# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2010_S167
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SYNOD STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE

Resolved, That effective at the next regular convention the
Synod’s Board of Directors be composed of no more than 14
voting members, as follows:
• five laypersons, one elected from each of the five designated geographical regions
• two ministers of religion–ordained elected at-large from
the Synod
• one minister of religion–commissioned elected at-large
from the Synod
• two laypersons elected at-large from Synod
• up to three at-large laypersons appointed by the elected
members of the Board of Directors to obtain needed
additional skill sets (legal, finance, investment, administration, etc .)
• the President of the Synod
and be it further
Resolved, That with the exception of the President of the
Synod, no more than two voting members be elected from the
same district; and be it finally
Resolved, That Bylaw 3 .3 .5 .1 be amended accordingly,
as shown (“2007 Handbook Convention Version,” TB, pp .
242–243) .
Action: Adopted (5)
(During discussion of the resolution, a motion was introduced
to amend the first resolve by changing “14” to “15,” to amend the
composition of the board by replacing “two ministers of religion–
ordained elected at-large from the Synod” with “five ministers of
religion–ordained, one elected from each of the five designated
geographical regions” and by deleting “two laypersons elected atlarge from Synod,” and to amend proposed Bylaw 3 .3 .5 .1 by inserting the words “elected by the Synod” after “layperson,” to read “1 .
One layperson elected by the Synod from each of the five regions
will serve as voting members .” During discussion of the motion to
amend, an amendment to the amendment was proposed to replace
“five” with “three” (ministers of religion – ordained) and replacing
“one” to “two” (ministers of religion commissioned) . This motion
was declared not in order by the chair because it was not a proper
amendment of an amendment . After further discussion, the motion
to amend failed [Yes: 372; No: 792] and an amendment to change
“two” to “one” in the second resolve also failed [Yes: 230; No:
898] . Res . 8-16A was adopted without amendment [Yes: 760; No:
402] .)

Congregations Walking Together in Mission
as They Elect President and First Vice-President
To Elect the Synod President
RESOLUTION 8-17
TF Report (CW TFR, pp. 34–35); Overture 8-63 (CW,
pp. 242–243)
Whereas, The President serves the whole Synod; and
Whereas, Technology has made it possible for every
congregation, through its duly elected delegates to the dis-

167

trict convention, to participate in the nomination and election
process; therefore be it
Resolved, That information concerning the three candidates
receiving the highest number of nominations and consenting
to serve, including biographical information and further information outlining each candidate’s vision and direction for the
Synod, be shared with all congregations of the Synod two
months prior to the convention; and be it further
Resolved, That four weeks prior to the start of the convention, two of the delegates to the previous district convention
from each congregation be provided opportunity to cast votes
in a secure fashion for the office of President; and be it further
Resolved, That if no candidate receives a majority, a second
ballot for the top two candidates be cast in a similar fashion;
and be it further
Resolved, That the results of the balloting be announced to
the Synod two weeks prior to the start of the convention; and
be it finally
Resolved, That Bylaws 3 .12 .2 .1–3 .12 .2 .3 be amended
accordingly, as shown (“2007 Handbook Convention
Version,” TB, pp . 303–305) .
Action: Adopted (4)
(During discussion, an amendment to add the words “two
months prior to the convention” to the end of the first resolve was
received by the committee as a friendly amendment . A proposed
amendment to change the words “three” to “five” in the first resolve and “two” to “four” in the second resolve was ruled a substitute motion, which the assembly determined not to consider [Yes:
337; No: 778] . A proposed amendment to strike the words “two
of the delegates to the previous convention from” in the second
resolve was defeated [Yes: 319; No: 833] . As discussion continued,
the committee corrected the bylaw reference in the final resolve
to read “3 .12 .2 .1–3 .12 .2 .3 .” An amendment to add a new third resolve to read “That the Commission on Structure (or Handbook)
be directed to set up a similar system to elect the members of the
Synod Board of Directors by representatives from each congregation” was ruled a substitute motion which the assembly voted not to
consider [Yes: 260; No: 904] . A proposed amendment advocating
substantial changes to Bylaw 3 .2 .4 was withdrawn after concern
was expressed by the Commission on Constitutional Matters . Res .
8-17 was adopted as changed [Yes: 749; No: 419] .)

Congregations Walking Together in Mission
through Conventions
To Amend Article VIII of the Constitution
RESOLUTION 8-18
TF Report (CW TFR, p. 31); Overture 8-60 (CW, p. 242)
Rationale
When dealing with the issue of frequency of district and
national conventions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod, members of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod
Structure and Governance have proposed a change that aims
to accomplish three important objectives:
2010 Convention Proceedings