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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Bylaws | 3.12 | pp. 186-194
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 | 4 | pp. 196-202
(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 | 192 | p. 192
(e) The committee shall, whenever possible, prepare and hold in
readiness a slate of candidates for any new board or commission likely
to be established at a convention of the Synod, and of these the
committee should, whenever possible, be informed in advance.
(f) Any changes to the complete list of candidates and alternates
necessitated by unavailability, d
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Constitution | Article X | pp. 14-15
Article X Officers
—A—
The officers of the Synod are:
1. A President
2. Vice-presidents, in line of succession, as prescribed by the Bylaws
3. A Secretary
4. A Board of Directors
5. Other officers, as specified in the Bylaws
—B—
1. The President, the vice- presidents, and the Secretary must be ministers of
religion— ordained of The Lutheran Church— Missouri
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Page | 186 | p. 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 | 7 | p. 7
3.6 Synodwide Corporate Entities ........................................................................... 124
General Principles ........................................................................................... 124
Concordia Historical Institute ....................................................................... 127
Concordia Publishing Hous
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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
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Page | 201 | p. 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 | 8 | p. 8
4.3 District Officers ................................................................................................... 197
4.4 District President................................................................................................. 197
4.5 District Boards of Directors .............................................................................
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Page | 188 | p. 188
(a) The President-elect shall select from the list of 20 nominees for the
Office of First Vice -President five nominees who have consented to
serve if elected, at least two of whom shall be taken from the top five
nominees.
(b) Balloting will proceed with the candidate receiving the smallest
number of votes eliminated from consideration until one candidate
r
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Page | 224 | p. 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 | 189 | p. 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 | 193 | p. 193
Committee on Elections
3.12.4 Prior to the convention of the Synod, the President shall appoint a
Committee on Elections, which shall make the necessary arrangements for
the elections, shall be responsible for the preparation and distribution of
ballots, and shall supervise the elections and the tabulation of the votes.
(a) The President shall designate a ch
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Page | 229 | p. 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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Bylaws | 3.3 | pp. 112-124
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 | 181 | p. 181
(1) The board of regents shall initiate a transition review of the
campus, which shall include consultation with Concordia
University System on the basis of the Lutheran Identity and Mission
Outcomes Standards and the institution’s most recent affirmation
review. The review is to provide a report on the state of the campus
for use by the search committee, t
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Page | 190 | p. 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 | 226 | p. 226
doctrinal review of published materials,
37
formation and realignment, 194
governing documents, 194
governing principles, 194–96
membership, 63– 64, 195
nominations and elections, 17, 197, 201
regional selections, 197
non-geographical, 64, 210
obligation to carry out Synod
resolutions, 25
officers, 16, 17, 197
ethical obligations, 33
officers, executives, pr
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Page | 101 | p. 101
manner prescribed by the congregation or parish. Congregations of a
multi-congregation parish not contributing a lay voter may send an
advisory lay representative, with voice but no vote. A pastor serving a
congregation in an assisting capacity (Bylaw 2.5.6) is not eligible to cast
that congregation’s pastoral vote.
(d) Should a multi-congregation parish in
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Page | 102 | p. 102
(2) The congregation or congregations served (in other than an
assisting capacity) by the elected pastoral delegate shall be removed
from consideration for supplying candidates for the other delegate
and alternate elections for that particular convention.
(i) For the election of the alternate lay delegate: All lay nominees
except those who have been disquali
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Page | 116 | p. 116
(a) The Board of Directors of the Synod shall determine when the
President is unable to serve in that capacity because of prolonged
illness or disability.
(b) The First Vice-President shall remain as the acting president until
that board determines that such illness or disability has been removed.
Vice-Presidents
3.3.2 The vice-presidents shall be elected ad
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Page | 174 | p. 174
(v) effect the removal from office of the institution’s president upon a
finding, under the procedure of Bylaw 3.10.6.8.3 or Bylaw 3.10.6.8.1 (e)
or (f) , that he is unfit to serve as the spiritual head of the college or
university;
(w) effectively and intentionally govern the institution and its
president so that administration and faculty carry out their
m
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Page | 191 | p. 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 | 223 | p. 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 | 230 | p. 230
Placement of ministers of religion, initial,
60
Position of the Synod. See Confessional
position of the Synod
Powers of the Synod, 12
Praesidium, 23, 155
appointments by, 175
presidential consultation, 80, 106, 115,
146, 150, 151, 152
President of the Synod, 14–15, 15– 16, 112–
16
appointments by, 106, 123, 146, 148,
150, 151, 157, 193
convention report, 115
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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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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
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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
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Page | 162 | p. 162
3.10.5.6.2 As soon as an impending vacancy in the office of president is known, the
board of regents, with prior consent of the President of the Synod, shall
issue in an official periodical of the Synod a call for the nomination of
candidates for the presidency of the seminary. The call for nominations
shall describe the office and qualifications desired to
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Page | 197 | p. 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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Bylaws | 5.3 | pp. 205-207
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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Articles of Incorporation | Article V | p. 216
Article V Officers
This corporation shall have a board of directors of such number and
qualifications and who shall be elected in such manner and for such terms of office as
shall be set forth in the Constitution or Bylaws of The Lutheran Church— Missouri
Synod. In addition, this corporation shall have other officers having such
qualifications and who shall
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Bylaws | 1.2 | pp. 21-24
1.2 Definition of Terms
1.2.1 The following definitions are for use in understanding the terms as used in
the Bylaws of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod:
(a) Agency: An instrumentality other than a congregation or corporate
Synod, whether or not separately incorporated, which the Synod in
convention or its Board of Directors has caused or authorized to be
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Page | 23 | p. 23
a board of trustees, a board of regents, a board of managers, or a board
of governors.
(l) May: Permissive, expressing ability, liberty, or the possibility to act.
(m) Member of the Synod : See Constitution Art. V. Members of the
Synod are of two classes: corporate members (congregations that have
joined the Synod) and individual members (ministers of religi
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Page | 24 | p. 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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Page | 100 | p. 100
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 | 112 | p. 112
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 | 163 | p. 163
(g) The search committee shall prepare a list of at least five candidates
that it recommends to the electors as the list from which the election
slate is prepared.
(h) At a special meeting of the board of regents held to elect a
president, there shall be present and voting as electors the members of
the board of regents as a group with one vote (the district
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Page | 187 | p. 187
become a candidate. In the event of a tie for the final candidate position,
all names involved in the tie shall be included as candidates.
3.12.2.2 The Secretary of the Synod shall publish in the Convention Workbook and
post on the Synod Website brief biographies of the five candidates for
President and the 20 candidates for First Vice -President. This re
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Page | 194 | p. 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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Bylaws | 5 | pp. 203-207
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 | 203 | p. 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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Page | 220 | p. 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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