LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 7,1997, Page 6

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Bylaws for an answer, the Commission determined that such a structure was apparently never
contemplated by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod. The assumption that districts would be
structured with boards and commissions which would relate functionally to such boards and
commissions at the national level is integrally entwined throughout the Constitution and Bylaws.
Examples of these are the following:
Constitution Article XII, 4 — "Additional officers, boards, and commissions are elected by the
Districts as they are required for the execution of the business of the Districts."
Bylaw 1.07, d — . . . National boards and commissions obtain counsel from District boards in
developing programs, and District boards maintain communication with and provide for
utilization of applicable programs of their national counterparts . . . "
Bylaw 1.07, e — " . . . Staff ordinarily serves as the liaison between the national and District
program boards."
Bylaw 4.11, d — "The District shall utilize boards and commissions to fulfill the objectives of
the Synod and to carry out the decisions and programs of the District. . . "
Bylaw 4.11, e --- ‘. . . Staff represents its respective board or committee. . .”
Bylaw 4.97 Provisions
a. Each District shall provide through its structure for the following functions:
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Adjudication
Church Extension
Communications
Congregational Constitutions
Congregational Services
Human Care Ministries
Missions
Stewardship and Financial Support
b. A District may provide for the election or appointment of such other boards and
commissions as it deems necessary.
c. Unless otherwise specified or permitted by the Bylaws, executives and staff on the
District level shall not be members of the board or commission under which they serve.
These provisions, as well as others which could undoubtedly be cited clearly, point to the fact that
under the present Constitution and Bylaws, districts are assumed to be structured with boards and
commissions and staffs, all in the plural and that contemplation of a district structure with a single
board is in conflict with the Bylaws of the Synod.
Having said all this, the Commission does not believe that change in structure should be avoided or
unnecessarily delayed if such structure is more effective and efficient in carrying out Gospel ministry. It
does, however, believe that the mechanisms for orderly change should be followed and that such
orderly change must take place through amendment of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod. Until
that occurs, it is assumed that districts will continue to elect or appoint boards and commissions as
reflected in the synodical Handbook.