Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 499

(5) Conviction of a felony 
(6) Failure to disclose conflicts of interest to the Synod or agency 
(7) Conduct evidencing a scandalous life 
(8) Advocacy of false doctrine (Constitution Art. II) 
(9) Failure to honor and uphold the doctrinal position of the 
Synod 
(10) Accumulation of three unexcused absences within any term 
of office 
1.5.7.12.10.1 Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, the 
procedure for removal of a member of a commission, agency board, 
or the LCMS Board of Directors, except for those persons subject to 
Bylaw sections 2.15 and 2.16, shall be as follows: 
(a) Action for removal shall require written notice to each 
member of the relevant commission, agency board, or LCMS 
Board of Directors at least 30 days prior to a special meeting of 
the commission, agency board, or LCMS Board of Directors 
called for that purpose. A copy of such notice shall be sent to the 
President and the Secretary of the Synod and to the ecclesiastical 
supervisor, if applicable. 
(b) The special meeting shall be held no later than 60 days after 
the provision of the written notice, unless extended by the mutual 
agreement of the parties. 
(c) Removal shall be effected by 
(1) recommendation of such to the Synod’s Board of 
Directors by a vote in favor of removal by at least three-fourths 
of all current members (excluding the person whose 
membership is in question) of the applicable commission, 
agency board, or LCMS Board of Directors; and 
(2) by a vote in favor of the recommendation of removal by 
at least three -fourths of all current members (excluding the 
person whose membership is in question) of the Board of 
Directors of the Synod. 
(d) Removal may be appealed by a member who has been 
removed from a commission, agency board, or the LCMS Board 
of Directors through the use of the Synod’s dispute resolution 
process as provided in Bylaw section 1.10. 
(e) From the time that written notice is given until the 
commission, agency board, or the LCMS Board of Directors 
takes action with respect to the removal, the member(s) subject 
to removal may not vote on matters before the commission, 
agency board, or LCMS Board of Directors. 
(f) If a Concordia University System (CUS) college or university 
board of regents is presented with a written notice from the CUS 
Board of Directors, a copy of which shall also have been sent to 
the President and Secretary of the Synod and to any applicable 
ecclesiastical supervisor, detailing the basis for cause for removal 
of a member of the board of regents pursuant to Bylaw 1.5.7 2.10 
(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. 72.10.1 (a) and (b) and 
consider a recommendation for removal under Bylaw 
1.5.72.10.1 (c) (1). 
(2) If the board of regents fails to take action or declines to 
recommend removal under Bylaw 1.5. 72.10.1 (c) (1) within 
90 days of receiving the written notice from the CUS Board of 
Directors, the CUS Board of Directors may present the written 
notice to the Praesidium of the Synod. 
(3) The Praesidium, without participation of the First Vice -
President of the Synod, shall make an initial determination as 
to whether the written notice presents sufficient grounds for 
removal of a member of a board of regents under Bylaw 
1.5.72.10 (2), (8), or (9). 
(4) If the Praesidium determines, by majority vote, that the 
written notice presents sufficient grounds for removal, a three-
person panel shall be appointed, consisting of the First Vice-
President of Synod, a member of the Council of Presidents 
appointed by the Council of Presidents, and an additional 
member who is a member of the Council of Presidents who 
shall be appointed by the First Vice-President and the member 
of the Council of Presidents who was appointed by the Council 
of Presidents. 
(5) This panel shall consider the written notice and evidence 
submitted by the CUS Board of Directors and the board of 
regents member and make a determination as to whether there 
is sufficient grounds for removal of the board of regents 
member under Bylaw 1.5.72.10 (2), (8), or (9). 
(6) If a majority of the panel concludes sufficient grounds 
exist, it shall make a recommendation to the Synod’s Board of 
Directors. This recommendation shall be considered and acted 
upon under Bylaw 1.5.72.10.1 (c) (2). 
(7) If the CUS Board of Directors presents written notice 
stating cause for removal of more than one member of the 
board of regents, each written notice shall be handled 
separately, although if a panel is appointed these can be 
considered by the same panel. 
1.5.7.22.10.2 To the extent that the application of this bylaw is 
limited by applicable law with respect to the removal of members of 
a commission, agency board, or the LCMS Board of Directors, the 
commission, agency board, or LCMS Board of Directors on which 
the member serves may recommend the removal and attempt to 
cause the appropriate procedures under applicable law, these 
Bylaws, and the governing documents of the affected entity to be 
followed to permit the removal of such commission, agency board, 
or LCMS Board of Directors member. 
Removal of Officers of the Synod or District from Office  
1.5.82.11 Officers of the Synod and a district shall discharge the 
duties of office in good faith. The following are considered cause for 
removal from office of an officer of the Synod or a district pursuant 
to this Bylaw, but not from membership in the Synod: 
(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 
1.5.8.12.11.1 
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 district other than a 
district president shall require written notice to each member of 
that district’s board of directors at least 30 days prior to a special 
meeting of the board called for that purpose. A copy of such 
notice shall be sent to the President and the Secretary of the 
Synod and to the ecclesiastical supervisor, if applicable. 
(b) Other than in the prior subsection (a), action for removal of 
an officer of the Synod other than the President of the Synod shall 
require written notice to each member of the Synod’s Board of 
Directors at least 30 days prior to a special meeting of the Board 
called for that purpose. A copy of such notice shall be sent to the 
President and the Secretary of the Synod and to the ecclesiastical 
supervisor, if applicable. 
(c) The special meeting provided for herein shall be held no later 
than 60 days after the provision of the written notice, unless 
extended by the mutual agreement of the parties. 
(d) Removal from office of an officer of a district, other than a 
district president, shall be effected by a vote in favor of removal 
by at least three -
fourths of all current members of the district 
board of directors (excluding the officer in question if a member 
of the board); and 
2026 Convention Workbook
464 STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION