Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 31
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 31.
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.
(1) All responses to requests for information involving research or compilation shall be billed to the member on the basis of actual costs.
(2) Any inspection of financial records shall be done by (a) member(s) of the congregation or its stated authorized agent at a mutually agreeable time and place.
(3) The board may decline to provide the information requested if the board can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the member congregation’s request is with the specific intent to cause harm to the Synod or one of its agencies or with the sole intent of deliberately and significantly disrupting the operations and affairs of the Synod or one of its agencies.
(4) Any declination to provide information or decision to limit inspection shall be explained in writing.
(5) Challenges to any board decisions declining to provide information or to limit inspection may be reviewed under the Synod’s dispute resolution process.
Agency Operations
1.5.5 Every agency shall operate under the general human resources policies of
the Synod as provided by the Board of Directors of the Synod, in accordance with Bylaw 3.3.4.3. Specific policies under these general policies may be adopted by each agency’s governing board in order to accommodate the unique character of its operations.
1.5.5.1 All agencies shall develop policies regarding their relations with staffs in
accordance with general human resources policies provided by the Board of Directors of the Synod.
1.5.5.2 When calling ordained or commissioned ministers, agencies shall seek the
counsel of the district president who would, by virtue of the call, assume ecclesiastical supervision of the minister (Bylaw section 2.12). If the call is such that the district president to assume ecclesiastical supervision is not known, the counsel of the president of the district within which the agency is located or with which it is associated shall be sought.
Agency Conflict Resolution
1.5.6 Dissent to decisions made by an agency shall ordinarily be expressed
within the structure of that agency.
1.5.6.1 Administrative and programmatic conflicts between agencies of corporate
Synod, between such agencies and the synodwide corporate entities, and between synodwide corporate entities shall be dealt with by the parties concerned in a Christian manner with the assistance of the President of the Synod.
Removal of Individual Members from Board or Commission Membership
1.5.7 Individual members of the Synod’s commissions and the boards of its
agencies, as well as the individual members of its Board of Directors, shall discharge the duties of their offices in good faith. The following are considered cause for removal pursuant to this bylaw:
(1) Incapacity
(2) Breach of fiduciary responsibilities to the Synod or agency
