Official Handbook Source Text

(3) Discretionary acts: The Appeal Panel may approve an appeal if there was a clear abuse of discretion impacting the decision of the Dispute Resolution Panel, resulting in a gross miscarriage of justice, or that involves an obvious and inappropriate bias or prejudice.

1.10.8.3 Within 30 days after its formation, the Appeal Panel shall issue its written

decision in response to the request for reconsideration.

1.10.8.4 If an appeal is granted, the Secretary of the Synod, or his representative,

shall, within 21 days, select a Review Panel in the prescribed manner (Bylaws 1.10.15ff.). The Review Panel shall generally decide the issue by following the procedure use d by a Dispute Resolution Panel (Bylaws

1.10.7ff.) but may decide the issue on the record without further formal hearing if deemed sufficient and appropriate.

1.10.8.5 The final decision of the Review Panel shall

(a) be binding upon the parties to that dispute and not be subject to further appeal;

(b) have no precedential value;

(c) be carried out by the appropriate person, group, or member of the Synod; and

(d) be publicized as deemed appropriate under the circumstances by the district president or the President of the Synod.

Congregation’s Right of Self-Government

1.10.9 The congregation’s right of self-government shall be recognized. However,

when a decision of a congregation is at issue, a Dispute Resolution Panel may review the decision of the congregation according to the Holy Scriptures and shall either uphold the action of the congregation or advise the congregation to review and revise its decision. If the congregation does not revise its decision, the other congregations of the Synod shall not be required to respect this decision, and the district involved shall take action with respect to the congregation as it may deem appropriate.

District Reconcilers

1.10.10 E ach district board of directors shall appoint and maintain a district roster

of four reconcilers (ministers of religion— ordained, ministers of religion— commissioned, and laypersons), no more than two of whom shall be ministers of religion— ordained, from a list supplied by the circuit visitors of the district. The Synod shall provide appropriate training within six months following each national Synod convention.

1.10.10.1 The term of service of a reconciler shall be six years, renewable immediately

following every even- numbered regular Synod convention (e.g., 64th in 2010, 66th in 2016 , 68th in 2023 , etc.) without term limitations.

Reconcilers shall be people “of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). Vacancies shall be filled by the district board of directors in the same manner as regular appointments . The district board of directors may add to the district roster of reconcilers a reconciler who has moved into the district from another district.

1.10.10.2 One of the four shall be chosen by blind draw according to the procedures

set forth in the Standard Operating Procedures Manual (hereafter referred to