws, and the resolutions of [The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (“the Synod”)] in convention, as may hereafter be adopted or
amended from time to time, and that in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the
agency’s governing documents and those of the Synod, the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions
of the Synod shall govern.”
This language is not fully present in LCEF’s articles, but the requirement could be satisfied by
using the above to replace the following language of ARTICLE SEVENTH: “Nothing contained
in these Articles of Incorporation or the said Bylaws shall be inconsistent with the Constitution of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (to which they shall be subordinate and which shall prevail
in the event of any conflict), or inconsistent with the laws of the United States of America or of the
State of Missouri; and the Board of Directors of the Corporation, its officers, employees, agents
and all of its activities shall be subject to the duly enacted Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod, and resolutions duly enacted by the Synod assembled in convention, to the same
extent as if all of those individuals and activities were directly those of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod.”
Alternatively, the commission finds that the following change to the existing language of
ARTICLE SEVENTH would satisfy the requirement: “Nothing contained in these Articles of
Incorporation or the said Bylaws shall be inconsistent with the Constitution, Bylaws, or resolutions
in convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod”
CCM Minutes – September 8, 2026 – Page 1