Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 90
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 90.
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.
unanimous consent by the panel members for a short delay beyond such 45 days for reasons the panel deems appropriate.
2.16.7.5 The chairman of the Council of Presidents 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 provisions of Bylaws 2.16.3– 2.16.6.1.
2.16.7.6 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 a request for a final hearing 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 the fact that this bylaw procedure deals with the President of the Synod, which necessarily means that the case will most likely have a broad public exposure, the chairman of the Council of Presidents, at his discretion and in consul tation and concurrence with the Council of Presidents, may carry out actions to 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 the members of the Synod (Constitution Art.
III 8, 9).
2.16.7.7 Upon completion of the hearing, the Hearing Panel shall deliberate and
then issue its recommendation to the district presidents within 30 days, a copy of which shall be mailed to the accused President of the Synod, the chairman of the Council of Presidents, and the accuser.
Final Hearing
2.16.8 Prior to acting upon the recommendation of the Hearing Panel and if
requested within 15 days by the accused President of the Synod, the district presidents shall within 45 days of the request for the final hearing grant a final hearing before the full Council of Presidents.
(a) The guidelines for this final hearing shall be the same as prescribed in Bylaw 2.16.7.6.
(b) The President of the Synod and/or the district presidents may also request that an opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) or Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) be obtained. Any opinion so requested shall be rendered within 30 days or such greater time as the district presidents may allow. When an opinion has been requested, the time limitations will not apply until the parties to the matter have received the opinion. Any opinion received from either the CCM or the CTCR shall be followed.
(c) In acting upon the report and/or recommendation of the Hearing Panel, if any (a report may be given without an accompanying recommendation), an affirmative vote by written ball ot of at least 75 percent of the total number of district presidents of the Council of Presidents (the collective ecclesiastical supervisors elected by the districts) shall be required to submit the matter to the member
