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
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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
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Page | 146 | p. 146
Mission. Through the Chief Mission Officer, it shall also receive direction
from the President of the Synod on all aspects of its responsibilities.
3.8.3.6 The President’s supervisory responsibilities under Constitution Art. XI B
and Bylaws 3.3.1 .1– 3.3.1.3 will assure that the Office of International
Mission incorporates the doctrine, mission, and vision o
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Page | 148 | p. 148
3.9.2.2.3 The Commission on Constitutional Matters shall examine the articles of
incorporation, bylaws, and policy manuals of every agency of the Synod to
ascertain whether they are in harmony with the Constitution, Bylaws, and
resolutions of the Synod.
(a) Agencies intending to make amendments to articles of
incorporation or bylaws shall make such intention
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Page | 150 | p. 150
Lutheran Confessions, and withdraw the publication until such
agreement is reached.
(g) The panel will appoint one of its members to be the doctrinal
reviewer for the recycling of the revised material to assure the item ’s
agreement with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions if republished.
Commission on Handbook
3.9.4 The Commission on Handbook provides fo
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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
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Page | 147 | p. 147
(c) Thereafter, the appointments shall become effective upon
ratification by a majority vote of the members of the Council of
Presidents.
(d) Vacancies in appointed positions shall be filled by following the
procedure set forth above.
3.9.2.2 The Commission on Constitutional Matters shall interpret the Synod ’s
Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions upon the
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Page | 151 | p. 151
(c) It shall maintain a complete file of succeeding handbooks so that
comparison can be made between current provisions and those
preceding.
(d) It shall carry out assignments by conventions of the Synod relating
to the Handbook.
(e) It shall respond to requests from agencies of the Synod to propose
new provisions to address specific Handbook-related issues
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Page | 152 | p. 152
(f) Vacancies that occur in the positions that were filled by
appointment shall be filled by the same appointing body.
(g) In the case of vacancies that occur in positions that were filled by
election of a national convention of the Synod, the appointing body
shall be the Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod, which shall follow the nomi
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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
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Bylaws | 1.9 | pp. 36-39
1.9 Doctrinal Review
Definition
1.9.1 Doctrinal review is the exercise of the Synod ’s responsibility to determine
that every doctrinal statement made in its or any of its agencies’ or
auxiliaries’ materials is in accord with the Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions.
Material Subject to Doctrinal Review
1.9.1.1 The following materials are subject to doct
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Page | 39 | p. 39
(l) Should any problem arise between an author, the reviewer(s), the
publisher, or any other party involved with respect to the material
submitted for review, the sponsoring group shall endeavor to resolve it
to the satisfaction of the reviewer(s). If it cannot do so, the problem
shall be submitted to the Commission on Doctrinal Review which shall
follow the
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Page | 149 | p. 149
(c) To aid objectivity, the identity of author and review panel shall
ordinarily not be disclosed. However, consultation may at times be
necessary for clarification.
(d) In making its recommendation, the panel shall decide within 30
days whether the item in question
(1) is suitable for publication; or
(2) may be published after alteration; or
(3) may be publ
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Page | 7 | p. 7
3.6 Synodwide Corporate Entities ........................................................................... 124
General Principles ........................................................................................... 124
Concordia Historical Institute ....................................................................... 127
Concordia Publishing Hous
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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
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Page | 154 | p. 154
only Gospel set forth in the Holy Scriptures specifically as they carry out
their responsibilities relating to membership in societies, lodges, cults, or
any organizations of an unchristian or anti -Christian character to which
the Synod has declared itself firmly opposed.
(a) It shall provide information and counsel concerning organizations,
philosophies, a
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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.