Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 56
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 56.
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 submit the application and a full report concerning its denial to the next regularly scheduled convention of the district, which shall determine whether to grant the application or to affirm the denial.
2.3.2 A copy of the signed constitution shall be forwarded to the secretary of the
district. Acceptance by the district board of directors shall be reported to the next regularly scheduled convention of the district. The signatures to the constitution on behalf of the congregation shall be preserved by the district secretary and the year in which the congregation is received into membership shall be noted.
2.4 Continued Eligibility of Congregations
2.4.1 A congregation desiring to retain membership in The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod shall continue to have a constitution and bylaws approved by the Synod.
(a) A member congregation which desires to revise its constitution and/or bylaws shall, as a condition of continued eligibility as a member of the Synod, submit a proposed revised constitution and/or revised bylaws to the district president.
(b) The district president shall refer such to the district constitution committee for review to ascertain that the provisions are in harmony with the Holy Scriptures, the Confessions, and the teachings and practices of the Synod.
(c) Upon advice of the constitution committee and recommendation by the district president, the district board of directors shall determine if the changes are acceptable to the Synod.
(d) Upon favorable action by the district board of directors, the congregation shall be notified that the changes are acceptable to the Synod, and the congregation may proceed with formal adoption of the revised constitution and/or bylaws and remain a member i n good standing of the Synod.
(e) Upon formal adoption of the proposed revised constitution and/or bylaws, the congregation shall provide to the district a dated copy of the action taken, accompanied by a copy of the dated revised constitution and bylaws.
(f) Until a congregation formally adopts a revised constitution and/or bylaws using this process, the Synod shall consider the existing constitution and bylaws to be in effect for all purposes.
2.4.2 A copy of the signed constitution shall be forwarded to the secretary of the
district. Acceptance by the district board of directors shall be reported to the next regularly scheduled convention of the district.
2.5 Calling Ministers of Religion
2.5.1 Congregations and their association schools shall seek the counsel of their
respective district president when calling ordained or commissioned ministers.
2.5.2 Congregations that are members of the Synod and their association schools
shall call and be served only by (1) ordained ministers who have been
