# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S189 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION 189 Although this is true, the convention did not reinsert the former sentence referred to in the paragraph above. What is stated in that sentence which dropped away is, of course, implicit in Constitution Art. V, A. So the reinsertion of that sentence into new Bylaw 3.23 may not be necessary. Nevertheless, in order to avoid confusion and to answer questions which have been raised as a result of the 1981 convention action, the Commission on Structure, subject to any proposals which the special ad hoc Committee on Fran- chise may make and the convention may adopt, proposes that the former sentence be added once again to new Bylaw 3.23: ... If a pastor serves two or more congregations, these shall be regarded as one parish and shall be entitled to only one lay vote. E. Chairman of Circuit Forum (Bylaw 4.31) Bylaw 4.03 a states: ‘The Circuit Counselor is the principal officer of the Circuit and serves in accordance with the duties assigned to this position in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod and Districts.” Some Circuits have indicated that they would find it more advantageous and that it would also relieve the Circuit Coun- selor of added responsibilities if the chairman of the Circuit Forum could be any member of the Forum, instead of restrict- ing it by implication to the Circuit Counselor. The Commission on Structure recommends the addition of one sentence to Bylaw 4.31: 4.31 Representation ... The Circuit Counselor ordinarily serves as chairman of the Circuit Forum, but the Circuit Forum may elect any other member to serve in that capacity. F. Vice-Presidents For more than a century and a quarter, true and faithful children of God have served the Synod in the office of Vice- President. The many and varied ministries these Vice-Presi- dents have rendered to their church, their church’s Lord, and to their Presidents are as many and varied as are the persons who have held the office. The church bows gratefully before its Lord for the love, the concern, the counsel, and the labors of these gifted men. PRESENT WORDING 2. The Vice-Presidents 2.121 The First Vice-President The First Vice-President shall bea full-time execu- tive. he shall not be in charge of a congregation or hold achair at any educational institution but may be called as an assistant pastor, provided such services do not interfere with his official duties as First Vice-President. 2.123 Other Vice-Presidents Four additional Vice-Presidents shall be ranked from two to five and are to be selected in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws. These four Vice-Presi- dents shall serve the Synod in a part-time capacity. 2.125 Relation to President The Vice-Presidents shall be elected advisers of the President. They may upon his request or as provided by the Synod assist him in discharging his responsibilities or represent him. 2.127 Succession to Presidency The Vice-Presidents shall, in the order in which they have been ranked, assume the presidency if the office is vacated or perform the duties of the President if he becomes incapacitated. The office of the Vice-President, since its inception, has never been an office “unto itself’ but has always been joined to the office of the President. The basic nature and function of the office of the President has not changed through the years; but jet travel and high-tech media capabilities have drastically changed the manner in which the President carries out the duties of his office. The emergence of full-time District presidencies has also placed at the disposal of the synodical President additional resources for assistance and counsel. The Commission on Structure proposes the following: WHEREAS, Respondents to a survey conducted by the Com- mission on Structure in December of 1982 indicate that the Synod no longer needs nor desires the offices of Vice-Presidents two through five; and WHEREAS, Ample provisions are made in our Bylaws for the appointment of assistants to the Presidents; and WHEREAS, The President has at his disposal an able and respected corps of churchmen in the Council of Presidents for advice and counsel; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod terminate the offices of Vice- Presidents two through five, effective following the 1986 convention; and be it further Resolved, That, after the 1986 convention of the Synod, the office of Vice-President will cease to be a full-time position and may be filled by a member of the clergy roster even though he may hold another called or elected position (except a staff position at synodical headquarters); and be it further Resolved, That, beginning with the 1986 convention of the Synod, the President of the Synod appoint a representative of the President on the Boards of Regents of the seminaries of the Synod; and be it finally Resolved, That, beginning with the 1986 convention of the Synod, in the event neither the President nor the Vice-Presi- dent can serve, the Secretary of the Synod shall succeed to the office of the President. The commission therefore recommends for adoption at this time and for implementation at the time of the 1986 convention: 1. That Bylaws 2.121 through 2.129 be replaced with the following: PROPOSED WORDING 2. The Vice-President 2.121 Part-Time Position The position of Vice-President shall be part time. It shall be filled by a clergy member of the Synod. He may hold another called or elected position. He shall not, however, fill a staff position at synodical head- quarters. 2.123 Successor to Presidency The Vice-President shall assume the presidency if the office is vacated or perform the duties of the President if he becomes incapacitated. If neither the President nor the Vice-President can serve, the Secre- tary of the Synod shall be next in succession.