# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S141
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

TASK FORCE 141

defer; and

WHEREAS, The effective operation of such a process could
prudently and effectively shorten the length of every synodical
convention or at least, alternating synodical conventions;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Directors recommends the
establishment of a synodical convention procedure for agenda
evaluation and recommendation.

RESOLUTION D

WHEREAS, An analysis of the present apportionment of
delegate seats shows great inequities as to the number of
congregations and communicant members each delegate repre-
sents (see attached table); and

WHEREAS, At the 1979 convention of the Synod, forinstance,
a delegate from a District represented nine congregations and
2,053 communicants while a delegate from another District
represented 19 congregations and 5,146 communicants with
the net effect in proportionate terms that congregations and
communicants were allowed to cast well under half as many
votes than those cast by their counterparts in the Wyoming
District; and

WHEREAS, In a democratic body such as the Synod, the
likelihood of reaching decisions which reflect the collective will
of the constituency is materially increased with proportionate
representation; and

WHEREAS, The representative process would be well served
if said apportionment were more nearly equalized; and

WHEREAS, In a democratic body such as the Synod it is
essential that important decisions be reached through a
broadly based and properly representative process; and

WHEREAS, Rapidly escalating costs for delegate air fares or
other travel, housing, food, and convention material and
facilities are consuming huge amounts of resources which
properly should be used in other aspects of the Lord’s work; and

WHEREAS, It would be possible to reach precisely the same
important conclusions through a fully representative body of a
significantly smaller size, (approximately 500 delegates, for
example); and

WHEREAS, Such a reduction in scale would make hundreds
of thousands of dollars available for vital aspects of our
Savior’s programs; therefore be it

Resolved, That the convention authorize the Board of
Directors to appoint a committee to study and recommend a
revised alignment of electoral circuit composition as to the
number of congregations and total number of communicants
in each electoral circuit and reduce the number of voting
delegates.

RESOLUTION E

WHEREAS, Today’s rapid communication capability has
reduced the necessity for having counsel on virtually any
synodical subject personally available to synodical convention
delegates; and

WHEREAS, The technique of holding committee meetings
several weeks in advance of a synodical convention more
nearly allows delegates to obtain any important and relevant
information in advance of their convening to vote; and

WHEREAS, All costs associated with conducting a synodical
convention (i.e, delegate air fare or other transportation,
delegate housing, convention facilities, etc.) are escalating ata
precipitous rate; and

WHEREAS, Fewer advisory delegates to a synodical conven-
tion need never deprive a delegate of appropriate information
and certainly would reduce nearly every category of expense;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Directors supports the concept
of a significant reduction in the number of advisory delegates
participating in future synodical conventions.

RESOLUTION F

WHEREAS, The representative process would be well served

by a general increase in the level of experience and expertise of
synodical convention delegates; and

WHEREAS, The representative process would be well served
if participation as a delegate in the synodical convention
process were not a procedure which seemed to terminate after a
few weeks involvement; and

WHEREAS, An extended term for each synodical convention
delegate would reduce the required frequency for the operation
of the complex election process in each electoral circuit of the
Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Directors recommends and
endorses the concept of electing pastoral and lay synodical
convention delegates for a four-year term.

COST COMPARISONS OF BIENNIAL, TRIENNIAL
ALTERNATING (LONG-SHORT) CONVENTION
These figures on the projected costs for the 1981 convention,
using the number of delegates that were in attendance at the
1979 convention: 1,116 voting delegates, 516 advisory dele-
gates, 253 floor committee members.

Biennial (Short) Triennial

and Long
Voting delegates Housing & meals $ 468,720 $ 200,880 $ 468,720
(1116) Transportation 236,592 236,592 236,592

Advisory

delegates Housing & Meals 216,720 92,880 216,720
(516) Transportation 109,392 109,392 109,392
Floor committees Housing & meals 197,340 22,770 197,340
(253) Transportation 107,272 53,636 107,272
Per convention total 1,336,036 716,150 1,336,036
Printing 940,960 705,720 940,960
Public relations 75,740 57,820 56,730
Registration and housing 111,200 92,600 83,400
Hall rental 160,560 114,685 120,420
$6,576,940 $5,021,561 $4,974,378
23.7% saving 24" saving

These totals of convention costs for a period of time required
to cover an eight-year period (1981 to 1987), which would have
two long and two short sessions or four biennial or three trien-
nial conventions.

2. Constitution Article XIII
(Expulsion from the Synod)

WHEREAS, human beings, as sinners, are prone to error and
to differences in judgment; and

WHEREAS, Christians should find means to solve their
differences amicably and in orderly ways; and

WHEREAS, The courts and civil authorities have, under the
constitutionally enunciated doctrine of separation of church
and state, refused to accept jurisdiction in church-related
disputes when the church (ecclesiastical authority) has adopted
a means of resolving such disputes within the requirements of
due process; and

WHEREAS, The present Article XIII of the Constitution
places the emphasis on the punitive rather than on the
resolution of differences and reconciliation; and

WHEREAS, The present Article XIII limits access to the
adjudicatory process to those who have been constitutionally
designated as members, but fails to extend the process to those
who serve the Synod, its Districts, seminaries, colleges,
faculties, boards, commissions, committees, and organizations
owned and controlled by the Synod, who as nonmembers are
officers, executives, administrators, or faculty, board, commis-
sion, and committee members; and

WHEREAS, Present Chapter V of the Bylaws expresses the
intention of the Synod to have the processes of adjudication
and appeal available for the resolution of all controversies, not
only for members, but for all who serve the Synod in the above-
described positions of responsibility and service; therefore be it

Resolved, That the present title of Article XIII of the
Constitution to be changed from “Expulsion from the Synod”’
to “Reconciliation, Adjudication, Appeal, and Expulsion”; and
be it further