EASTERN DISTRICT BYLAWS AND REGULATIONS, 2015 PROPOSED CHANGES
An explanation to the Delegates of the 2015 Eastern District Convention
along with other interested parties
See documents “Eastern District Bylaws” & “Eastern District Regulations working document”
Why The Changes?
It has been years since the Eastern District reviewed it governing documents, its Bylaws and
Regulations, with updates approved by the District Convention. Times and circumstances have
changed for us, but our governing documents have not kept up with the pace. It’s time for what we
say we are doing to match what we are doing. The recommended changes will do just that. They are
being submitted by the Eastern District Board of Directors to the Eastern District 2015 Convention for
the following reasons:
1. Update governing documents that reflect the way we have been doing our work for 15 years.
We are operating with a policy-based governing style. Our Boards, for the most part, have
not been operating.
2. Update according to current New York State not-for-profit rules and standards. Many
changes have come into law in 2014. They mostly address the character of the Board to
ensure lawful integrity and intra-Board relations.
3. Comply with Synod 1981 Convention Resolution 5-07 and 2004 Resolution 4-11. Camp
Pioneer is a corporation created by the Eastern District in 1990 when it purchased the Camp
from the Eastern District Lutheran Laymen’s League. In order for Camp to use Synod’s
“blanket” 501 (c) 3, our governing documents are to contain certain phrases and assurances
according to the resolutions.
4. Comply with Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Commission on Constitutional Matters
standards. For example: “teacher” is now “Ministers of Religion - Commissioned”.
Essentially, What Is Changing?
There are numerous recommended changes to the Bylaws and Regulations of the Eastern District.
Many of them are small, by nature, and hardly worth mention. Others are sizeable by comparison.
The larger pieces, including elimination of an entire section in the documents, will recognize that the
District operates under a policy-based governing style. Adding 4 Lay Directors will closely maintain
the Lay-Clergy balance on the Board.
1. Elimination of Ministry Departments and with it, elimination of four operation Board Chairmen
from the BOD. These have operated only slightly or not at all in 15 years. The President is
responsible to appoint individuals or committees for tasks on an as-needed basis.
2. Board of Directors is charged with overall policy of the District. The President is charged with
ecclesiastical supervision and the operation and program of the District.
3. Addition of 4 Lay Directors to the Board of Directors. The addition will help maintain balance
on the Board. The chair for the Commission Ministers Representative is sustained. The
chair for the Chair of the Camp Board is eliminated.
4. Board of Directors’ role regarding Camp Pioneer is clarified in keeping with resolutions of
Synod.
The Journey.
The recommended changes to the Bylaws and Regulations of the Eastern District documents
have taken a long and difficult journey to the Eastern District Convention. We submit the
following to you to show that many eyes have examined and many have discussed, commented
on, and suggested changes to what is before you.
 November 2012, Eastern District Board of Directors form a Bylaws Committee to review and draft
recommended changes to the Bylaws and Regulations. That committee consists of Mark
Lambrecht, Gordie Tresch, Rick Porter, and Chris Wicher
 May 2013, first draft presented to the Board of Directors. Changes made
 September 2013, Draft presented to Pastors’ Conference. Changes made.
 November, 2013 – April, 2014, Draft presented to Eastern District congregations through a series
of 20 “Leaders’ Forums”. Changes made.
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May, 2014, Draft returned to the Board of Directors
June, 2014, Draft submitted to District’s Legal Counsel.
December, 2014, Draft again submitted to Legal Counsel. Changes made.
February, 2015, Draft submitted to Board of Directors
February, 2015, Drafts submitted to Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters
May, 2015, Draft approved by the Board of Directors for convention
How Will This Change be Effected?
Only the District in convention has the authority to change the way the District is governed. The
changes are being proposed by the Board of Directors to the District in convention in June 2015.
The action will take the form of an “overture”, and that, at the beginning of convention business.
The motion will call for adoption of all the changes in “one full swoop”. Debate will be allowed.
Discussion and further explanation will take place. However, since this document has taken such
a journey to the convention and many have had opportunity to make suggestions along the way
and understanding changes have already been made, and since Synod’s CCM has approved the
documents, it is in the opinion of the Board of Directors, that Convention decide on the proposed
document as it stands.
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The Overture to the Convention has yet to pass through the Floor Committee, but as of today, here is
roughly how it will look.
TO ADOPT CHANGES TO THE BYLAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT, LCMS
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod allows individual Districts to establish governing
systems [in the form of Bylaws and Regulations such as exist for the Eastern District] that supplement the
governing documents of the Synod, and;
WHEREAS, the Eastern District has ordered itself in said and expressed governing documents the
Bylaws and Regulations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Eastern District; and
WHEREAS, from time to time it becomes necessary to modify said governing documents to better reflect
given circumstances and for timely and greater efficiency; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Eastern District, through its Bylaws Committee, has, among
other documents, evaluated the Bylaws and Regulations of the Eastern District and recommends change;
and
WHEREAS, the proposed changes have over the past three years been thoroughly reported to the
Eastern District Board of Directors, representatives of the Board for Pioneer Ministries, Pastors of the
District, Congregations of the District through a series of twenty Leaders’ Forums, the District’s Legal
Counsel, and Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, the Eastern District Bylaws and Regulations with proposed changes, as they are presented
in the Convention Workbook (p. ) and again in Today’s Business (p. ) be approved; and be it further,
RESOLVED, the adoption of the Bylaws and Regulations with changes be in effect immediately and
hence marking at this time their use for this 98th Convention of the Eastern District; and be it further,
RESOLVED, the Eastern District Board of Directors be thanked for their dutiful and faithful oversight of
this project; and be it finally
RESOLVED, the Bylaws Committee of the Board of Directors be shown appreciation by this Convention
for the many hours spent and numerous discussion held and extra meetings attended to make these
governing documents now as current as possible.