Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 148
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 148.
This page reproduces text from the 2023 LCMS Handbook for study and navigation. Readers should verify procedural, legal, parliamentary, or governance questions against the official LCMS Handbook and appropriate LCMS authorities.
3.9.2.2.3 The Commission on Constitutional Matters shall examine the articles of
incorporation, bylaws, and policy manuals of every agency of the Synod to ascertain whether they are in harmony with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod.
(a) Agencies intending to make amendments to articles of incorporation or bylaws shall make such intentions known and receive approval from the commission in advance.
(b) A district in convention may vote to amend its articles or bylaws provided the resolution is contingent on approval of the Commission on Constitutional Matters. The amended articles or bylaws become effective immediately upon, and only upon, approval of the Commission on Constitutional Matters. Should the Commission on Constitutional Matters not approve the adopted changes, the district Board of Directors may modify the amendments to comply with the Commission on Constitutional Matters requirements upon the ir twothirds vote.
(c) The commission shall maintain a file of the articles of incorporation, bylaws, and policy manuals of all agencies of the Synod.
Commission on Doctrinal Review
3.9.3 The Commission on Doctrinal Review exists to assist the President of the
Synod in the exercise of his responsibility that all doctrinal content in its or any of its agencies ’ materials be in accord with the Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.
3.9.3.1 The Commission on Doctrinal Review shall consist of five members
appointed by the President of the Synod from the total number of doctrinal reviewers.
(a) The commission shall elect its own officers.
(b) The commission shall effect its own organization.
3.9.3.2 The Commission on Doctrinal Review functions in accordance with Bylaw
section 1.9 and shall meet as often as necessary to provide guidelines for the work of doctrinal reviewers and to concern itself with problem areas in the procedures of doctrinal review and appeals.
Appeals Prior to Publication
3.9.3.2.1 Appeals regarding materials not yet published may be initiated by an
author, the sponsoring group, or an executive staff member of that group and submitted to the chairman of the Commission on Doctrinal Review.
(a) Within seven business days after receipt of an appeal, the chairman of the Commission on Doctrinal Review shall inform all concerned and shall appoint three members of the commission to serve as a review panel and shall designate one as its chairman. A pan el me mber shall disqualify himself on the basis of any kind of personal involvement in the issue.
(b) The review panel shall provide a copy of the appeal to the author and the sponsoring group and invite them to provide a response to the appeal. All parties to the appeal shall be given 14 days to provide their response.
