Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 18
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 18.
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.
11. The districts, when legally incorporated, are represented before the State by a board of directors composed of the president, the secretary, and the treasurer of the district, which board, however, may be constituted otherwise.
12. The districts are independent in the administration of affairs which concern their district only, it being understood, however, that such administration shall always serve the interests of the Synod.
13. The regular sessions of the districts are held in the year immediately preceding the general convention of the Synod. Only the Synod has the right to make an exception to this rule.
14. For the legal holding of the sessions of the districts a constitutional convocation of such sessions and the presence of at least one -third of the voting members represented by at least one of their respective representatives (pastor or lay delegate) are required.
15. In cases of urgent necessity the district president is empowered to convene special sessions of his district; he must, however, previously have obtained consent of at least a majority of the voting members of the district after having informed them and the President of the Synod of the purpose of the intended special session.
Article XIII Expulsion from the Synod
1. Members who act contrary to the confession laid down in Article II and to the conditions of membership laid down in Article VI or persist in an offensive conduct, shall, after previous futile admonition, be expelled from the Synod.
2. Expulsion shall be executed only after following such procedure as shall be set forth in the Bylaws of the Synod.
3. If the member expelled is an ordained or commissioned minister serving a congregation of the Synod, such congregation, unless it has already done so, is held to depose him from office and to deal with him in accordance with the Word of God, notwithstanding an appeal. If it persistently refuses to do so, the respective district is to deal with it. If all negotiations and admonitions fail of their purpose, such congregation forfeits its membership in the Synod.
4. Because of their expulsion those so expelled forfeit their membership and all share in the property of the Synod. The latter holds good also with respect to those who for any reason themselves sever their connection with the Synod.
Article XIV Bylaws
The Synod in convention may adopt bylaws that are consistent with and do not contradict the Constitution of the Synod, which controls and supersedes such bylaws and all other rules and regulations of the Synod. Bylaws, which may be adopted, revised, or eliminated by a simple majority vote of a national convention, are binding regulations for the Synod and its conduct and governance.
