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Bylaws | 3 | pp. 100-195

National Organization and Responsibilities

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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Constitution | Article XII | pp. 16-18

Districts

Article XII Districts of the Synod and Their Regulation 1. The Synod is divided into districts, the geographical boundaries of which are determined by the Synod and are altered by it according to circumstances. 2. This Constitution is also the constitution of each district of the Synod; however, each district is at liberty to adopt such bylaws and pass such

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Bylaws | 4 | pp. 196-202

District Organization

(b) The ecclesiastical supervision of a new church start, satellite worship site, or any ministry established by a congregation in another district shall be decided by the affected district presidents. 4.1.7 Officers of the district shall have primary responsibility for district implementation of decisions of the Synod at the national level as they apply at

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Page | 17 | p. 17

Handbook page 17

c. As many circuit visitors as each district may determine upon d. A district secretary e. A district treasurer, who may be elected by the district convention or appointed in such manner as the district may prescribe 4. Additional officers, boards, and commissions are elected by the districts as they are required for the execution of the business of the dist

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Bylaws | 1 | pp. 21-54

Relationships Within and Through the Synod

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 | 6 | pp. 208-214

Auxiliary and Recognized Service Organizations

6. AUXILIARY AND RECOGNIZED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS 6.1 Auxiliaries 6.1.1 An auxiliary exists as an arm of the Synod and has as its primary function aiding the Synod, specifically in programs that extend the ministry and mission of the Synod. Auxiliary status is presently limited to the International Lutheran Laymen’ s League and the Lutheran Women’ s Missiona

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Bylaws | 4.2 | pp. 196-197

District Conventions

4.2 District Conventions 4.2.1 Conventions of the districts shall afford opportunities for worship, nurture, inspiration, fellowship, and the communication of vital information. They are the principal legislative assemblies, which amend the district’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, consider and take action on reports and overtures, and handle appropri

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Bylaws | 2 | pp. 55-99

Membership

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

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Bylaws | 3.3 | pp. 112-124

President and Officers

3.2.4.2 All members of all boards and commissions of the Synod shall be ineligible for re-election or re -appointment to the same board or commission after serving a total of two successive six -year elected terms or three successive appointed or elected three -year terms, unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws. (a) Such persons may become eligible again fo

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Page | 185 | p. 185

Handbook page 185

(a) The board shall aid districts in motivating individuals, congregations, and organizations in acquiring investments for church extension in a systematic manner. (b) The board shall strive to coordinate and obtain uniformity in the church extension programs of the districts. (c) The board shall provide leadership in advance site acquisition for further exp

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Bylaws | 3.12 | pp. 186-194

Nominations and Elections

3.12 Nominations and Elections Regional Elections 3.12.1 For all elections requiring regional representation, the Board of Directors of the Synod and the Council of Presidents acting jointly shall designate five geographic regions. (a) Regions shall be designated 24 months prior to conventions of the Synod and shall take into consideration geogra phical and

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Bylaws | 5 | pp. 203-207

Circuits

5. CIRCUITS 5.1 Visitation Circuits 5.1.1 A visitation circuit is a network of congregations that “walks together ” for mutual care, support, advice, study, ecclesiastical encouragement, service, coordination, resources, and counsel — all for the sake of greater congregational participation in God’s mission. 5.1.2 Districts shall establish visitation circuit

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Page | 225 | p. 225

Handbook page 225

as agency of the Synod. See Agency of the Synod concurrence on standard operating procedures, 70, 79, 86, 91, 99 designation of coordinative roles for Office of National Mission, 144 policies non-member congregational service, 61 presidential consultation, 106, 113 records retention and transfer, 127 Deaconesses. See Ministers of religion— commissioned Defin

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Page | 15 | p. 15

Handbook page 15

3. Any officer or any member of any board or commission ceases to be an officer of the Synod or a member of any board or commission as soon as he ceases to be a member of a congregation affiliated with the Synod. Article XI Rights and Duties of Officers A. In General 1. The officers of the Synod must assume only such rights as have been expressly conferred u

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Constitution | Article XI | pp. 15-16

Rights and Duties of Officers

Article XI Rights and Duties of Officers A. In General 1. The officers of the Synod must assume only such rights as have been expressly conferred upon them by the Synod, and in everything pertaining to their rights and the performance of their duties they are responsible to the Synod. 2. The Synod at all times has the right to call its officers to account an

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Page | 18 | p. 18

Handbook page 18

11. The districts, when legally incorporated, are represented before the State by a board of directors composed of the president, the secretary, and the treasurer of the district, which board, however, may be constituted otherwise. 12. The districts are independent in the administration of affairs which concern their district only, it being understood, howev

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Page | 24 | p. 24

Handbook page 24

Bylaws, the “synodwide corporate entities” of the Synod are the following corporations: (1) Concordia Historical Institute (2) Concordia Publishing House (3) Lutheran Church Extension Fund— Missouri Synod (4) Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod Foundation (5) Concordia University System The term “synodwide corporate entity” is not used in these Bylaws to include

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Bylaws | 1.10 | pp. 39-54

Dispute Resolution

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

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Page | 194 | p. 194

Handbook page 194

required background check, the office will be deemed vacant and will be filled according to Bylaw 3.2.5. 3.12.4.3 The Committee on Elections shall report the official results of each election to the convention and shall file a written report of the tabulation of votes of each election, certified by the chairman and at least one other member of the committee,

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Page | 16 | p. 16

Handbook page 16

by presidential letter and has been published in an official periodical of the Synod. If such matters are related to the business affairs of the Synod, such a vote shall be conducted only after the President has consulted with the synodical Board of Directors. In all cases at least one -fourth of the member congregations must register their vote. C. Duties

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Page | 155 | p. 155

Handbook page 155

(c) The responsibility of conscientious pastoral care recognizes that a pastor will occasionally encounter an exceptional case in which he is called on to administer Holy Communion to a person who is outwardly connected with such an organization. Such exceptio nal cases ordinarily involve an individual who (1) has accepted the pastoral care of the congregati

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Page | 196 | p. 196

Handbook page 196

(b) The ecclesiastical supervision of a new church start, satellite worship site, or any ministry established by a congregation in another district shall be decided by the affected district presidents. 4.1.7 Officers of the district shall have primary responsibility for district implementation of decisions of the Synod at the national level as they apply at

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Page | 211 | p. 211

Handbook page 211

(e) A recognized service organization shall call only those commissioned ministers or candidates designated by Bylaw 2.5.3. (f) A recognized service organization operating domestically respects the role of all districts impacted by its mission planning. A recognized service organization shall pursue church planting or establishment of preaching stations/miss

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Page | 224 | p. 224

Handbook page 224

ecclesiastical supervision of. See Ecclesiastical supervision election of the President by, 187 eligibility and application for membership, 13, 55– 56 expulsion of, 18, 67– 79 members of, 24 membership in the Synod, 12– 13, 24– 25, See further Membership in the Synod nominations by, 186, 188 relation to circuit, 25, 203–7 relation to circuit visitor, 203–5 r

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Page | 63 | p. 63

Handbook page 63

Candidate 2.11.2.2 A “candidate” member is one who is eligible to perform the duties of any of the offices of ministry specified in Bylaw section 2.11 but who is not currently an active member or an emeritus member. (a) A candidate may be continued on the roster for a period not to exceed ten years by act of the president of the district through which the pe

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Page | 113 | p. 113

Handbook page 113

Powers and Duties – Ecclesiastical 3.3.1.1 As the chief ecclesiastical officer of the Synod, the President shall supervise the doctrine taught and practiced in the Synod, including all synodwide corporate entities. 3.3.1.1.1 The President of the Synod has ecclesiastical supervision of all officers of the Synod and its agencies, the individual districts of th

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Page | 130 | p. 130

Handbook page 130

(b) Amendments shall be reported to the next convention of the Synod. 3.6.4.1 The assets and liabilities of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund — Missouri Synod are separate and distinct from those of the Synod and its assets cannot be used to satisfy the liabilities and obligations of the Synod. 3.6.4.1.1 In the event the Lutheran Church Extension Fund— Miss

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Page | 189 | p. 189

Handbook page 189

individual members of the Synod, along with lay persons of the congregations of the Synod. Nominations may be received from persons or parties outside the region. (c) All nominees for a particular regional position must reside within the boundaries of the region for which they are nominated. (d) All incumbents eligible for reelection shall be considered to b

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Page | 197 | p. 197

Handbook page 197

(b) All duly elected voting delegates shall attend all sessions of the convention regularly until the close of the convention. (c) Should a multi -congregation parish involve congregations having membership in different districts, the pastoral delegate shall be accredited in the convention of the district in which he holds membership and lay delegates, votin

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Page | 200 | p. 200

Handbook page 200

4.4.8 The district president shall , with the assistance of his district’s circuit visitors, promote and pursue unanimous participation by congregations in the submission of annual statistical reports as an expectation of membership in the Synod. 4.5 District Boards of Directors 4.5.1 Each district shall elect a board of directors, the size and composition o

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Page | 203 | p. 203

Handbook page 203

5. CIRCUITS 5.1 Visitation Circuits 5.1.1 A visitation circuit is a network of congregations that “walks together ” for mutual care, support, advice, study, ecclesiastical encouragement, service, coordination, resources, and counsel — all for the sake of greater congregational participation in God’s mission. 5.1.2 Districts shall establish visitation circuit

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Bylaws | 5.3 | pp. 205-207

Circuit Forums

5.3 Circuit Forums 5.3.1 The circuit forum is the group which aids the process of keeping congregations, particularly the lay leaders, commissioned ministers, and pastors, supportive of one another in their common confession and mutually active in developing programs for the good of member congregations, in considering and recommending new work, and in sug

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Page | 208 | p. 208

Handbook page 208

6. AUXILIARY AND RECOGNIZED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS 6.1 Auxiliaries 6.1.1 An auxiliary exists as an arm of the Synod and has as its primary function aiding the Synod, specifically in programs that extend the ministry and mission of the Synod. Auxiliary status is presently limited to the International Lutheran Laymen’ s League and the Lutheran Women’ s Missiona

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Page | 212 | p. 212

Handbook page 212

status recognizing different degrees of churchly governance and support and commensurate expectations for performance of activities and realization of mutual benefits. 6.2.2.2 The right to extend a Synod-recognized, regular call to a rostered worker is afforded to the board of directors of a recognized service organization, provided that: (a) The board’s com

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Page | 219 | p. 219

Handbook page 219

INDEX Organization of this Index: Please note that many of the entries are “chained” so that the item sought can be considered in context; for example, the entry for “Board for International Mission” leads you to the entry for “Mission Boards of the Synod” to give the reader the opportunity to find not only the adjacent “Mission Offices of the Synod” but als

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Page | 9 | p. 9

Handbook page 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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Constitution | Article VII | p. 13

Relation of the Synod to Its Members

Article VII Relation of the Synod to Its Members 1. In its relation to its members the Synod is not an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or coercive powers, and with respect to the individual congregation’s right of self -government it is but an advisory body. Accordingly, no resolution of the Synod imposing anything upon the individual congre

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Constitution | Article XV | pp. 19-20

Changes in, and Amendments to, the Constitution

Article XV Changes in, and Amendments to, the Constitution 1. Changes in the Constitution and amendments thereto may be made provided they do not conflict with the provisions laid down in Article II and in Article VI. 2. All proposed changes and amendments must be submitted in writing to the Synod assembled in convention, and each proposed change shall be vo

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Page | 19 | p. 19

Handbook page 19

Article XV Changes in, and Amendments to, the Constitution 1. Changes in the Constitution and amendments thereto may be made provided they do not conflict with the provisions laid down in Article II and in Article VI. 2. All proposed changes and amendments must be submitted in writing to the Synod assembled in convention, and each proposed change shall be vo

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Page | 25 | p. 25

Handbook page 25

and work together and which the congregations alone have the authority to adopt or amend through conventions. 1.3.4.2 Members of the Synod, compelled by love for one another, accept the responsibility to support financially the work of the Synod. 1.3.4.3 Congregations of the Synod, to enable the Synod to plan current and future ministry efforts and to lend a

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Page | 48 | p. 48

Handbook page 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

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Page | 49 | p. 49

Handbook page 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

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Page | 51 | p. 51

Handbook page 51

or from any of the panel members’ districts. The hearing facilitator shall not have assisted the previous Hearing Panel. (c) The list shall be mailed simultaneously to each party, who shall be entitled to strike one name and return the list to the Secretary of the Synod within one week. (d) The Secretary of the Synod shall correct any problem with the panel

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Page | 53 | p. 53

Handbook page 53

properly advise or inform the involved congregation(s) and/or the district or Synod as to the status of the process. (e) Any party and/or parties to a dispute may seek, at its/their own personal expense, the assistance of individuals familiar with the issues involved in the dispute. They may actively participate in research and the preparation of necessary d

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Page | 62 | p. 62

Handbook page 62

(d) An officer, executive, or professional staff member of the Synod, district, or other agency of the Synod. (e) An executive or professional staff member serving a national inter- Lutheran entity referred to in Bylaw 1.3.8. (f) A missionary serving under a call by the Synod, including a call by a district. (g) A person serving on the faculty or profession

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Page | 88 | p. 88

Handbook page 88

the above provision (paragraph 2.16.3). In commencing such action, the chairman of the Council of Presidents: (a) Shall determine whether Bylaw 2.16.3 provisions have been carried out and shall thoroughly investigate the matter to determine whether the facts learned from his investigation form a basis for expulsion of the President of the Synod under Article

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Page | 90 | p. 90

Handbook page 90

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

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Bylaws | 3.1 | pp. 100-112

National Conventions

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

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Page | 108 | p. 108

Handbook page 108

(c) The President of the Synod shall indicate which convention committees must meet before the convention opens and shall notify the convention manager, who shall provide pre -convention housing and meeting facilities for them. All direct expenses incurred by t hese pre-convention meetings shall be borne by the Synod. (d) The primary sources of income which

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Page | 119 | p. 119

Handbook page 119

require modification or revocation thereof, except opinions of the Commission on Constitutional Matters. (b) Corporate Synod’s budgeting process and the budget itself shall be designed to support the worldwide mission and ministry of the Synod. (1) The board shall establish policies and guidelines relating to the preparation of the annual budget. (2) The boa

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Page | 120 | p. 120

Handbook page 120

property of the Synod as is generally vested in and imposed upon a board of directors of a corporation. (a) It shall, however, delegate to district boards of directors the authority to buy, sell, and encumber real and personal property in the ordinary course of performing the functions which the district carries on for the Synod in accord with general polic

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Page | 121 | p. 121

Handbook page 121

3.3.4.10.1 Although the Board of Directors does not have supervisory authority over the Synod’s colleges and universities and therefore cannot control or direct the management, administration, and governance decisions of the Synod’s colleges and universities, it does have responsibilities under Article XI E 2 of the Constitution and these Bylaws. In carryin

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Page | 128 | p. 128

Handbook page 128

Department of Archives and History within six months after they leave office. Such transfer shall be done under the auspices of the Department of Archives and History’s staff and in consultation with the successor in the office. (e) Such minutes, files, records, and reports shall ordinarily be transferred to the archives at the expiration of not more than 15

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Page | 131 | p. 131

Handbook page 131

extension activities, such as knowledge of real estate, management, and financial planning. 3.6.4.4 The Lutheran Church Extension Fund — Missouri Synod shall raise funds primarily through the issuance of corporate notes and other debt instruments. 3.6.4.4.1 The assets of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund — Missouri Synod shall be used exclusively to provide

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Page | 132 | p. 132

Handbook page 132

2. The chairman of the Board for National Mission or his representative from that board 3. At least seven members appointed by the members, as provided in the Bylaws of the Foundation 4. The President of the Synod or his representative 5. The representative designated by the Board of Directors of the Synod as a nonvoting member The members of the Board of T

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Page | 135 | p. 135

Handbook page 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

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Page | 143 | p. 143

Handbook page 143

• youth ministry Upon recommendation of the Office of National Mission, the Board for National Mission shall serve as a calling agency for institutional and agency chaplains and other non- foreign specialized ministers (e.g., Veterans Administration chaplains, Bureau of Prison chaplains, hospital chaplains, pastoral counselors, and teachers of chaplaincy an

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Page | 144 | p. 144

Handbook page 144

• church planting and revitalization • youth ministry 3.8.2.5 In carrying out its mission responsibilities, the Office of National Mission shall receive its primary focus from the mission and ministry emphases developed triennially by the national Synod in convention and from the policies developed and determined by the Board for National Mission. Through th

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Page | 169 | p. 169

Handbook page 169

of the question(s). The request for an opinion must be made within 30 days of the final formation of the review committee. If a party does not request such an opinion within the designated time, such a request may still be made to the review committee, which shall, at its discretion, determine whether the request shall be forwar ded. The review committee sh

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Page | 184 | p. 184

Handbook page 184

3.10.6.9.3 A formal procedure shall be in place to carry out performance reviews for all faculty on a regular basis. 3.10.6.9.4 Other than honorable retirement, termination of faculty employment may only be the result of the following: (a) professional incompetency; (b) incapacity for the performance of duty; (c) insubordination; (d) neglect of or refusal to

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Page | 186 | p. 186

Handbook page 186

3.12 Nominations and Elections Regional Elections 3.12.1 For all elections requiring regional representation, the Board of Directors of the Synod and the Council of Presidents acting jointly shall designate five geographic regions. (a) Regions shall be designated 24 months prior to conventions of the Synod and shall take into consideration geogra phical and

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Page | 190 | p. 190

Handbook page 190

Iowa East Ohio Kansas Rocky Mountain Michigan South Wisconsin Mid-South Southeastern Minnesota North Pacific Southwest Montana Southern Illinois New England Texas 3.12.3.3 One-half of the electing districts shall be designated by the Secretary of the Synod to elect a professional church worker and the other half a layperson, with roles reversed every six yea

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Page | 191 | p. 191

Handbook page 191

candidates from the list of nominees gathered by the nominations process. (d) In the case of boards of directors of synodwide corporate entities, the committee shall consult with the governing boards of each synodwide corporate entity, through their chief executive, to receive input for the committee’s consideration. (e) In the case of the boards of regents

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Page | 195 | p. 195

Handbook page 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

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Page | 201 | p. 201

Handbook page 201

4.7 District Nominations, Elections, and Appointments 4.7.1 Each district may adopt regulations for the nomination and election of its president; the nomination, selection, election, ranking, and succession in case of vacancies of its vice-presidents; and the nomination or selection of any regional officers or regional board of directors members, as long as

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Page | 202 | p. 202

Handbook page 202

office of the district president for review and for the district ’s record within one month following such conference. (d) Professional conferences have no administrative functions in the Synod. 4.8.2 Official conferences for all ordained and commissioned ministers on the respective rosters of the Synod shall meet, if possible, in plenary sessions at least o

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Page | 207 | p. 207

Handbook page 207

5.3.5 The circuit forum shall be qualified to submit overtures to national and district conventions. 5.4 Circuit Convocations 5.4.1 The circuit convocation is a larger gathering of members from circuit congregations during a year in which there is no national or district convention. 5.4.2 The purpose of a circuit convocation is to provide a setting in which

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Page | 210 | p. 210

Handbook page 210

(d) Eligibility to be an “employer” under the Concordia Plans of the Synod unless the policies of such a plan preclude such organization as an eligible employer. (e) Recognition of the auxiliary in the Handbook of the Synod and listing of the organization in The Lutheran Annual as an auxiliary of the Synod, provided that such listing shall be prefaced by a

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Page | 213 | p. 213

Handbook page 213

standard form of agreement to be entered into by the Synod and each recognized service organization. (b) Each mission board of the Synod in consultation with the Council of Presidents shall adopt further policies and criteria, related to its area of responsibility for granting of recognized service organization status by its respective mission office, such p

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Page | 220 | p. 220

Handbook page 220

Assignment of first calls, 60 Assistants, parish. See Ministers of religion— commissioned Assisting capacity call. See under Ministers of religion— ordained Assisting capacity call designation. See under Ministers of religion—ordained Association school. See Schools, association (definition) Auxiliary organizations, 208– 10 archival requirements, 128 calling

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Page | 221 | p. 221

Handbook page 221

amendments to, 214 Calls assignment of first (placement) by Board of Assignments, 60 assisting capacity, 57 by association schools, 56– 57 by congregations, 13, 56– 57 installation forms and practices, 198 multi-congregation parish, 57 of candidates, 59–60 qualification for first, 60–61 role of district president in, 31, 56– 57, 198, 208, 212 Candidate membe

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Page | 222 | p. 222

Handbook page 222

appointed members, 174 as board of the Synod. See Boards of the Synod qualifications and their verification, 175, 191, 192 removal of member, 32 training, 176 closure or sale, 177 Concordia University System, 133– 40 consolidation, 177 coordination and collaboration, 178 doctrinal review, 37 president, 182 faculty, 157, 183– 84 academic freedom, 183 appointm

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Page | 223 | p. 223

Handbook page 223

submission of report by, 105 terms of office, 110– 12 Committee for Convention Nominations, 189–92 preliminary work by Secretary, 116 subcommittee (“3.2.5”) for vacancy nominations, 112 Committee on Elections, 193–94 Committee, Colloquy, for Commissioned Ministry, 156– 57 Committee, Colloquy, for Pastoral Ministry, 156 Committee, convention, 106 directed rep

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Page | 229 | p. 229

Handbook page 229

representation at Synod convention, 104 Model Operating Procedures Manual, 134, 184 Multi-congregation parish. See Parish, multi-congregation Name of the Synod, 11, 215 National inter-Lutheran entities, 25 executives, professional staff, 62 formation, 25 National Mission, Board for. See under Mission Boards of the Synod National Mission, Office of. See under

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Page | 232 | p. 232

Handbook page 232

of district officers, board and commission members, 201 of hearing facilitator, 48 of members of Commission on Constitutional Matters, 146 of members of Commission on Handbook, 150 of reconciler, 47 of synodwide corporate entity chief executive, 125 Theology and Church Relations, Commission on. See Commission on Theology and Church Relations Treasurer. See C

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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.

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