# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S276
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

7. NOMINATIONS

7-01

Report on Nominations for President
and First Vice-President

The procedures introduced by the 1971 convention of the
Synod for nominating clergymen for President and First Vice.
President of the Synod place considerable responsibility on the
Secretary of the Synod.

Once again he availed himself of the opportunity granted
under the Bylaws to engage an accounting firm. Ernst and
Whinnevy graciously consented once again to receiveand tabu-
late the nominating ballots submitted by member congrega-
tions.

Although all congregations had the opportunity to nomi-
nate two different individuals for each of the two positions,
many chose to nominate only one. When the same person was
nominated twice by acongregation for the same position it was
possible to credit him with one vote only and not with two. The
Bylaws are very specific about this, as was the public an-
nouncement. But this fact was overlooked in many instances.

In addition to those listed below, the following were notified
of their selection and given the opportunity to have theirnames
on the ballot. For President: Gerhardt W. Hyatt, Arnold Kuntz,
Walter A. Maier, Charles Mueller, and Robert Sauer; for First
Vice-President: Ralph Bohlmann, Guido Merkens, and Charles
Mueller.

These individuals declined for various reasons. In each
instance the clergyman with the next highest number of votes
was then designated as the nominee, as prescribed in the
Bylaws.

The following have given their consent to serve if elected
and therefore constitute the official slate in alphabetical order:

For President:

L. Lloyd Behnken, Longwood, Fla.
Ralph A. Bohlmann, Des Peres, Mo.
Richard T. Hinz, Burke, Va.

Ray F. Martens, Austin, Tex.

Guido Merkens, San Antonio. Tex.

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For First Vice-President:

Richard T. Hinz, Burke, Va.
Gerhardt W. Hyatt, St. Paul, Minn.
Joseph G. Lavalais, Philadelphia, Pa.
Walter A. Maier, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Robert C. Sauer, St. Charles, Mo.

These two slates will be submitted separately, each at its
proper time, to the convention for adoption as presented or as
amended by the convention. Bylaw 2.903 f details the
procedure:

f. The convention shall have the right to alter each slate at the

proper time by amendment. The amendment procedure shall include

merely a motion. a second, and a vote on the amendment. delib-
erately excluding verbal characterizations and discussion of the
motion (except for the chair to ascertain that the requirements have
been met as to eligibility, consent, and the filing of the biographical
form). Any delegate making a nomination from the floor shall have
secured prior written consent of the candidate whom he wishes to
nominate. Such delegate shall immediately submit to the Secretary
of the Synod this document and written pertinent information
concerning his nominee as detailed in 2.903 e.

In order to make this procedure possible and manageable
and in order to meet the requirements of the Bylaws, the Office
of the Secretary has announced once again that it is making
available to those who wish to exercise this privilege the
following forms: a consent form which must be signed by the
nominee and a biographical information form. These forms
should be requested from the Office of the Secretary as soon as
possible so that if the effort to place in nomination another
individual by means of a motion to amend the slate receives
majority support, this required material would be available
immediately.

The biographical information forms submitted by the nom-
inees chosen by the congregations are attached tothis report as
well as the tabulation of votes as prepared by the firm of Ernst
and Whinney.

Herbert Mueller, Secretary