Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 91
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 91.
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.
congregations of the Synod for a written vote in order to terminate the membership of the President of the Synod.
(d) If the result of the vote is not the required 75 percent of the total number of district presidents, the chairman of the Council of Presidents shall so inform the accuser and the President of the Synod, which shall terminate the matter, vacating the suspended status.
Decision by Congregations
2.16.9 Prior to submitting the matter to the congregations of the Synod, the
Council of Presidents shall provide and send full and complete information regarding the matter including such written responses as the President of the Synod may wish to make to the member congregations of the Synod.
This information shall also be published in an of ficial periodical of the Synod.
2.16.9.1 At least one -fourth of the member congregations are required to register
their vote within 45 days of the date that the matter was submitted to the member congregations of the Synod and also a majority vote of those congregations voting is required for the termination of membership of the President of the Synod.
2.16.9.2 If the decision by the member congregations is not to terminate, suspended
status shall be considered removed immediately upon the vote of the congregations.
2.16.9.3 If the decision results in the expulsion of the President of the Synod from
membership, the First Vice -President of the Synod shall carry out the decision, and the decision shall be publicized as deemed appropriate under the circumstances by the First Vice-President of the Synod. Article XI C 2 of the Constitution shall take effect immediately.
General Regulations
2.16.10 The decision of the district presidents or the member congregations shall
have no precedential value and shall be final and binding and not subject to further appeal.
2.16.10.1 The President of the Synod (the previous First Vice-President of the Synod)
shall take those steps necessary to assure that the spiritual needs of the terminated President of the Synod are attended to and shall continue efforts to resolve those m atters which led to the commencement of the formal action against him.
2.16.10.2 The Synod is encouraged to continue financial support, existing housing,
and insurance of the accused President of the Synod at least until the final decision is rendered.
2.16.10.3 Any district president participating in this bylaw procedure who 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 sections 2.14 o r 2.15. Violations of the prohibition against publicity while a matter is still undecided or while an appeal is contemplated or pending (Bylaw 2.16.7.6 [g] above) by any of the parties to the matter involved are specifically included as violations subject to the same disciplinary measures set forth in Bylaw sections 2.14 or 2.15.
2.16.10.4 In consultation with the Secretary of the Synod and with the concurrence
of the Council of Presidents, the Commission on Constitutional Matters
