Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 52
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 52.
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.
shall be from the same district. If more names remain than are needed, the final selection shall be made by blind draw.
(d) In the event that additional names are needed, three names shall again be selected in the manner set forth above, which names shall be submitted to each party with the right to strike one name before returning the list to the Secretary of the Synod within one week.
1.10.16.3 An individual who has served as a reconciler in a matter shall not be a
member of the Dispute Resolution Panel in the same matter.
Decisions
1.10.17 The Dispute Resolution Panel, Appeal Panel, or Review Panel shall issue a
decision based on a majority vote of the panel.
(a) A majority of the panel members shall be involved in all stages of the decision-making process.
(b) The hearing facilitator shall serve as an advisor to the panel on the form but not the substance of the decision.
(c) In the event that a majority decision cannot be reached, a new panel shall be formed immediately in accordance with the Bylaws and the matter reheard.
Rules of Procedure
1.10.18 Reconcilers, Dispute Resolution Panels, Appeal Panels, and Review Panels
shall be governed in all their actions by Holy Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, and the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.
1.10.18.1 The following rules of procedure shall be followed:
(a) In the interest of promoting the reconciliation process, any member of the Synod, officer of a congregation, or officer of the Synod or an agency of the Synod shall, when called upon by a Dispute Resolution Panel, Appeal Panel, or Review Panel to do so, testify or produce records related to the dispute.
(b) Each party and/or parties to a dispute shall assume its/their own expenses. The expenses of reconcilers, Dispute Resolution Panels, and Review Panels shall be borne by the Synod, except for those that arise under Bylaw 1.10.10.2, which shall be borne by the district.
(c) No party and/or parties to a dispute or anyone on the party’s behalf shall either directly or indirectly communicate with the reconciler, the hearing facilitator, or any member of the Dispute Resolution Panel, Appeal Panel, or Review Panel without the full knowledge of the other party to the dispute.
(d) While the matter is still undecided or while an appeal is contemplated or pending, publicity shall not be given to the issues in the matter by any of the persons involved during any part of the procedures outlined in this bylaw. However, at his discretion and as needs dictate in order to “promote and maintain unity of doctrine and practice” ( Constitution Art. XI B 3) and in order to provide counsel, care, and protection to all the members of the Synod (Constitution Art.
III 8, 9), the President of the Synod or the district president in consultation with the President of the Synod, as the case may be, may
