LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 29-30, 2009, Page 2

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are to be honored and upheld until such time as the Synod amends or repeals them”
(emphasis added; cf. also Bylaw 1.8.1). Bylaw 1.7.1 further states, “The Constitution,
Bylaws, and all other rules and regulations of the Synod apply to all congregational and
individual members of the Synod.”

Opinion 08-2524 also referenced 1971 Res. 2-21 which confirmed the binding nature of such resolutions.
In addition to the pertinent quotes from the 1971 resolution in the above opinion, the convention
resolution also stated, “Meanwhile every member of the synod is held to abide by, act, and teach in
accordance with the Synod’s resolutions....the Synod has repeatedly declared that all members should
‘honor and uphold’ its resolutions (cf.: 1962, 3-17; 1965, 2-08; 1967, 2-04; 1969, 2-27)....To ‘honor and
uphold’ means not merely to examine and study them, but to support, act, and teach in accordance with
them until they have been shown to be contrary to God’s Word” (1971 Convention Proceedings, p. 119).

Ecclesiastical supervision by the President of the Synod or by the district presidents, including any
needed disciplinary measures, as indicated in the CCM opinion (08-2524), is not limited to 2004 Res. 3-
OSA: “Resolution 3-05A, together with all of the resolutions of the Synod, has implications for
ecclesiastical supervision” (emphasis added), The provisions for such ecclesiastical supervision (Bylaw
1.2.1 [g]) are set forth in Articles XI, XII, and XIII of the Constitution as well as in the Bylaws of the
Synod, including but not limited to Bylaw section 2.1; Bylaws 2.14.1 and 3.3.1-3.3.1.3, and Bylaw
section 4.4 (Synod Handbook, pp. 50, 62-62, 101-104, and 189-191).

Any district president who fails to carry out his responsibility of ecclesiastical supervision is subject to
the measures of Constitution Art. XI B and Bylaw sections 1.10 and 2.15 (Handbook, pp. 15-16, 37ff.,
and 71ff.).

114. Other Matters
Other matters discussed during the meeting:

e Provision of guidelines for the convention floor committee that is assigned those overtures
intended to overrule CCM opinions

© 2007 Overtures 3-93 and 3-94 re 2001 Res. 3-07A, referred to the commission by omnibus
resolution

e Reconsideration of CCM Opinion 99-2157 upon referral of 2007 Overture 8-44 by omnibus
resolution

Materials to facilitate further discussion will be provided by members of the commission prior to its
October meeting.

The commission also planned for its members to attend one of the Blue Ribbon Task Force Regional
Gatherings scheduled between December 4 and February 20. Travel cost will be a CCM budget expense.

115. Future Meetings
The commission agreed to a special September 3, 10:00 a.m. CDT conference call meeting to review its

recommendations to the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance. The next regular
meeting of the commission will be October 31-November 1 in St. Louis.

Kenat lol

Raymond L. Hartwig, Secretary