Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 151
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 151.
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.
(c) It shall maintain a complete file of succeeding handbooks so that comparison can be made between current provisions and those preceding.
(d) It shall carry out assignments by conventions of the Synod relating to the Handbook.
(e) It shall respond to requests from agencies of the Synod to propose new provisions to address specific Handbook-related issues that surface between conventions. When responding to such requests, the role of the commission will be to assist requesting agenci es in formulating bylaw changes and not to develop and/or advocate specific substantive solutions or modifications to existing Handbook provisions.
Commission on Theology and Church Relations
3.9.5 The Commission on Theology and Church Relations exists to assist
congregations in achieving the objectives of Article III 1 and 6 of the Constitution of the Synod and to assist the President of the Synod in matters of church relationships.
3.9.5.1 The Commission on Theology and Church Relations shall consist of 16
voting and 4 advisory members:
Voting Members:
1. Two ordained ministers who are parish pastors
2. One commissioned minister who is a parish teacher
3. Two laypersons
4. Two additional ordained ministers (one of whom shall be a district president)
5. Two additional laypersons
6. Four seminary faculty members
7. Two additional members
8. A member from the faculties of the colleges and universities of the Synod Nonvoting Advisory Members:
9. The President and the First Vice-President of the Synod
10. The presidents of the St. Louis and Fort Wayne seminaries
3.9.5.1.1 The members of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations shall
be selected as follows:
(a) The two parish pastors, the parish teacher, and two laypersons shall be elected by a convention of the Synod.
(b) The two additional ordained ministers and the two additional laypersons shall be elected by ballot by the Council of Presidents (as in #4 and #5 above).
(c) The St. Louis and Fort Wayne seminary theological faculties shall each appoint or elect two members of their faculties (as in #6 above).
(d) The two additional members (as in #7 above) shall be appointed by the President of the Synod, in consultation with the vice-presidents.
(e) The member from the faculties of the colleges and universities of the Synod shall be appointed by the President of the Synod.
