LCMS Handbook
Search public-safe Handbook navigation records by keyword, bylaw number, Constitution article, and convention topic.
Search
Bylaws | 1.5 | pp. 27-34
1.5 Regulations for Corporate Synod and Agencies of the Synod General 1.5.1 Board and commission members of all agencies shall be members of member congregations of the Synod. 1.5.1.1 Unless otherwise specified or permitted by the Bylaws, chief executives and executive directors, faculty, staff, and all other employees on either the national or district lev
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Bylaws | 1 | pp. 21-54
1. RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN AND THROUGH THE SYNOD 1.1 Purpose of the Synod 1.1.1 Committed to a common confession and mission, congregations of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod join with one another in the Synod to support one another and to work together in carrying out their commonly adopted objectives. The Synod is organized to work in support of and on be
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Bylaws | 3 | pp. 100-195
3. NATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES 3.1 National Conventions 3.1.1 The national convention of the Synod shall afford an opportunity for worship, nurture, inspiration, fellowship, and the communication of vital information. It is the principal legislative assembly, which amends the Constitution and Bylaws, considers and ta kes action on reports and
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 33 | p. 33
regents pursuant to Bylaw 1.5.7 (2), (8), or (9), the written notice shall be handled as follows: (1) The board of regents shall schedule and hold a special meeting as required under Bylaw 1.5.7.1 (a) and (b) and consider a recommendation for removal under Bylaw 1.5.7.1 (c) (1). (2) If the board of regents fails to take action or declines to recommend remova
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 27 | p. 27
(b) Staffs ordinarily serve as the liaison between the national and district levels. Staffs at the national and district levels consult with one another in developing program proposals. (c) Each chief executive or executive director shall report on staff activities and recommendations to the national Synod, district, agency, or officer to which that executiv
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 29 | p. 29
meetings. Unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws, each agency is free to select a manner of meeting, consistent with Board of Directors policy, that best enhances its ability to accomplish its mission, taking into consideration fostering the open exchang e of ideas, availability of technology to all members, stewardship of resources, perception of fairness
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 31 | p. 31
(1) All responses to requests for information involving research or compilation shall be billed to the member on the basis of actual costs. (2) Any inspection of financial records shall be done by (a) member(s) of the congregation or its stated authorized agent at a mutually agreeable time and place. (3) The board may decline to provide the information reque
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Bylaws | 3.1 | pp. 100-112
3.1 National Conventions 3.1.1 The national convention of the Synod shall afford an opportunity for worship, nurture, inspiration, fellowship, and the communication of vital information. It is the principal legislative assembly, which amends the Constitution and Bylaws, considers and ta kes action on reports and overtures, and handles appropriate appeals. It
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 9 | p. 9
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 th
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Bylaws | 1.10 | pp. 39-54
1.10 Dispute Resolution of the Synod Preamble 1.10.1 When disputes, disagreements, or offenses arise among members of the body of Christ, it is a matter of grave concern for the whole church. Conflicts that occur in the body should be resolved promptly ( Matt. 5:23– 24; Eph. 4:26 – 27). Parties to disputes are urged by the mercies of God to proceed with one
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 105 | p. 105
(b) If the district has no executive staff, it may select two members of its board of directors. 3.1.4.6 Each district may be represented by two youth representatives at conventions of the Synod. (a) Youth representatives may be selected as a district may specify. (b) They may speak at the request of a floor committee and with the permission of the chair. Re
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 125 | p. 125
3.6.1.4 Each governing board of a synodwide corporate entity shall elect its own chair, vice -chair, and secretary and such operating officers as may be necessary. 3.6.1.5 Synodwide corporate entities may create chief executive positions (who may be designated as an officer of the corporation) pursuant to Bylaw 1.2.1, and fill them in accordance with the Byl
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 142 | p. 142
Directors, since such power is finally vested in the Synod’s Board of Directors. (a) When the Board of Trustees — Concordia Plans is carrying out its functions with respect to any such separate plan, it may be designated as the board of trustees of such separate plan. (b) When the board is carrying out its functions generally, it may be designated as the “Bo
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 195 | p. 195
(6) be the object of an evaluation prepared by the Board of Directors of the Synod and submitted to the convention. 4.1.1.4 Transfer of congregations between districts is completed upon approval of the respective district boards of directors at the request of the congregation. 4.1.1.5 Transfer of congregations between partner churches requires the additional
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 4 | p. 4
1. RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN AND THROUGH THE SYNOD ................................................ 21 1.1 Purpose of the Synod ............................................................................................ 21 1.2 Definition of Terms ............................................................................................... 21 1.3 Synod Relation
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 28 | p. 28
operating under them. This policy shall include the following provisions: (1) Every board or commission member shall disclose to the chairman of the agency and all staff shall disclose to the chief executive or executive director of the agency any potential conflicts of interest. Each chairman or chief executive or executive directo r shall disclose personal
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 30 | p. 30
shall be transferred, consistent with applicable state and federal laws, as follows: (1) In the case of a synodwide corporate entity, district, university, college, or seminary, to The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod as may be more specifically described elsewhere in these Bylaws; (2) In the case of a corporation formed by an agency (as defined in these Byla
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 32 | p. 32
(3) Neglect or refusal to perform duties of office (4) No longer satisfying any of the qualifications for directors set forth in the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the entity as in effect at the beginning of the member’s term (5) Conviction of a felony (6) Failure to disclose conflicts of interest to the Synod or agency (7) Conduct evidencing a scand
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 34 | p. 34
(1) Incapacity (2) Breach of fiduciary responsibilities to the Synod or a district (3) Neglect or refusal to perform duties of office (4) Conviction of a felony 1.5.8.1 Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, the procedure for removal of an officer of the Synod or a district from office shall be as follows: (a) Action for removal of an officer of a distr
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 40 | p. 40
been reconciled to God through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Christ’s “ministry of reconciliation” is one of the church ’s foremost priorities. 1.10.1.4 Christian conflict resolution seeks to resolve disputed issues in a manner pleasing to God. Those in conflict are urged to proceed prayerfully in good faith and trust. Disputes are more likely
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 48 | p. 48
as the SOPM) by the secretary of the district to serve as reconciler in the following situations arising in the district: (a) Procedural questions involved in excommunication cases; (b) Cases in which a member of the Synod shall have been removed from the position that such member holds in a congregation that is a member of the Synod; (c) Cases in which a pe
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 49 | p. 49
facilitators shall be filled by the Secretary of the Synod from the Synod roster of reconcilers (whether already serving, before the convention, or, being newly appointed, after their post -convention training) after consultation with the appropriate district presidents. (b) Any vacancy in an unexpired term shall be filled in the same manner as described ab
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Bylaws | 2 | pp. 55-99
matters as advice and counsel as well as suspension of membership and forfeiture of it for failure to continue to meet membership requirements. In protecting the rights of members, provision has also been made for challenging those decisions by ecclesiastical supervisors that result in suspension or loss of membership and for restoration of membership when n
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 64 | p. 64
2.12.1.4 An individual member serving in a foreign location or as an active -duty military chaplain shall hold membership in the Synod through the district in which membership was held prior to installation as such, or in the case of a first call that is to foreign service, the Missouri District. 2.12.1.5 An individual member of the Synod serving in any oth
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 103 | p. 103
(c) Delegates are expected to be faithful in attendance at all sessions of the convention. All duly elected voting delegates shall attend all sessions regularly until the close of the convention. Delegates who arrive late or leave early or who do not attend at all shall present a written excuse. (d) Delegates shall report the actions of the Synod to their ci
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 135 | p. 135
(e.g., as in Bylaw 3.12.3.4 [c]) and suggesting for appointment those suitably qualified; (m) serve as a resource for regents’ development of and mandatory training in governance skills, especially as they relate to the carrying out of the mission of the Synod’s colleges and universities within the mission of the church, and foster regents’ growth in aspects
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Bylaws | 3.9 | pp. 145-154
3.9 Commissions 3.9.1 The commissions of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod are the following: 1. Commission on Constitutional Matters 2. Commission on Doctrinal Review 3. Commission on Handbook 4. Commission on Theology and Church Relations Commission on Constitutional Matters 3.9.2 The Commission on Constitutional Matters exists to interpret the Constitut
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
Page | 153 | p. 153
3.9.5.2.3 The executive committee of the commission shall, within 30 days, provide opinions on theological matters in response to questions presented by ecclesiastical supervisors or panels as described in the dispute resolution and suspension/expulsion processes of the Synod (Bylaw sections 1.10 and 2.14– 2.17). Because these opinions are in response to a s
Verify in official Handbook before formal use.
The LCMS Handbook is official LCMS governance material. This Field Guide provides navigation, search aids, references, and study helps. Readers should verify all quotations, procedures, and requirements against the official Handbook.
At 3:07 each day, remember John 15:7 and pray for Christ's Church, the convention, our leaders, and the work of the Gospel among us.
