Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 449
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 449

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

FLOOR COMMITTEES: REPORT AND OVERTURE ASSIGNMENTS

9. Structure and Administration
REPORTS
R1, R1.2, R1.2.2, R1.2.4–R1.2.5, R2, R3–R11,
R14, R15–R19, R21–R55, R59, R61
OVERTURES
Ov. 9-01

To Amend Bylaws 1.5.3.2–4 and Add Bylaw 4.7.6
regarding Regulations for Committees
Rationale
The Commission on Constitutional Matters, noting frequent issues
encountered in applying Bylaw section 1.5 to the committees of
districts, universities, and other agencies of the Synod, referred the
language to the Commission on Handbook for study and potential
revision. The following is the proposal of the latter commission,
intended to clarify the bylaw language dealing with regulations for
committees. It was designed in light of the standard language used
in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, 12th edition, especially
chapters 49–50 (Ed. Sarah Corbin Robert, Henry M. Robert III,
William J. Evans, Daneil H. Honemann, Thomas J. Balch, Daniel
E. Seabold, Shmuel Gerber [New York: PublicAffairs, 2020]), for
various types of committees and to address concerns about
committee constitution and authority across the board, rather than
(as the present bylaws do) allowing certain narrow structural
categories while remaining silent on others. The new bylaws focus
on types of committees (Bylaw 1.5.3.2), the authority and
responsibility of committees (1.5.3.3), and the constitution of
committees (1.5.3.4). Finally, language is added to Bylaw section
4.7 to account for district committees that are established by district
bylaw or district convention resolution, so that it will be clear that
such committees are not subject to the requirements imposed by
Bylaws 1.5.3.2–4 on committees of a board or commission. These
revisions will provide significantly improved clarity and
appropriate levels of both flexibility and regulation for corporate
Synod and the agencies of the Synod with regard to their committee
needs.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaws 1.5.3.1–1.5.3.4 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Organization
1.5.3
Every agency of the Synod shall meet at least quarterly
unless otherwise stipulated in the Bylaws. Exceptions require the
approval at least annually of the President of the Synod. All agencies
shall announce their upcoming meetings. Unless otherwise specified
in the Bylaws, each agency is free to select a manner of meeting,
consistent with Board of Directors policy, that best enhances its
ability to accomplish its mission, taking into consideration fostering
the open exchange of ideas, availability of technology to all
members, stewardship of resources, perception of fairness,
controversial nature of agenda items, and whether secret ballots
might be used.
1.5.3.1
At Unless otherwise stipulated in these Bylaws, at the
initial meeting after members take office under new terms filled by
regular election or appointment (including the regular election or
appointment of any fraction of the members), all mission boards,

449

commissions, and governing boards shall organize themselves as to
chair, vice-chair, secretary, and other standing committees and
positions as necessary or mandated by these Bylaws and shall
conduct business in accordance with accepted parliamentary rules.
1.5.3.2
All mission boards, commissions, and governing boards
may make use of executive committees to act in times of emergency
between plenary meetings, to act on delegated assignments, and to
act as specified elsewhere in these Bylaws.
(a) Executive committees may not perform acts specifically
required by statute or by legislation or the Constitution, Bylaws,
and resolutions of the Synod to be performed by the agency, nor
may they overturn actions of the agency.
(b) All executive committee actions shall be reported to plenary
sessions of the agency.
1.5.3.3
All mission boards, commissions, and governing boards
may also delegate a specific assignment for a limited time to a
committee composed of its own members.
1.5.3.4
All mission boards, commissions, and governing boards
may appoint standing committees of specialists to provide
professional or technical assistance to the board or commission and
may delegate certain responsibilities to such committees while
retaining supervision. Standing committees may be made up of or
include non-board or commission members. The creation of standing
committees shall be reported to the President and the Board of
Directors of the Synod.
1.5.3.2
All mission boards, commissions, and governing boards
(“plenaries”) may establish and appoint committees as follows:
(a) A standing committee is established explicitly in bylaws or
plenary resolution or policies to perform a specified, continuing
function. The creation of a standing committee shall be reported
to the President and Board of Directors of the Synod.
(b) An ad hoc committee is established by resolution of the
plenary to accomplish a specified task of limited duration, upon
the completion of which it is automatically discharged.
(c) The executive committee, a specific type of standing
committee composed of board or commission members only,
may act with the authority of the plenary (i) in times of
emergency between plenary meetings and/or (ii) on assignments
specifically delegated by the plenary. It may also be assigned
additional functions, as described below.
(d) The audit committee, another specific type of standing
committee, is comprised of financially literate and independent
directors, oversees for the plenary the related incorporated
organization’s financial reporting process, selects an independent
auditor, and receives the audit.
1.5.3.3
The authority and responsibility of a committee of a
mission board, commission, or governing board, as well as any
special rules applicable to such, are to be specifically set forth in the
establishing bylaw, policy, or resolution, subject to the following:
(a) Committees may not perform acts specifically required by
statute or the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod
to be performed exclusively by the plenary, nor may they
overturn actions of the plenary.
(b) Except for executive committees acting in emergencies, any
committee charged “with power” to do more than report findings
or recommendations to the plenary shall be empowered to act
only (i) upon specific instructions of the plenary or (ii) under
standing powers clearly delineated in bylaws or policies.
(c) The granting of standing authority to a committee to act for
the plenary in any area without specific instructions, or the
designation of any business to be automatically referred to a
committee, or the impact in any other way of the parliamentary
procedure of the plenary by a committee shall: (i) require, if not
effected by bylaw, a two-thirds vote of the plenary; (ii) be
reported to the President and Board of Directors of the Synod;

2026 Convention Workbook