# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S235
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 235

(5-18)
To Permit Laymen to Present Overtures

Wuereas, At the 46th regular convention of The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, held at Detroit,
Michigan, June 16—26, 1965, there was adopted Resolu-
tion 5-38; and

WHEREAS, Such resolution denies individual laymen
the privilege of offering overtures or even reports di-
rectly to the Synod; and

Whereas, Such privilege is still granted to certain
other individuals of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, Such resolution clearly indicates a prefer-
ential treatment of certain classes of persons over and
against others: and

WHEREAS, Such action is neither democratic, equita-
ble, nor Scriptural, according to 1 Peter 5:3; and

Wuereas. Records indicate that many resolutions
previously presented to the Synod by individual laymen
were of a highly constructive nature and so beneficial
to the Synod: and

Whereas, One of the primary reasons for passing the
above resolution was that too many repetitious memori-
als were making the work of synodical conventions
burdensome: and

Wuereas, The work load at the New York conven-
tion 2 years later did not prove out the above advanced
reason; and

Wuereas, Such distinction and separation created
by said Resolution 5-38 is neither wholesome nor bene-
ficial to the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Synod many times is required to ap-
peal to her individual laymen for assistance and sup-
port in a direct manner and so should grant this same
direct appeal privilege to her individual laymen; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the 1969 convention of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod reconsider the 1965 Detroit
action and restore to her individual laymen the privilege
of again presenting petitions, memorials, and reports

to her. TEACHER Latrp C. EHLERT

Wausau, Wis.
(5-19)

To Permit Individual Laymen to Petition

WHEREAS, The Detroit convention of the Synod took
away the right of individual laymen to send resolutions
for the consideration of the Synod in convention as-
sembled: and

Wuereas, This action, which makes of laymen “sec-
ond-rate members,” is a form of discrimination and is
everything but democratic: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Denver convention restore the
right of individual petition to the laymen.

Faith LUTHERAN CONGREGATION
East Wenatchee, Wash.

Rogpert R. BRUNNER, President
WILLIAM H. HILDEBRAND, Secretary
WatvaceE E. Morris, Pastor

(5-20)
To Give Individual Laymen Right
to Present Overtures

Wuereas, Certain changes in the Synod’s Bylaws,
adopted at the Detroit convention in 1965, now specifi-
cally limit the right to present memorials, overtures,
and similar items for consideration at synodical conven-
tions to members of the Synod only (1.27 a, p. 30, 1967
edition of Handbook); and

Whereas, Article V of the Synod’s Constitution states
that congregations, pastors, parochial school teachers,
and certain other individuals are either voting or ad-
visory members of the Synod; and

Whereas, Neither the Constitution nor the Bylaws
specifically states that individuals holding communicant
membership in a voting-member congregation of the
Synod are members of the Synod but are members of
a congregation holding membership in the Synod: and

Wuereas, A strict imterpretation and application of
the Constitution and Bylaws now deprive individual lay
members of the Synod, either as individuals or in a
group, to present items for inclusion in the Convention
Workbook, but must present their memorials and over-
tures indirectly through a member of the Synod; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Northwest District of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod, meeting in conven-
tion at Spokane, Wash., June 24—28, 1968, respectfully
request the Synod, meeting in convention at Denver,
Colo., in 1969, to amend synodical Bylaw 1.27a to read
as follows:

a. Reports, overtures, proposals, petitions, and all other
matters intended for presentation to and consideration by
a delegate convention of the Synod may be submitted by
a member of the Synod, by a layman of the Synod, an
officer of the Synod, a board or commission of the Synod or
of a District, the Council of Presidents, a faculty or board
of an educational institution of the Synod, or a convention
of a District of the Synod. All memorials, overtures, pro-
posals, petitions, reports, and other matters coming from
individuals are to be reviewed and approved by a congrega-
tion, a conference, or a District convention of the Synod.

Note: The present Handbook of the Synod reads as
follows:

a. Reports, overtures, proposals, petitions, and other mat-
ters intended for presentation to and consideration by a dele-
gate convention of the Synod may be submitted only by
a member of the Synod, an officer of the Synod, a board or
commission of the Synod or of a District, the Council of
Presidents, a faculty or Board of Control of an educational
institution of the Synod, or a convention of a District of

the Synod. NortHWEst District
Victor A. SCHULZE, Secretary
(5-21)

To Rescind Action Regarding Overtures
from Laymen

Wuereas, It had been a long-standing custom in our
Synod to permit any pastor and any layman who is a
member of a congregation belonging to the Synod to
submit overtures for consideration by synodical con-
ventions, thus treating pastors and laymen as being on
the same level in this matter; and