# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S308
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

808 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
[505]

Regarding the “Praesidium”’

Wuereas, With the growth of our beloved Synod mo
more of its functions and activities require the full time ,
ministrators, executive secretaries, directors, etc., together:
their staffs; and

Wuereas, This development tends to draw the adminj
farther and farther away from the grass roots, i. e., fro
parishes of Synod; and

Wuereas, This development, while definitely expediting)
functioning of the Church, at the same time creates a serious: #
of a growing bureaucracy, or even of a hierarchy, which:
change the entire character of our Church, contrary to the’
ciples based on the royal priesthood of the believers ‘at;
sovereignty of the local congregation; and

Whereas, The establishing of full-time administrators i
fields of Synod’s work should at the same time remove mao;
more of the detail of administration from the Praesidium;

Wuereas, We conceive Synod to be an advisory body
a congregation of congregations, and consequently principles.
ing to the call of a pastor do not apply to the election of syn
officials; and

ful in the administration of other large church bodies, i.e
Presbyterian Church with its Moderator; therefore be it.

Resolved, That we respectfully petition Synod to elect’
mittee of members of Synod who are not a part of the Pra
or of its various boards, which committee is to study the fea
of establishing the policy that members of the Praesidiui
be pastors of parishes within Synod, thereby maintai
as a part of the grass roots of Synod;

That the same committee be instructed to consider th
bility of limiting the terms of office of this Praesidium to oi
also the feasibility of the Committee on Nominations to"
candidates for the Praesidium; ;

That it be understood that in the event of such a
in the administration it shall not apply to the present, inc
full-time members of the Praesidium.

Greater Cuicaco PasroraL Co:
OF THE ENGLIsH District *

WrraM Errric, Chairma
Car. L. Rutz, Secretary

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