Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 464
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 464

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

464

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

(5) Conviction of a felony
(6) Failure to disclose conflicts of interest to the Synod or agency
(7) Conduct evidencing a scandalous life
(8) Advocacy of false doctrine (Constitution Art. II)
(9) Failure to honor and uphold the doctrinal position of the
Synod
(10) Accumulation of three unexcused absences within any term
of office
1.5.7.12.10.1
Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, the
procedure for removal of a member of a commission, agency board,
or the LCMS Board of Directors, except for those persons subject to
Bylaw sections 2.15 and 2.16, shall be as follows:
(a) Action for removal shall require written notice to each
member of the relevant commission, agency board, or LCMS
Board of Directors at least 30 days prior to a special meeting of
the commission, agency board, or LCMS Board of Directors
called for that purpose. A copy of such notice shall be sent to the
President and the Secretary of the Synod and to the ecclesiastical
supervisor, if applicable.
(b) The special meeting shall be held no later than 60 days after
the provision of the written notice, unless extended by the mutual
agreement of the parties.
(c) Removal shall be effected by
(1) recommendation of such to the Synod’s Board of
Directors by a vote in favor of removal by at least three-fourths
of all current members (excluding the person whose
membership is in question) of the applicable commission,
agency board, or LCMS Board of Directors; and
(2) by a vote in favor of the recommendation of removal by
at least three-fourths of all current members (excluding the
person whose membership is in question) of the Board of
Directors of the Synod.
(d) Removal may be appealed by a member who has been
removed from a commission, agency board, or the LCMS Board
of Directors through the use of the Synod’s dispute resolution
process as provided in Bylaw section 1.10.
(e) From the time that written notice is given until the
commission, agency board, or the LCMS Board of Directors
takes action with respect to the removal, the member(s) subject
to removal may not vote on matters before the commission,
agency board, or LCMS Board of Directors.
(f) If a Concordia University System (CUS) college or university
board of regents is presented with a written notice from the CUS
Board of Directors, a copy of which shall also have been sent to
the President and Secretary of the Synod and to any applicable
ecclesiastical supervisor, detailing the basis for cause for removal
of a member of the board of regents pursuant to Bylaw 1.5.7 2.10
(2), (8), or (9), the written notice shall be handled as follows:
(1) The board of regents shall schedule and hold a special
meeting as required under Bylaw 1.5.72.10.1 (a) and (b) and
consider a recommendation for removal under Bylaw
1.5.72.10.1 (c) (1).
(2) If the board of regents fails to take action or declines to
recommend removal under Bylaw 1.5.72.10.1 (c) (1) within
90 days of receiving the written notice from the CUS Board of
Directors, the CUS Board of Directors may present the written
notice to the Praesidium of the Synod.
(3) The Praesidium, without participation of the First VicePresident of the Synod, shall make an initial determination as
to whether the written notice presents sufficient grounds for
removal of a member of a board of regents under Bylaw
1.5.72.10 (2), (8), or (9).
(4) If the Praesidium determines, by majority vote, that the
written notice presents sufficient grounds for removal, a three-

2026 Convention Workbook

person panel shall be appointed, consisting of the First VicePresident of Synod, a member of the Council of Presidents
appointed by the Council of Presidents, and an additional
member who is a member of the Council of Presidents who
shall be appointed by the First Vice-President and the member
of the Council of Presidents who was appointed by the Council
of Presidents.
(5) This panel shall consider the written notice and evidence
submitted by the CUS Board of Directors and the board of
regents member and make a determination as to whether there
is sufficient grounds for removal of the board of regents
member under Bylaw 1.5.72.10 (2), (8), or (9).
(6) If a majority of the panel concludes sufficient grounds
exist, it shall make a recommendation to the Synod’s Board of
Directors. This recommendation shall be considered and acted
upon under Bylaw 1.5.72.10.1 (c) (2).
(7) If the CUS Board of Directors presents written notice
stating cause for removal of more than one member of the
board of regents, each written notice shall be handled
separately, although if a panel is appointed these can be
considered by the same panel.
1.5.7.22.10.2
To the extent that the application of this bylaw is
limited by applicable law with respect to the removal of members of
a commission, agency board, or the LCMS Board of Directors, the
commission, agency board, or LCMS Board of Directors on which
the member serves may recommend the removal and attempt to
cause the appropriate procedures under applicable law, these
Bylaws, and the governing documents of the affected entity to be
followed to permit the removal of such commission, agency board,
or LCMS Board of Directors member.
Removal of Officers of the Synod or District from Office
1.5.82.11 Officers of the Synod and a district shall discharge the
duties of office in good faith. The following are considered cause for
removal from office of an officer of the Synod or a district pursuant
to this Bylaw, but not from membership in the Synod:
(1) Incapacity
(2) Breach of fiduciary responsibilities to the Synod or a district
(3) Neglect or refusal to perform duties of office
(4) Conviction of a felony
1.5.8.12.11.1
Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, the
procedure for removal of an officer of the Synod or a district from
office shall be as follows:
(a) Action for removal of an officer of a district other than a
district president shall require written notice to each member of
that district’s board of directors at least 30 days prior to a special
meeting of the board called for that purpose. A copy of such
notice shall be sent to the President and the Secretary of the
Synod and to the ecclesiastical supervisor, if applicable.
(b) Other than in the prior subsection (a), action for removal of
an officer of the Synod other than the President of the Synod shall
require written notice to each member of the Synod’s Board of
Directors at least 30 days prior to a special meeting of the Board
called for that purpose. A copy of such notice shall be sent to the
President and the Secretary of the Synod and to the ecclesiastical
supervisor, if applicable.
(c) The special meeting provided for herein shall be held no later
than 60 days after the provision of the written notice, unless
extended by the mutual agreement of the parties.
(d) Removal from office of an officer of a district, other than a
district president, shall be effected by a vote in favor of removal
by at least three-fourths of all current members of the district
board of directors (excluding the officer in question if a member
of the board); and