# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S188 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 188 STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION deait with and are incorporated at other points in this report, notably in the recommendations regarding stewardship and planning. The number of Districts, the size of Districts, and inter-District staffing are also subjects which should receive widespread study. G. The Commission on Ministerial Health and Commission on Health and Healing The Board of Directors requested the Commission on Structure to evaluate the possibility of combining the Commis- sion on Ministerial] Health and the Commission on Health and Healing. Both commissions worked together on this matter and presented proposals for review. The Commission on Structure recommended to the Board of Directors that a full- time person be engaged who could provide the leadership in bringing together both of these commissions over the next triennium. The Commission on Structure has requested both commissions to present bylaw proposals to the 1986 convention. * * * In concluding this part of our report, it should be taken for granted that still other topics are under review at the present time and will be under study by the commission in the next triennium. But what is reported here is intended to give some indication to the church as to the activities of the commission. Reactions, evaluations, and suggestions regarding these ac- tivities and other structural issues from Districts, Circuits, and congregations would be most welcome. II. Recommendations The Commission on Structure offers the following recommendations. A. Eligibility of Directors of Christian Education for “‘Teacher’’ Membership in Synod The Commission on Structure supports the proposal that those who have been synodically trained and/or certified as directors of Christian education shall be regarded as “‘teach- ers” for constitutional purposes, thereby making them eligible for membership in the Synod. B. District Membership of Emeriti (Bylaw 1.19 d) Bylaw 1.19 d makes it plain that the choice of District membership is not an option on the part of the active workers of the Synod. The case of emeriti pastors and teachers needs attention. In many instances such emeriti move far from their former field of endeavor, and unless their membership is transferred to the District in which they now reside, they may very well suffer from a lack of care and concern. Since “the consolation of the brethren” is an important aspect of our synodical life together, the commission suggests that addi- tional bylaw provision be made for emeriti. The commission, however, also recognizes that there may be exceptional cases involving close proximity, though in another geographical District, or involving membership in nongeographical Dis- tricts. The commission therefore suggests that the following sentence be added to Bylaw 1.19 d: 1.19 Relation of the Synod to Its Members d. ...Emeriti pastors and teachers shall hold their synodical membership in that District in which they reside; District Presidents, however, may grant ex- ceptions upon request. C. Suspended Status In many instances a pastor or teacher cannot be recom- mended, 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 recommended 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 nota candidate. The Commission on Structure therefore recommends thata separate classification be created for such instances, a classi- fication to be known as Suspended Status. This would mean that the individual’s membership 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 recommends the adoption of the following new bylaws: 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 contro] 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 Eligiblity 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 person, the Presi- dent of the District in which the person then holds his membership may suspend that person until the ap- plicable 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 accused person’s membership. 5.48 Suspended Status There shall be a separate category entitled ‘“‘Sus- pended Status” for those pastors and teachers who have been suspended from membership in the Synod in conformity with Art. XII, 8, or the appropnate 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. D. Two Congregations Forming One Parish (Bylaw 3.23) Former Bylaw3.17 contained the clarifying statement: ‘Ifa pastor serves two or more congregations, these shall be regarded as one parish and shall be entitled to only one lay vote.” Anticipating that the convention would adopt the recom- mendation of Task Force II regarding franchise, the Task Force had recommended deleting that sentence from new Bylaw 3.23 on the assumption that it would no longer be necessary. However, the 1981 convention chose to refer the recom- mendations regarding franchise to a special committee; the former provisions therefore are still in effect.