# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1992_S199
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

198 LATE REPORTS AND OVERTURES

L3-50
To Allow Unassigned Candidates

to Receive and Consider
Properly Issued Calls

Rationale:

Our doctrine of the call places the final authority of
issuing a call on the congregation. If a congregation chooses
to call a specific candidate, that call should be honored.
Likewise, the final decision of accepting or declining a call
rests on the person being called. If a candidate is truly
certified as eligible to be a member of the Synod and has
gone through all aspects of the placement process without
receiving a call, he should be free to consider a specific call
without the permission or direction of the Board of As-
signments. The practice of placing candidates was devel-
oped for the sake of the candidates and their inauguration
into the ministerium of the Synod, not to restrict congre-

gations or candidates. The elected officials of the Synod
are servants of its members.

Resolved, That the Synod in convention adopt the fol-
lowing addition to Bylaw 2.11 as point e:
2.11 Assignments of First Calls
e. Legitimate candidates not initially assigned by the
Board of Assignments will normally be assigned in sub-
sequent action of the Board of Assignments. However, any
certified candidate who does not receive placement
through the initial placement process is eligible to receive
and consider properly issued calls. An unassigned candi-
date will immediately inform and consult with his/her re-
spective placement director upon receipt of a call and will
inform the placement director of his/her ultimate decision
in regard to the call.
Decatur Circuit
Indiana District
Daniel J. Brege, Circuit Counselor