# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S513
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
prior to the convention (Bylaw 3.12.3.6 [b]) and that modifications
to the slate are often required subsequent to that date, with limited
ability of the CCN to reassemble to deal with them (leading to
various improvised solutions over the years), resolved that “the
Bylaw 3.2.5 committee selected by the CCN be empowered to act
on behalf of and in the name of the CCN for actions needed
subsequent to the issuing of the CCN’s final report prior to the
convention.” This provision should be formalized in the bylaws.
The handling of the reserve list and the appointment of the “Bylaw
3.2.5” standing committee also require clarification.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaws 3.2.5 and 3.12.3.5–7 be amended as
follows, to clarify the function of the CCN:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Vacancies
3.2.5
Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, vacancies that
occur on elected boards or commissions of the Synod shall be filled
by the Board of Directors of the Synod.
…
(c) This list shall be determined by the chairman and two
members of the Committee for Convention Nominations of the
Synod as determined by the committeeStanding Committee on
Nominations (Bylaw 3.12.3.5 [b]. The Synod’s Director of
Human Resources shall be consulted in developing the candidate
list.
…
3.12.3.5
The first meeting of the Committee for Convention
Nominations shall be at the call of the Secretary of the Synod at least
six months prior to the convention of the Synod.
…
(b) The committee shall elect its own chairman, vice-chairman,
and secretary and shall organize its work in whatever way it
deems necessary. It shall designate two of its members to serve
with the chairman on the Standing Committee on Nominations.
…
3.12.3.6
The Committee for Convention Nominations shall select
candidates for all elective offices, boards, and commissions except
President, First Vice-President, and vice-president positions
requiring regional nominations (Bylaws 3.12.2.7–8; 3.3.4.1; 3.8.2.2;
3.8.3.2).
(a) At least two candidates and at least one alternate shall be
selected for each position.
(b) The committee shall determine its complete list of candidates
and alternates, obtain the consent of the persons it proposes to
select as candidates, and transmit its final report at least five
months prior to the convention to the Secretary of the Synod, who
shall post the list on the Synod’s Website and provide for its
publication in a pre-convention issue of an official periodical of
the Synod and in the Convention Workbook.
(c) The committee’s report shall list the qualifications of various
positions used in the solicitation of nominees and contain
pertinent information concerning each candidate, such as
occupation or profession, district affiliation, residence, specific
experience, number of years as a member of an LCMS
congregation, present position, offices previously held in a
congregation, district or the Synod, and qualifications for the
office in question, and, if the candidate so desires, also a brief
personal statement.
(d) The committee shall prepare a reserve list of nominees for
use by the chairman at the convention, should the need arise.
(e) The committee shall, whenever possible, prepare and hold in
readiness a slate of candidates for any new board or commission

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likely to be established at a convention of the Synod, and of these
the committee should, whenever possible, be informed in
advance.
(f) Any changes to the complete list of candidates and alternates
necessitated by unavailability, declination, or ineligibility of
candidates occurring after the last meeting of the Committee on
Convention Nominations may be effected by the Standing
Committee on Nominations. As much as possible, this shall be
accomplished by advancing available alternates and by making
use of the reserve list of nominees approved by the plenary
committee.
3.12.3.7
The chairman of the Committee for Convention
Nominations shall submit the committee’s report in person to the
convention at one of its earliest sessions and shall facilitate the
amendment of the slate from the floor.
…
(e) Whenever possible, chairman of the Committee for
Convention Nominations shall have on hand at the convention a
reserve list of nominees, approved by the committee, for use if
required.
(f) Whenever possible, the Committee for Convention
Nominations should be informed in advance if any new board or
commission is likely to be established at a convention of the
Synod, so that it may have a slate of candidates in readiness.

D. EXCUSE PROCEDURE FOR ADVISORY DISTRICT
CONVENTION ATTENDANCE (COH 16-039)
Rationale
Bylaws 3.1.3 and 4.2.3 for district conventions, like Bylaw 4.8.2 for
official district conferences, require attendance of advisory
members. Unlike Bylaw 4.8.2, they do not acknowledge that there
may be legitimate excuses for non-attendance or suggest that there
should be a process for handling such excuses. Changes are
proposed along these lines, for the practical reason that attendance
of advisory members at conventions is not always possible and that
the reasons for their absence should be made known to the district
president, whether the result will be to evangelically encourage
attendance as an obligation and benefit of Synod membership, or to
seek amelioration of whatever circumstances are hindering advisory
member attendance.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaws 3.1.3 and 4.2.3 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Nonvoting Advisory Delegates
3.1.3
Advisory members of the Synod shall, unless they present
a valid excuse, attend district conventions, but they shall not be
elected by any congregation or by any group of congregations as lay
delegates to a national convention of the Synod.
4.2.3
All nonvoting ordained and commissioned ministers who
are members of the Synod within the district shall, unless they
present a valid excuse, serve as advisory delegates.
(a) They are entitled to voice and vote on a floor committee, if
appointed, and to voice in the convention.
(b) All advisory members are expected to attend all sessions of
the convention.
(c) Those advisory members whose office in the Synod, district,
or other agency imposes professional or service requirements on
which full and regular convention attendance makes undue
demands, shall nevertheless, in consultation with their
supervisory boards, arrange for their own partial or occasional

2019 Convention Workbook