Official Handbook Source Text

Foreword

The Handbook of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod contains the body of laws that our member congregations have set out to order our life together— a body of laws in service of the Gospel . This edition incorporates changes made by the 68 th Regular Convention of the Synod , meeting in Milwaukee, Wisc., July 29– August 3, 2023, to the Bylaws of the Synod.

Changes to the Bylaws include:

• Very significant changes have finally been brought to the structure and function of the Concordia University System and to bylaws related to its colleges and universities (Bylaw subsections 3.6.6 and 3.10.6; Bylaws 1.5.7.1 [f]; 2.8.1– 2.8.4.1;

2.9.1; 3.3.1.1.1 [c]; 3.3.1.2 [a]; 3.3.4.6; 3.3.4.10.1; 3.10.3.1– 3; 3.12.3.5 [e– f]; 3.12.3.7 — Res. 7 -04B and 7 -05A). As to these changes, the rationales of the two related resolutions are fine explanations, not readily condensed to a sentence or two.

• Requirements that agencies, auxiliaries, and recognized service organizations consult with district presidents in call processes have been distributed from Bylaw section 2.5 to the appropriate sections of the Bylaws (Bylaws 1.5.5.2; 2.5.1– 3; 6.1.2.1 [g– i]; 6.2.1 [d– e]; 6.2.2.2 — Res. 10-02).

• Appointment and removal processes for reconcilers and hearing facilitators have been clarified and elaborated (Bylaws 1.10.10.4; 1.10.12– 1.10.12.3 — Res. 10- 01 [A – C]) and minor clarifications have been made to appeal panel processes (Bylaws 2.14.8 [e]; 2.15.8 [e]; 2.17.8 [e] — Res. 10-01 [D]).

• Candidate status renewal and requirements have been revised (Bylaw 2.11.2.2 – Res. 10-06).

• District and circuit representation now accounts explicitly for multicongregation parishes involving congregations from different circuits or districts (Bylaws 3.1.2.1; 4.2.2 [c]; 5.3.2 [d] — Res. 9-01 [C]).

• Election procedures for circuit lay and pastoral delegates to the Synod convention have been revised (Bylaw 3.1.2.1 — Res. 9-05A), as have those for election of circuit visitors (Bylaw 5.2.2 [b] — Res. 9-02 [H]).

• District election bylaws have been clarified (Bylaw 4.7.3 — Res. 9-02 [G]).

• Selection procedures for advisory delegates (Bylaws 3.1.3 – 3.1.3.1 — Res. 9 -02 [B]) and for educational institution advisory representatives (Bylaw 3.1.4.2 [a] — Res. 9-02 [A]) have been revised and clarified.

• Appointment procedures for chief executives of synodwide corporate entities have been revised (Bylaw 3.6.1.5 — Res. 9-03), as have certain bylaws related to the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (Bylaws 3.6.4; 3.6.4.2.2; 3.6.4.4.1 — Res. 9- 02 [D] and 9-10A).

• Mission boards have received a new budget process function (Bylaws 3.8.2.1;

3.8.3.1 — Res. 9-04).

• Bylaws related to establishment of altar and pulpit fellowship have been clarified and simplified (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 — Res. 5-06).