# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1965_S109 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 0 ee Ea a Ne CMe STO SOUS REE SSS SE TEL ares council the Executive Committee shall carry forward the work of the council, arrange for the execution of the orders and resolutions of its meetings, fill vacancies in the staff, and, subject to review by the council, perform such duties as the council may assign. At each regular or special meeting of the council it shall make a report of its actions. Section 2. A standing committee for each division, department, and commission shall be appointed annually by the Executive Committee upon nominations made by the participating bodies. Each body shall have repre- sentation on the committee of each division, depart- ment, or commission in which such body is participating. Such representation shall be equitably distributed among the participating bodies in general in proportion to their baptized membership. Section 3. Other committees may be established as the council may determine. ARTICLE X Divisions, Departments, Commissions, Offices Section 1. The council shall establish divisions, de- partments, commissions, and offices to carry on its work. Section 2. A division is a comprehensive administra- tive unit in which, under the direction of a division committee, means are provided for cooperation within a circumscribed segment of the council’s activity. It shall supervise such departments, commissions, and offices as are assigned to its scope of responsibility. Section 3. A department is an operative unit within a division through which an activity of a special or technical nature is carried on in behalf of the council. Section 4. A commission is an administrative com- mittee under the general secretariat or within the structure of a division appointed by the council to meet emergency situations. Section 5. An office is an executive unit charged with a special or technical assignment under the super- vision either of a division or of the general secretariat. ARTICLE XI Staff Section 1. The council shall have a General Secre- tary who shall be elected at an annual meeting for a term of four years, and such other executive personnel as may be required from time to time. Section 2. The General Secretary shall exercise ad- ministrative responsibility over the other members of the staff. Section 3. No member of the staff may serve as a representative of a participating body, nor shall he be a member of a committee of the council. ARTICLE XII Financial Matters Section 1. The regular financial support of the coun- cil shall be derived mainly from appropriations made CHURCH RELATIONS 109 by the participating bodies in proportion to their bap- tized membership. Section 2. Special or emergency work shall be financed out of funds available to the council or by such means as the participating bodies may determine in each case. Section 3. No borrowing in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) shall be undertaken in be- half of the council without approval by the participating bodies. ARTICLE XII Bylaws Bylaws consistent with the constitution may be adopted or amended by a two-thirds vote of the repre- sentatives present and voting at a duly called meeting of the council, provided that notice of each proposed amendment shall have been sent to each representative and to the president of each participating body at least thirty days prior to the date of the meeting. A provision of the bylaws may be suspended by a three-fourths vote of the representatives present and voting at any meeting. ARTICLE XIV Amendments Amendments of this constitution may be proposed in writing at any meeting of the council or at any meet- ing of the Executive Committee. Notice in writing of any amendment thus proposed shall be mailed by the Secretary to all representatives and to the presidents of all participating bodies. Action on such proposed amendment may be taken at any meeting of the council held three months or more after the mailing of such notices. A two-thirds vote of the representatives pres- ent and voting at such meeting followed by approval by two thirds of the participating bodies shall be re- quired for the adoption of an amendment. To Enter Proposed Lutheran Council in the United States of America RESOLUTION 3-12 Overtures 3-01, 3-02, 3-03, 3-04, 3-05, 3-06, 3-07, 3-08, 3-09, 3-10, 3-11 (CW, pp. 90-94); 3-40 Un (URO, p. 12); 2-49 M, 3-42 M (TB, pp. 8, 9) Introduction In keeping with the historic efforts of our Synod to promote theological discussions for the purpose of bringing about a greater unity in doctrine and practice among the Lutherans of America, the 1962 convention of the Synod asked the President, in consultation with the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, to appoint seven representatives of the Synod to meet with a similar number of representatives from other Lu- theran church bodies in the United States willing to enter into conversations regarding an inter-Lutheran church agency. (Proceedings, 1962, p. 109)