Board of Directors

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

The Board of Directors (BOD) is the legal representative of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. It is the custodian of all the property of the Synod — directly or by its delegation of such authority to an agency of the Synod.

The BOD exercises supervision over all the property and business affairs of the Synod, except in those areas where it has delegated such authority to an agency of the Synod or where the voting members of the Synod, through the adoption of bylaws or by other convention action, have assigned specific areas of responsibility to separate corporate or trust entities.

In such circumstances, the BOD retains general oversight responsibility as defined in Synod Bylaws.

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Meeting Minutes

Minutes of previous meetings are available upon request by contacting the LCMS Chief Administrative Office.

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News & Updates

Handbook editions

2019 Handbook

• 2019 Handbook — November 2019 Edition (Adobe PDF)
• 2019 Handbook — November 2019 Edition (Microsoft Word)
• 2019 Handbook — Update Edition, indicating all changes relative to 2016 (PDF)

• Archives

• Archives

  • 2016 Handbook — May 2017 edition (Adobe PDF)
  • 2016 Handbook — May 2017 edition (Microsoft Word)
  • 2016 Handbook — Red-lined May 2017 edition noting changes from 2013 Handbook (PDF)
  • 2013 Handbook — Updated Nov. 19-20, 2014 (Microsoft Word)
  • Original 2013 Handbook (PDF)
  • 2010 Handbook
  • 2007 Handbook
  • 2004 Handbook
  • 2001 Handbook

  Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed to view the files. The free software can be downloaded from Adobe.

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Handbook background

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 Commission on Handbook consults with the Commission on Constitutional Matters in the revision of the Handbook of the Synod following each national convention to bring it into harmony with convention actions.

2019 Handbook

The 2019 Handbook of the Synod (as approved by the Commission on Handbook, having consulted with the Commission on Constitutional Matters) has been published electronically, as of November 13, 2019, as the “November 2019” edition. As of the same date, print production and distribution are commencing.

The Handbook, with its growing index, is available in Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word versions. It is accompanied by an “update” edition, indicating all the changes made since the previously-released 2016 Handbook.

The electronic edition found here may be updated periodically as the Commission on Handbook incorporates minor corrections and other non-substantive changes as part of its responsibility for the ongoing maintenance and management of the Handbook.

Please report suggestions for correction or improvement, particularly regarding the new index, to the Office of the Secretary.

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Policy Manual

Desired Outcome Policy of the Board of Directors

The Board serves to provide leadership in achieving the objectives of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as stated in Article III of its Constitution and Bylaws so that Christ’s name may be glorified among all people throughout the world by serving each other in Christ’s name, reaching our communities with Christ’s love and claiming the world for Christ’s kingdom.

• Board of Directors Policy Manual (Adopted February 7, 2020)

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Financials