# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S490
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

490

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

many lay votes as there are in a multi-congregation parish—goes
back as far as opinions of Apr. 23–24, 1970, and June 13–14, 1968.
The necessity of these earlier opinions apparently arises because of
a change, in 1967, in the procedure for election of circuit delegates.
Prior to the 1967 changes, circuit delegates were selected “by the
representatives of the respective electoral circuits at the convention
of the district preceding the convention of the Synod” (1966 Bylaw
1.51) After 1967, circuits met as they do now to elect the delegates,
with “[t]he privilege of voting […] exercised by one pastor and one
layman from each member congregation of the circuit.” (1967
Bylaw 1.51). This was interpreted to mean that each congregation
in a parish was entitled to a lay vote, and that the parish’s pastor cast
a single vote. The commission, in the noted 1968 and 1970
opinions, gave no explanation of the basis on which the opinion was
rendered. The 1973 convention of the Synod added bylaw language
reflecting these CCM opinions.
Prior to 2010 changes, the election of the circuit visitor involved
nominations by congregational action and an election at the
convention (e.g., 1967 Bylaw 3.61b). Since 2010, the circuit visitor
has been elected by present procedures at the circuit forum, with a
multi-congregation parish voting as it does for delegates.
This practice, in both instances, for election of circuit visitor and for
election of circuit delegates, reflects an unusual divergence from the
pattern of representation established consistently from the
foundation of the Synod—on the basis of equal representation of
pastor and those pastored—one pastoral vote and one lay vote per
Pfarrgemeinde, meaning pastor-congregation or, in modern
nomenclature, “congregation or [multi-congregation] parish.” This
divergence has, over the years, created significant confusion, and
with the increasing number of multi-congregation parishes in the
Synod, creates questions of imbalance—either that the number of
pastoral votes is diluted by a much larger number of lay voters, or
that a pastor with a large number of congregations in his parish may
have a great deal of influence over the decisions made by the circuit
of which the parish is a part.
The Commission on Handbook therefore recommends the
following changes, the effect of which would be to render the basis
of representation at the parish the same as at the district convention,
each congregation or multi-congregation parish being represented
by its pastor and one lay representative.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.2.1 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.1.2.1
Elections of voting delegates shall take place in accordance
with established policy and procedure.
…
(c) The privilege of voting shall be exercised by one pastor and
one layperson from each member congregation or multicongregation parish of the circuit, both of whom shall have been
elected in the manner prescribed by the congregation or parish.
Multi-congregation parishes shall be entitled to a lay vote from
each member congregation.Congregations of a multicongregation parish not contributing a lay voter may send an
advisory representative, with voice but no vote.

and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 5.3.2 be amended as follows:

2019 Convention Workbook

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
5.3.2
The circuit forum consists of a one pastor of each
congregation and one layperson from member of each member
congregation or multi-congregation parish designated by the
congregation or parish. Congregations of a multi-congregation
parish not contributing a lay voter may send an advisory
representative, with voice but no vote.

Commission on Handbook
Ov. 9-11

To Elect Delegates
to the Synod and District Conventions
WHEREAS, 2010 Synod convention received and acted upon the
following report from the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod
Structure and Governance:
Equitable Congregational Representation at District
Conventions
In a study of synodical conventions between 1847 and 1959,
there was not one convention at which the 50/50 balance of
clergy/lay actually occurred. Clergy always outnumbered the
laity. The concept of one pastor and one layperson representing
each congregation or parish regardless of size has been a part of
the tradition of the Synod for 162 years. This arrangement was
intended to maintain a balance between the numbers of pastoral
and lay delegates and treat all congregations the same in terms
of voting representation (in addition to their obvious identical
spiritual value before God). The question today, however, is
whether this approach makes maximum use of the spiritual gifts
and authority God has given to all His people for the sake of His
mission, and whether it truly and fairly represents the entire
priesthood of believers gathered in Synod congregations (1 Peter
2).
Because the practice of representation by one pastor and one
layperson is not mandated by the Word of God and is not
essential to underlying theological principles, the Synod may in
Christian liberty employ a different approach in achieving its
representation at district conventions if it believes another
approach to be more equitable, representative, and cost effective.
(Appendix 1, pp. 1.10 and 1.69)
There also are three areas of inequitable representation at district
conventions that the task force addresses, with the objective of
providing additional congregational voice. Currently,
congregations with a pastoral vacancy receive only one vote (the
lay vote), multiple congregation parishes must share their lay
vote among all the congregations involved in the partnership,
and large congregations have no more numerically
representative voice than small congregations despite having a
significantly larger number of members.
Vacancy or interim pastors are considered “called” when they
receive formal requests from congregations to provide vacancy
services. Thus, called they should be allowed to represent the
congregations they serve as delegates to district conventions.
(Appendix 1, pp. 1.69)
Representation at conventions and all decision-making should
reflect such theological considerations as the general priesthood
of all believers, God’s gift of spiritual power to the whole church,
the functioning of the Body of Christ, and the spiritual gifts of
all individual Christians for the edification and common good of