# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S200 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 200 STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION e. Secretarial and clerical staff shall be employed by the principal staff person with the approval of the Synod’s Personnel Department under policies estab- lished by the Board of Directors. f. Alladditions to or replacements of staff shall be in accordance with current position descriptions and shall be within staffing limits approved by the re- spective board or commission and the Board of Directors. 2.803 Tenure and Terminations a. Unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws, all executive staff shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authorities described above, subject to annual review and evaluation. Appointees may nor- mally expect to continue in their positions if their work is satisfactory as evidenced by the annual review and evaluation and if there is a continuing need for their services. W. Definition of “Department” (Bylaw 1.37) The use of the newly introduced definition of the word “department” has caused considerable confusion. There are many units at synodical headquarters that are conveniently referred to as departments. Furthermore, those units covered in the Bylaw do not really report directly to the Board of Directors. but report through either the Administrative Officer or the Treasurer of the Synod. The Commission on Structure therefore recommends the following revision of Bylaw 1.37: f. A department is a functional unit which is responsible to a board. X. Lutheran Medical Mission Association (Bylaw 2.551) Since the Lutheran Medical Mission Association no longer exists, the Commission on Structure recommends that the reference to the association be deleted from Bylaw 2.551 and that the pertinent sentence therefore be cast in the singular rather than the plural. Y. Nominations (Bylaw 2.945) In order to give the Committee for Convention Nominations more time, the commission recommends that all names and information be submitted 10 months (instead of 8 months) prior to the synodical convention. Z. Bylaws for Commission on Structure (Bylaw 2.581) Although 1981 Convention Res. 2-22 asked this new com- mission to present brief Bylaws governing the commission’s work to the next convention, the same convention adopted Res. 2-18, which already incorporated bylaws for the new commis- sion. The commission on Structure has reviewed these bylaws and finds that at the present time they are satisfactory and need no revision. John Daniel, Chairman Arthur Ahlschwede, Secretary assistance in gathering names for consideration and in securing evaluations. Each such position shall have been approved by the respective board or com- mission and shall be filled in accordance with policies of the Synod’s Board of Directors. d. Executives in other classifications as well as secretarial and clerical staff shall be employed by the principal staff person with the approval of the Synod's Personnel Department under policies estab- lished by the Board of Directors. e. All additions to or replacements of staff shall be in accordance with current position descriptions and shall be within staffing limits approved by the re- spective board or commission and the Board of Directors. 2.803 Tenure and Termination a. Unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws, all executive staff shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authorities described above, subject to annual review and evaluation. Clergy and teacher members of the Synod who are appointed to positions requiring a clergyman or teacher shall receive a Solemn Call; lay persons whose position must be filled by a member of a congregation of the Synod shall receive a Solemn Appointment. Appointees may normally expect to continue in their positions if their work is satisfactory, as evidenced by the annual review and evaluation, and if there is a continuing need for their services. b—e. (Retain present Bylaw) 5-03 Report of Synodical Commission on Adjudication The Synodical Commission on Adjudication was formed by action of the New Orleans convention of 1973. The first appeal submitted to it which resulted in a hearing and decision was in 1976. From 1976 to date the Commission has processed four appeals fully through the hearing and decision stage. A current appeal has been decided and is in the rehearing stage. It has processed other appeals by adjusting them to the mutual satisfaction of the parties or, in cases where it did not have jurisdiction, by referring the appellant to the appropriate District Commmission on Adjudication. As a result of its experience with such hearings and adjusted settlement of disputes, the Commission on Adjudica- tion has made recommendations to the Board of Appeals for some changes in rules of procedure. At all synodical conventions from 1975 through 1981 representatives of the Commission have furnished assistance to convention floor committees as a resource on adjudication processes in the Synod and also on proposed resolutions or Bylaw changes. The commission incurs expenses only when hearings are held on appeals or when commission representatives attend synodical conventions. Ottis L. Sauls, Chairman Robert Doggett, Secretary 5-04 Report of Ad Hoc Committee on Adjudication Procedures The 1981 convention of the Synod resolved (Res. 2-23) thata five-person committee will be appointed to draw up “‘acomplete rewrite of Chapter V of the Bylaws [Chapter VIII in the 1981 Handbook)and pertinent paragraphs of Chapter VI, including in its study a review of Constitution Article XIII.” The object of the review was to clarify and streamline procedures dealing with the adjudication of matters of disagreement, accusation, and controversy.