Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 62
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 62.
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.
(d) An officer, executive, or professional staff member of the Synod, district, or other agency of the Synod.
(e) An executive or professional staff member serving a national interLutheran entity referred to in Bylaw 1.3.8.
(f) A missionary serving under a call by the Synod, including a call by a district.
(g) A person serving on the faculty or professional staff of an educational institution of the Synod.
(h) A military or institutional chaplain endorsed by the Synod.
(i) A person serving in a specialized ministry endorsed by the Synod or by one of its districts.
(j) An executive or professional staff member called or appointed by an auxiliary (Bylaw section 6.1) or recognized service organization (Bylaw section 6.2).
Inactive Members
2.11.2 Inactive members may be retained as members of the Synod.
(a) As such, they have all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of individual membership in the Synod as defined in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.
(b) To remain on the roster of the Synod as an inactive member, an ordained or commissioned minister of religion must be a communicant member in good standing of a congregation which is a member of the Synod and must qualify and make application for one of the following categories.
(c) A member whose active service terminates while awaiting installation to another accepted call to active service shall be retained on the roster as if holding candidate status.
(d) A member whose active service terminates without prior acceptance of another call to active service has 30 days, if ordained, and 120 days, if commissioned, to apply for inactive status (candidate or emeritus, as appropriate). Should inactive status not be applied for within said period, membership in the Synod is forfeited.
(e) The district president shall act on all applications within 90 days.
(f) A member may seek to reverse a denial of emeritus or candidate status, whether initial or continuing, by application for reinstatement to the roster of the Synod (Bylaw 2.18.1).
Emeritus
2.11.2.1 An “emeritus” member is one whose membership is held for retention on
the roster upon retirement after reaching the age of 55 or for reasons of total and permanent disability. Any unusual case shall be decided by the Council of Presidents if the appropriate district president so requests.
(a) The emeritus member or a representative identified by his district president shall, by January 31, make an annual report to the member ’s district president.
(b) This report shall include current contact information and address the criteria for remaining an inactive member of the Synod.
