Commission on Constitutional Matters

At its triennial conventions, the Synod endeavors to structure its walk and work together by adjusting its Constitution and Bylaws to enable it to carry out its mission statement most effectively:

In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and world.

The CCM consults with the Commission on Handbook in the revision of the Handbook of the Synod following each national convention to bring it into harmony with convention actions. While each triennial Handbook contains some changes and adjustments, the 2010 convention adopted significant changes to the structure and governance of the Synod, resulting in equally significant changes to the Handbook.

• 2010 Handbook
• 2007 Handbook
• 2004 Handbook
• 2001 Handbook

Not all CCM opinions are of consequence to the entire Synod. Those opinions of broad significance are provided in the Convention Workbook that is published before each national Synod convention. The following PDF files contain the selected prior CCM opinions since the 2001 convention.

• 2010 Opinions
• 2007 Opinions
• 2004 Opinions
• 2001 Opinions

The CCM publishes its minutes following each meeting. These minutes contain the official opinions of the commission in response to questions submitted in writing. The opinions are binding upon the Synod and its members unless or until overruled by a national convention. For this reason, former minutes and selected prior opinions are made available electronically.

Other helpful CCM documents include:

The following documents are referenced in CCM Opinion 11-2598
(Interpretation of Constitution Art. VI 2 b , February 10-12, 2012 minutes):

• Historical Background and Interpretation of Article VI.2 of the Constitution of The Lutheran—Church Missouri Synod - a Research Study Document provided for and on behalf of the CCM by Gerhard Bode January, 2012 - Download
• Response to “Request for CTCR Opinion Concerning Continued Eligibility of an Inactive Emeritus Member Under Article VI of the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod” Adopted by the CTCR February 12, 2010 - Download

CCM Governing Policy

• Commission on Constitutional Matters Governing Policy

Standard Operating Procedures Manual
The Bylaws of the Synod require the Commission on Constitutional Matters to provide comprehensive procedures manuals for dispute resolution and expulsion from membership processes in the Handbook of the Synod. Accordingly, a Standard Operating Procedures Manual has been prepared for Bylaw sections 1.10, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, and 2.17.

The commission is currently reviewing and revising existing manuals to incorporate changes made by the 2010 convention of the Synod.

• 1.10 - Dispute Resolution
• 2.14 - Expulsion from Membership: Congregations or Individuals
• 2.15 – Expulsion from Membership: District President or Officer
  
• 2.16 - Expulsion from Membership: President of Synod
• 2.17 - Expulsion of Individuals from Membership

Guidelines for the Constitution and Bylaws of a Lutheran Congregation
Congregations become members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod only after their constitutions and bylaws have been approved by a constitution committee of one of the Synod’s 35 districts. Similarly, changes to constitutions and bylaws of member congregations become operative only after they have been approved by a district constitution committee.
 
Because a high degree of uniformity is desirable, the Commission on Constitutional Matters, as a service to the Synod, has issued guidelines for the proper composition of congregations’ constitutions and bylaws.

• Guidelines for the Constitution and Bylaws of a Lutheran Congregation 

Frequently Noted Concerns and Aberrations
The Bylaws of the Synod require the Commission on Constitutional Matters to examine the articles of incorporation, bylaws, and policy documents of all agencies of the Synod to ascertain that they are in harmony with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod. Agencies that intend to make amendments to their articles of incorporation or bylaws must make such intentions known and receive approval of the changes from the commission before taking official action.
 
In its review of agency documents, the commission has noted a frequency of instances of minor departures from the norm of how the Synod prepares documents, as in its Bylaws and the commission’s documents. Rather than call attention to each of these details individually and repeatedly, the commission has prepared a checklist of these “Frequently Noted Concerns and Aberrations” to alert document preparers and editors. In this manner the commission promotes and facilitates uniformity of language and grammar usage in bylaw and policy documents throughout the Synod.

• Frequently Noted Concerns and Aberrations