# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S500
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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530 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

gregations, pastors, professors, and teachers. Synod expects such
congregations as have not yet been received into membership, but
are served by Synod, and whose pastors and teachers hold mem.
bership in Synod to honor its rules and regulations.”

“b. Synod expects every member congregation to respect its
resolutions and to consider them of binding force if they are in
accordance with the Word of God and if they appear expedient
as far as the condition of the congregation is concerned. Syn
being an advisory body, recognizes the right of the congregation
to be the judge of the expediency of the resolution as applied to
its local condition. However, in exercising such judgment, a con-
gregation must not act arbitrarily, but in accordance with the
principles of Christian love and charity.”

“ce, Membership of a congregation in Synod gives Synod no
equity in the property of the congregation.”

Wuereas, The previously quoted sections fully protect the
rights of the individual congregation as originally stipulated in
Synod’s Constitution; be it therefore

Resolved, We reject this memorial in toto.

Nore. —It was explained that the reference in the third “Whereas”
includes Article VII of the Constitution.

Revise Voting Procedure
(Memorial 513)

Because of the fact that the present voting rights of congre-
gations in synodical matters bear no relationship to the numerical
membership in those congregations, we respectfully request Synod
at its meeting in Milwaukee in June, 1950, to take whatever steps
may be necessary to revise the voting procedure, so that every
congregation is given voting rights on all synodical matters in
direct proportion to the congregation’s communicant membership.

THe EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY
Dertrorr, Micu. ;
E. T. BernrHat, Pastor
Geo. F. OrumxKE, President
Epwiv NIEtsen, Secretary

ACTION
Synod resolved to broaden the scope of the committee author-
ized earlier (to wit: the committee which the President was
authorized to appoint for the purpose of studying synodical nomi-
nation and election procedure) so as to study the policies and
practices concerning the holding of synodical and District con-
ventions.

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 531

Postponing the Election of Executive Officers
(Memorial 514)

Wuaereas, It is customary to elect the “executive officers”
(Handbook, 2.123) during the first days of the convention and the

election of the President of Synod usually occurs on the first day .

already; and

Wuereas, The great majority of delegates, attending a synod-
ical convention for the first time, are thereby immediately called
upon to choose the highest executive officers of Synod, without
having an opportunity properly to orientate themselves; and

WuerEas, Postponement of the election of the “executive
officers” will give all delegates an opportunity to inquire into and
study the abilities and fitness of all candidates for such office and
will not rush them into making such an all-important decision
without due consideration; now therefore be it

Resolved, That the election of the “executive officers” of Synod,
according to Section 2.123 of the Handbook, be postponed until the
latter half of the convention; and be it furthermore

Resolved, That we hereby object to the election of the “execu-
tive officers” of Synod immediately after the organization of the
Milwaukee convention for the above-stated reasons.

(Signed) (Rev.) J. Bertram, Fort Dodge, Iowa
(Rev.) A. T. Krerzmann, Crete, III.
(Dr.) P. E. Kretzmann, Cuba, Mo.

Zion Ev. LuTHeran Cuurcn, Cuicaco, Int.
Cart G. Kruse, Pastor

Signatures attested by (Rev.) H. D. Mensinc
Tinley Park, Ill., April 5, 1950

ACTION

Upon recommendation of Committee 6,.Synod adopted the

followi lution:
ollowing resolution. Resolution 1

With regard to Memorial 514 your Committee 6 begs leave
to report on its study of the matters.as follows:

We find that it would be very impractical, under the present
procedure of the election of executive officers, to postpone the elec-
tion of said officers until the latter half of the. convention; then,
too, we ought to continue the practice of first electing the men
wee hold the highest executive offices of Synod; now therefore

it ;

Resolved, That we reject the memorial in question.