LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — March 23, 2000, Page 1

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MINUTES
COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
March 23, 2000

94. Call to Order and Prayer
Chairman Walter Tesch called the meeting to order and asked Albert Marcis to open the meeting with a
prayer.
95. Review of “GUIDELINES for Constitutions and Bylaws of a Lutheran Congregation (98-2135)
After discussion of proposed changes to the draft document (included in the Minutes of the December 16,
1999 meeting), the Commission gave final approval to the following 2000 version of the
“‘GUIDELINES’ for Constitutions and Bylaws of a Lutheran Congregation”:

GUIDELINES
FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
OF A LUTHERAN CONGREGATION

PREFACE
This fourth and revised edition of Guidelines has been prepared by the Commission on
Constitutional Matters of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod because the supply of the previous
edition has been exhausted and because more than a decade has passed since the last revision. There are
also additional issues that have required attention.
I.
The Commission calls attention to the fact that congregations cannot become members of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod until their constitutions and bylaws have been approved by a
constitution committee of a District of the Synod. Furthermore, any amendments must also have that
approval before becoming operative.
Since a high degree of uniformity is desirable, the Commission on Constitutional Matters has
from time to time issued guidelines for the proper construction of congregational constitutions and
bylaws. It should be noted, however, as will become apparent also in the text of this document, that there
are wide divergences among the congregations of the Synod, and that it is not advisable to formulate one
constitution and bylaws which would fit all congregations.
Therefore, what is included in this document should be regarded as guidelines. District
committees, in evaluating constitutions and bylaws that are submitted, will judge them in light of the
principles contained in this document.
II.
A word about the format of this document. In the first chapter subjects are listed which should be
addressed in the constitutions of congregations. Several comments are offered under each subject,
followed by a sample article.
A chapter on bylaws follows. Here still more latitude is available to congregations depending
upon such circumstances as size, location, and other unique factors.
Finally, a few comments are provided regarding alternate forms of organization.
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