Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 86
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 86.
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) be publicized as deemed appropriate under the circumstances by the President of the Synod.
General Regulations
2.15.10 The President of the Synod shall take those steps necessary to assure that
the spiritual needs of the respective members (accuser and accused) are attended to and shall continue efforts to resolve those matters which led to the commencement of the formal action against the accused member.
2.15.10.1 Since this matter involves individual membership, the calling or
contracting body is encouraged to continue financial support, existing housing, and insurance of individual members until the final decision is rendered.
2.15.10.2 Any member participating in this bylaw procedure that violates any of the
requirements or procedures in this bylaw or is persistent in false accusations is subject to the same disciplinary measures as set forth in Bylaw section 2.14 or this Bylaw section 2.15. Violations of the prohibition against publicity while a matter is still undecided or while an appeal is contemplated or pending (Bylaw 2.15.7.8 [g] above) by any of the persons involved are specifically included as violations subject to the same disciplinary measures set forth in this bylaw section or Bylaw section 2.14.
2.15.10.3 In consultation with the Secretary of the Synod and with the concurrence
of the Council of Presidents, the Commission on Constitutional Matters shall amend as necessary the Standard Operating Procedures Manual that serves as a comprehensive procedures manual for the provisions set forth in Bylaw section 2.15.
2.16 Expulsion of a President of the Synod
from Membership in the Synod
2.16.1 The action to commence expulsion of a President of the Synod from
membership in the Synod is the responsibility of the district presidents of the Council of Presidents, who collectively comprise the ecclesiastical supervisors of all the respective district s of the Synod. This responsibility does not make the district presidents collectively or individually the ecclesiastical supervisor(s) of the President of the Synod. The Synod in convention reserves that right to itself alone. This Bylaw section 2.16, among others, provides the procedures to carry out Article XIII of the Constitution, “Expulsion from the Synod.” While the Council of Presidents commences and facilitates the process of expulsion on behalf of the congregations of the Synod, this bylaw allows only the congregations of the Synod to expel a P resident of the Synod. This bylaw does not provide the procedure for the expulsion of a district president or an officer of the Synod (Bylaw section 2.15), an individual member in cases involving sexual misconduct or criminal behavior (Bylaw section 2.17), or a congregation or individual member from the Synod (Bylaw section 2.14).
Definition of Terms
2.16.2 For a definition of terms used in this bylaw, see the “Definition of Terms”
under Bylaw 2.14.2.
