# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S501
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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532 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Strengthen the Synodical Convention by Changing
the Frequency, Place, Type and Number of Delegates
(Memorial 515)

Wuereas, Previous delegate synods have received memorials
calling attention to the increasing unwieldiness of the present dele~
gate synods; the cost of the synodical meetings continues to mount,
the host community and District are financially penalized, and the
number of possible meeting places is limited and highly section-
alized, forbidding the real benefit of widespread meetings of an
international church body to be spread over at least a nation-wide
area; and 7

Wuereas, World events affecting the Church and its work de-
velop so rapidly that triennial meetings can no longer adequately
furnish directives and policy adequate to so long a period between
meetings; and

Wuereas, The magnitude and complexity of the decisions to
be made by the delegate synod demand a high degree of ex-
perience and ability in all delegates; and

Wuereas, Synodical and District budgets are not apportioned
on the basis of congregational units, but rather on the basis of
communicants reported; and

Wuereas, The present system of choosing delegates to the
triennial convention does not provide for fixed responsibility for
reporting, as it is fixed in the case of the District conventions; and

Wuereas, The present system of choosing delegates to the
triennial convention does not provide for the proportional repre-
sentation on the basis of any measurable factor, the wording “large
congregations shall form small circuits, and small congregations
shall form large circuits” (synodical Handbook, 1.51) being far
too vague to be effective;. and

 Wuenrgas, It is increasingly necessary, as it is difficult, to keep
Synod and its work in the hearts and minds of all its members;
be it therefore
Resolved, That the electoral circuits be abolished; that voting
representatives to the delegate convention be elected by the Dis-
trict conventions in the year prior to the delegate convention; that
the convention be reduced in size by electing voting delegates in
the ratio of two represéntatives from the clergy and two from the
laity for each 20,000 communicants or major fraction thereof
officially reported from the District, provided that each District
be represented by at least four (4) delegates; that the convention
be further reduced in size by providing that the elective officers

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 533

of Synod, a representative from each elective synodical board
(exclusive of the Boards of Control), a representative from the
Board for Higher Educationand a representative of each synod-
ical educational institution attend as advisory delegates; and that
the District Presidents or their official representatives be included
in their District’s quota; and that advisory members of Synod be
eligible and stand for election according to their status under the
above District ratio; that the general convention and the District
conventions meet in alternate years; and that the District’s dele-
gates to the general convention be held to report formally to the
District convention in the following year on the work and policies
of Synod as well as to report informally to various District groups.

York-SEwarpD REGIONAL CONFERENCE
' SovuTHERN NEBRASKA District
B. Houm, Secretary
ACTION
Upon recommendation of Committee 6, Synod resolved to
reject this memorial:
Resolution 21
Inasmuch as a similar memorial was presented at the synodical
convention in Chicago three years ago and was rejected, and your
Committee is of the conviction that the reasons advanced at that
time for rejection must still be recognized; be it therefore

Resolved, That Synod reject this memorial.

Define the Authority and Responsibility
of the College of Presidents —
(Memorial 516)

Wuereas, The College of Presidents is the most broadly repre-
sentative body meeting regularly between general synodical con-
ventions; and

Wuereas, Each of its members is directly responsible to the
District which elects him and sensitive to its needs and judgments;
be it therefore

Resolved, That between conventions the College of Presidents
be the ranking policy-forming group of Synod, that its decisions
and policies be a matter of public record, that the delegate synod
review the actions taken by the College since the previous con-

vention, and that this convention direct a careful listing of the
duties of this College.

York-Sewarp Recionat ConFERENCE
SourHern Nesraska Districr

B. Hoi, Secretary