# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S510
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

510

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

virtue of the call, assume supervision of the minister (Bylaw
section 2.12). If the call is such that the district president to
assume supervision is not known, the counsel of the president of
the district within which the entity is located or with which it is
associated shall be sought.
(c) If such a call involves multiple districts (such as by entity
location or connection and/or position locale), the presidents of
all such districts shall be consulted and mutually agree on which
one of them will counsel the entity regarding the call and assume
supervision of the worker called.
2.5.2
Congregations that are members of the Synod, association
schools, agencies, auxiliaries, and recognized service organizations
shall call and be served only by (1) ordained ministers who have
been admitted to their respective ministries in accordance with the
rules and regulations set forth in these Bylaws and have thereby
become members of the Synod; (2) candidates for the pastoral
ministry who have satisfied the qualifications and requirements for
assignment of first calls by the Council of Presidents acting as the
Board of Assignments; or (3) ordained ministers who are members
in good standing of church bodies that have been formally
recognized to be in altar and pulpit fellowship with the Synod when
agreements for such calls are in place.
2.5.3
Congregations that are members of the Synod, association
schools, agencies, auxiliaries, and recognized service organizations
shall call only (1) commissioned ministers who have been admitted
to their ministries in accordance with the rules and regulations set
forth in these Bylaws and have thereby become members of the
Synod; (2) candidates of LCMS colleges and universities who have
satisfied the qualifications and requirements for assignment of first
calls by the Council of Presidents acting as the Board of
Assignments; or (3) commissioned ministers (or those holding
positions comparable to commissioned ministers) who are members
in good standing of church bodies that have been formally
recognized to be in altar and pulpit fellowship with the Synod when
agreements for such calls are in place.
2.5.4
Congregations that violate these requirements and persist
in such violation shall, after due admonition, forfeit their
membership in the Synod.

C. PROCEDURAL CLARIFICATIONS REGARDING
INACTIVE STATUS
Rationale
Elimination of non-candidate status and the adjustment of
parameters for candidate status (2016 Res. 12-03) left lingering
procedural questions, compounded by unclarity in related bylaws.
Workers whose calls terminate without having another call in hand
also often do not apply timely for candidate status, sometimes for
years after their calls have terminated. Bylaws have not dealt with
the status of these members between the time their active status
terminates (with the conclusion of a call) and the time their
candidate status is granted. It is proposed to require candidate status
to be applied for and granted within 30 days of call termination, in
the case of ordained, and 120 days, in the case of commissioned
ministers (the longer period for the latter, because of the number of
teachers whose continuation over the summer is in question).
Finally, it is proposed to clarify the qualifications for granting or
annual continuation of candidate status, and to provide an explicit
procedure (namely, reinstatement, Bylaw section 2.18) by which a
member can seek to reverse a decision not to grant or not to extend
candidate status.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaws 2.11.2–2.11.2.2 be amended to clarify
qualifications and procedures regarding inactive status:
2019 Convention Workbook

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
2.11.2

Inactive members are advisory members of the Synod.
(a) As such, they have all the rights, privileges, and
responsibilities of advisory membership in the Synod as defined
in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.
(b) To remain on the roster of the Synod as an inactive member,
an ordained or commissioned minister of religion must be a
communicant member in good standing of a congregation which
is a member of the Synod and must qualify and make application
for one of the following categories.
(c) A member whose active service terminates while awaiting
installation to another accepted call to active service shall have
candidate status.
(d) A member whose active service terminates without prior
acceptance of another call to active service has 30 days, if
ordained, and 120 days, if commissioned to apply for and be
granted inactive status (candidate or emeritus, as appropriate).
Should inactive status not be granted within said period,
membership in the Synod is forfeited.
(e) A member may seek to reverse a denial of emeritus or
candidate status, whether initial or continuing, by application for
reinstatement to the roster of the Synod (Bylaw 2.18.1).
Emeritus
2.11.2.1
An “emeritus” member is one whose membership is held
for retention on the roster upon retirement after reaching the age of
55 or for reasons of total and permanent disability. Any unusual case
shall be decided by the Council of Presidents if the appropriate
district president so requests.
(a) The emeritus member or a representative identified by his
district president shall, by January 31, make an annual report to
the member’s district president.
(b) This report shall include current contact information and
address the criteria for remaining an inactive member of the
Synod.
Candidate
2.11.2.2
A “candidate” member is one who is eligible to perform
the duties of any of the offices of ministry specified in Bylaw section
2.11 but who is not currently an active member or an emeritus
member.
(a) A candidate may be continued on the roster for a period not
to exceed ten years by act of the president of the district through
which the person holds membership. A candidate may be further
continued on the roster for a period not to exceed five additional
years upon recommendation of the applicant’s district president
and approval of three fourths (75%) of the Council of Presidents.
(b) The candidate shall, by January 31, make an annual report to
the district president who shall evaluatedetermine the member’s
eligibility for remainingto remain on candidate status. The
candidate’s report shall include current contact information and
address the criteria for remaining on candidate status.
(c) Among criteria for determining whether candidate status
should be granted or continued areThe district president shall
determine whether or not to grant or, upon annual review,
continue candidate status based on the following criteria:
(1) The health of the applicantmember’s health;
(2) A spirit of cooperation in anyThe member’s efforts to
address any unresolved issues involving fitness for ministry;
(3) The extent of current involvement on a part-time and
assisting basis in his/her respective ministryThe member’s
current involvement in ministry; and
(4) A demonstrated willingness to consider a call or
appointmentThe member’s written statement addressing any
impediments to consideration and acceptance of a call to any
of the offices of ministry specified in Bylaw section 2.11. ; and