Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 3
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 3.
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.
Contents FOREWORD ....................................................................................................... 9
CONSTITUTION OF
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD
PREAMBLE R EASON FOR THE FORMING OF A SYNODICAL UNION .............................11 ARTICLE I N AME .......................................................................................11 ARTICLE II C ONFESSION ...............................................................................11 ARTICLE III O BJECTIVES ................................................................................11 ARTICLE IV P OWERS ................................................................................... 12 ARTICLE V M EMBERSHIP ............................................................................ 12 A. Voting Members ........................................................................................................... 12 B. Individual Members .................................................................................................... 12 ARTICLE VI C ONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP ....................................................... 13 ARTICLE VII R ELATION OF THE SYNOD TO ITS MEMBERS ....................................... 13 ARTICLE VIII S YNODICAL MEETINGS ................................................................. 13 A. Time and Legality of Meetings ................................................................................... 13 B. Special Sessions of the Synod ..................................................................................... 14 C. Resolutions at Synodical Meetings ............................................................................ 14 ARTICLE IX R EPRESENTATION ....................................................................... 14 ARTICLE X O FFICERS .................................................................................. 14 ARTICLE XI R IGHTS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS ................................................... 15 A. In General ...................................................................................................................... 15 B. Duties of the President ................................................................................................ 15 C. Duties of the Vice-Presidents ..................................................................................... 16 D. Duties of the Secretary ................................................................................................ 16 E. Composition and Duties of the Board of Directors .................................................. 16 ARTICLE XII D ISTRICTS OF THE SYNOD AND THEIR REGULATION ............................. 16 ARTICLE XIII E XPULSION FROM THE SYNOD ........................................................ 18 ARTICLE XIV B YLAWS ................................................................................... 18 ARTICLE XV C HANGES IN, AND AMENDMENTS TO, THE CONSTITUTION ..................... 19
