# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S56
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

TASK FORCE

as extensions of the congregation. They are designed
to assist the congregation and its members in con-
serving and promoting the unity of the faith and in
carrying out their mission and ministry. They also
serve as the structure through which congregations
exercise certain functions which can be performed
more efficiently and effectively together with sister
congregations.

c. Membership is held in the Synod itself. In
accordance with the objectives of the Synod, a con-
gregation exercises certain privileges and responsi-
bilities of membership also in and through its respec-
tive Circuit and District.

d. Circuits and Districts as administrative arms
of the Synod are expected to carry out applicable
resolutions of the Synod. Circuits and Districts as
extensions of the congregations are structures for
congregations to review synodical decisions, to moti-
vate one another to action, and to shape and suggest
new directions.

e. Congregations together set the requirements of
membership in the Synod (Art. VI). In so doing,
member congregations also obligate themselves to
fulfill such requirements. They are to uphold the
confessional position of the Synod (Art. II) and to
assist in carrying out the objectives of the Synod (Art.
III), which are objectives of the congregations them-
selves. Congregations of the Synod are self-governing
(Art. VII). In exercising such freedom, however.
congregations also commit themselves to act in ac-
cordance with the synodical Constitution and Bylaws
under which they have agreed to live and work
together and which the congregations alone have the
authority to adopt or amend.

1.35 Relationships: Convention, Officers,
Board of Directors, Boards and
Commissions, Staff

a. The delegate convention of the Synod is the
legislative assembly which ultimately establishes
policies and provides program direction to carry on
the Synod’s work on behalf of and in service to the
member congregations, reserving to itself the right to
give directions to all officers, boards, and commis-
sions of the Synod.

b. The elected officers serve the Synod in accord-
ance with the duties assigned to them by the Consti-
tution and Bylaws. To them individually is given the
primary responsibility for implementing specific de-
cisions of the convention and of the Board of Directors
and for supervising and coordinating the day-to-day
activities of the synodical staff as set forth elsewhere.
The elected officers are to report their activities and
recommendations to the convention and, as appro-
priate, to the President and the Board of Directors.

c. The Board of Directors serves the Synod as its
legal representative and the custodian of all property
of the Synod, and upon it is incumbent the general
management and supervision of the business affairs
of the Synod. It shall also, between conventions,
determine general operating policies, approve pro-
gram budgets, allocate resources for such programs,
review program performance, coordinate the admin-
istration of convention resolutions, settle disputes
between operating boards, and report its activities
and recommendatins to the convention.

d. Each board and commission serves the Synod
in a specific area of program or ministry in accordance
with the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws. It adopts
programs in its assigned area of responsibility; ad-
ministers the program and resources assigned to it by
the Constitution and Bylaws, convention, or Board of
Directors; and proposes modifications thereto. It
provides program policies and directions for its staff.
It shall establish, together with staff, evaluation