Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 49
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 49.
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.
facilitators shall be filled by the Secretary of the Synod from the Synod roster of reconcilers (whether already serving, before the convention, or, being newly appointed, after their post -convention training) after consultation with the appropriate district presidents.
(b) Any vacancy in an unexpired term shall be filled in the same manner as described above.
1.10.12.1 Limitations on holding multiple offices (e.g., Bylaw 1.5.1.2) do not apply to
the position of hearing facilitator.
1.10.12.2 A hearing facilitator shall not serve as a reconciler or as a voting member of
a panel.
1.10.12.3 A hearing facilitator may be removed for cause according to the Bylaws and
the Standard Operating Procedures Manual from Synod’s roster of hearing facilitators by Synod’s Board of Directors upon report of the administrator of the dispute resolution process after consultation with the President of the Synod.
Dispute Resolution Panels
1.10.13 The Synod’s roster of reconcilers shall comprise the list from which dispute
resolution panel voting members will be selected.
1.10.13.1 Each Dispute Resolution Panel shall consist of three voting members, at
least one of whom shall be a minister of religion — ordained and one a layperson.
(a) Nine names shall be selected by a blind draw from the dispute resolution roster.
(b) No member of a panel shall be from the district in which the dispute arose or, if it is a Synod question, from any district in which a party holds membership. No two members of a panel shall be from the same district.
(c) The list shall be mailed simultaneously to each party, who shall be entitled to strike three names and return the list to the Secretary of the Synod within one week.
(d) The Secretary of the Synod shall correct any problem with the panel from the remaining names by blind draw according to the SOPM.
In the event that additional names are needed, three names will be selected in the manner set forth above and those names submitted to each party who shall have a right to strike one. In the event that there is more than one remaining, the Secretary shall determine the final member by a blind draw according to the SOPM from the remainder.
1.10.13.2 The hearing facilitator shall be selected as follows:
(a) Three names shall be selected by a blind draw according to the SOPM from the hearing facilitator roster.
(b) No hearing facilitator shall be from the district in which the dispute arose or from any district in which a party holds membership or from any of the panel members’ districts.
(c) The list shall be mailed simultaneously to each party, who shall be entitled to strike one name and return the list to the Secretary of the Synod within one week.
