Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 83
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 83.
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.
there is unanimous consent by the panel members for a short delay beyond such 45 days for reasons the panel deems appropriate.
2.15.7.7 The Secretary of the Synod shall forward to the Hearing Panel the
statement of the matter together with the written memorandum describing the manner in which there was compliance with the guidelines provided in Matthew 18:15 – 16 and “previous futile admonition” (Constitution Art. XIII), as well as all of the provisions of Bylaws 2.15.3 –
2.15.6.1.
2.15.7.8 The Hearing Panel and all parties to the matter shall follow the guidelines
as set forth in Bylaw 2.14.7.8 with the exception of paragraph ( f) and instead shall follow this guideline in its place:
(f) 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 with one exception. Due to t he fact that this bylaw procedure deals with a district president or an officer of the Synod, which necessarily means that the case will most likely have a high public exposure, as the ecclesiastical supervisor the President of the Synod, at his discretion, may carry out his duties to properly advise the Synod as the 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 for all of the members of the Synod (Constitution Art. III 8, 9).
2.15.7.9 Upon completion of the hearing, the Hearing Panel shall deliberate and
then issue its written decision within 30 days.
(a) Copies of the decision shall be mailed to the accused, the accuser and the accuser’s district president, the Secretary of the Synod, the President of the Synod, and the suspending ecclesiastical supervisor, if other than the President of the Synod.
(b) The decision of the Hearing Panel shall be subject to appeal by the accused or the President of the Synod (as provided in Bylaw 2.15.8).
(c) The President of the Synod may request an opinion from the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) or the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR).
(1) Any opinion so requested shall be rendered within 30 days or such greater time as the panel may allow.
(2) When an opinion has been requested, time limitations will not apply until the parties to the matter have received the opinion.
(3) CCM and CTCR opinions must be followed if the matter is appealed.
(d) If not appealed, the decision of the Hearing Panel shall be regarded as final and shall
(1) be binding upon the parties to the matter and not be subject to further appeal;
(2) have no precedential value;
(3) be carried out by the district president or the President of the Synod; and
