# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S191
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION 191

Suspended Status

- There are instances in which a pastor or teacher
cannot be recommended, at least temporarily, by the
District President for a call. The classification of c.r.m.
(candidate) indicates that the individual is a candidate
eligible for a call, when in fact he cannot be recom-
mended at the time for a call.

This has consistently distressed District Presidents
and has placed them in a difficult position of saying at
one and the same time that an individual is a candidate
(c.r.m.) and is not a candidate.

The Commission on Structure therefore recommends
that a separate classification be created for such
instances, a classification to be known as Suspended
Status. This would mean that the individual’s eligibility
status is in a suspended state, a temporary status, until
the situation is properly resolved. Safeguards of course
must be built into this process. The commission recom-
mends the adoption of the following new Bylaws.

PROPOSED WORDING

1.19 Relation of the Synod to Its Members

f. Although the Constitution (see Art. VI, 3, and
Art. XII, 7 and 8) deals with the “life” of pastors and
teachers of the Synod and provides for dealing with
“ungodly life” of pastors, professors, and teachers,
this does not suggest that the Synod, including any
District of the Synod, has the duty or even an
opportunity to observe the activities in the life of a
pastor, professor, or teacher, or has the means or
authority to regulate, restrict, or control those activi-
ties. The only remedy available to the Synod in
response to improper activities in the life of such a
member of the Synod is, where appropriate under the
Constitution or these Bylaws and following the pro-
cedures set forth in these Bylaws, to take such action
as may lead to the termination of that membership
and the attendant rights and privileges.

1.20 Reviewing Continued Eligibility of
’ Individual Members

a. If information with respect to an individual
member of the Synod is made known to or becomes
known by the President of the District in which the
person then holds his membership; and the District
President, after a reasonable investigation, believes
that there may be a basis, given the nature of the
circumstances, for suspending the eligibility status of
the person, the President of the District in which the
person then holds his membership may suspend that

PRESENT WORDING

2.945 Solicitation of Suggestions for
Candidates

a. The Secretary of the Synod shall solicit from
congregations, District Presidents, District Boards of
Directors, Circuit Counselors, and other likely sources
names of persons who are regarded as suitable
candidates for election to the various offices and
boards of the Synod and shall list briefly the require-
ments of various positions. Qualifications of each
candidate suggested are to be submitted together
with the names. The Secretary shall begin such
solicitation of names 12 months before the synodical
convention and shall present his work and submis-
sion to the Committee for Convention Nominations

person’s eligibility status until the matter is satis-
factorily resolved or the applicable adjudication and
appeals procedures, as set forth in Chapter VIII of
these Bylaws, can be completed.

b. During the period that the suspension is in
effect, the member shall have.“Suspended Status” as
provided in Bylaw 5.48 and shall be ineligible for
service in the Synod. All records of the Synod shall
reflect this fact. In addition, the District President
shall notify the President of the Synod and all other
District Presidents in writing of the suspension of the
affected person’s eligibility status.

5.48 Suspended Status

There shall be a separate category entitled
“Suspended Status” for those pastors-and teachers
who have been suspended from membership in the
Synod in conformity with Art. XII, 8, or who have had
their eligibility for a call suspended under the appro-
priate Bylaws, including Bylaw 1.20. This is a
temporary status. Eventually such individuals shall
either be removed from membership or restored to the
clergy or teacher roster. Until they are restored, they
shall be ineligible for service in the Synod; until they
are removed, they shall retain the right of utilizing
adjudication and appeal procedures as outlined in the
Bylaws.

Action: Adopted (14).

To Amend Nominating Procedures
RESOLUTION 5-25A

Report 5-02, II, Y (CW, p. 200); Overtures 5-63—5-
67 (CW, pp. 229—231)

WHEREAS, ‘he present nominating procedure is
effective; and

WHEREAS, It provides broadly based representation
from all the Districts of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, It has received support throughout the
Synod as a desirable procedure for nominations; and

WHEREAS, It provides the Synod access to enormous
resources of qualified people for service in the church;
and

WHEREAS, The apparent benefits of such a procedure
should not be prematurely discarded but rather fine
tuned and developed; therefore be it

Resolved, That the following process be adopted ona
trial basis:

PROPOSED WORDING

2.945 Solicitation of Suggestions for -
Candidates

a. The Committee for Convention Nominations
through the office of the Secretary of the Synod shall
solicit from congregations, District Presidents, Dis-
trict Boards of Directors, Circuit Counselors, Circuit
Forums, and other likely sources. names of persons
who are regarded as suitable candidates for election
to the various offices and boards of the Synod and
shall list briefly the requirements of various positions.
Qualifications of each candidate suggested are to be
submitted together with the names. The committee
shall begin such solicitation of names 24 months
before the synodical convention and shall present its