# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S382
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

382

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

WHEREAS, The Synod highly values commissioned ministers for
their eagerness to serve the Lord and His Church (2019 Resolution
9-17, “To Study Voting Privilege in the LCMS,” Proceedings, 201);
and
WHEREAS, Ministers of religion—commissioned are considered
advisory members with representation, voice, but no vote at
conventions of districts and Synod, along with “those ordained
ministers not eligible for election as a voting delegate under Bylaw
3.1.2.1 (d) …” (Bylaw 3.1.3) with representation, voice, but no vote
at conventions of districts and Synod; and
WHEREAS, Four districts—Northern Illinois, Nebraska, MidSouth, and Pacific Southwest—utilize the voice and guidance of
their commissioned worker in district convention through a noncounted advisory member vote; and
WHEREAS, This honors the bylaws and structure of convention
while allowing the nonvoting advisory delegate voice to be heard
and their vote recognized; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Pacific Southwest District affirm the trial
practice of the 2022 district convention—supported by the district
board of directors—to enable nonvoting advisory commissioned
minister delegates to provide a preliminary advisory vote on all nonelection, convention actions; and be it further
Resolved, That a pre-vote model of commissioned ministers
become a regular practice of the district starting with the next
district convention in 2025; and be it further
Resolved, That each congregation will have the right to send one
commissioned minister, non-voting advisory delegate to the district
convention; and be it finally
Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize the 2023
Synod convention to pass a like-minded resolution, encouraging
other districts to do the same, and implementing this practice at the
2026 Synod convention.
Pacific Southwest District
Ov. 9-22

To Strengthen Nonvoting Advisory Delegate
Participation at Convention
WHEREAS, Currently, there are 12,010 ministers of religion—
commissioned (Church Worker Update System, March 2021) who
serve the mission and ministry of congregations, schools, child
development centers, camps, compassion centers, and mission work
throughout the national and global mission fields; and
WHEREAS, The current structure of the Synod does not allow for
a third category of voting delegates at district and Synod
conventions (Constitution Articles IX; XII 10 b); and
WHEREAS, The Synod highly values commissioned ministers for
their eagerness to serve the Lord and His Church, as in 2019
Resolution 9-17, “To Study Voting Privilege in the LCMS”
(Proceedings, 201); and
WHEREAS, The Synod recognizes the voices and wisdom of our
commissioned ministers as gifts from the Lord, and appreciates and
gives thanks to God for the unique vocations of ordained ministers,
commissioned ministers, and lay people alike; and
WHEREAS, Ministers of religion—commissioned are considered
advisory delegates with representation, voice, but no vote at
conventions of districts and Synod, along with “those ordained
ministers not eligible for election as a voting delegate under Bylaw
2023 Convention Workbook

3.1.2.1 (d) …” (Bylaw 3.1.3) with representation, voice, but no vote
at conventions of districts and Synod; and
WHEREAS, At least one other district (Northern Illinois) utilizes
the voice and guidance of their commissioned workers in district
convention through a non-binding advisory member vote; and
WHEREAS, This honors the bylaw and structure of the convention
while allowing the non-voting advisory delegate voice to be heard
and their vote recognized; therefore be it
Resolved, That the SELC District enable non-voting advisory
delegates to provide a preliminary, advisory vote on convention
business excepting elections at the discretion of the chair during its
regular convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the results of the advisory vote be published prior
to the delegate vote; and be it further
Resolved, That this become effective with the next district
convention in 2025; and be it finally
Resolved, That the SELC District in convention memorialize the
Synod in convention to pass a like-minded resolution.
SELC District
Ov. 9-23

To Strengthen Nonvoting Advisory Delegate
Participation at Convention
WHEREAS, Currently, there are 12,010 ministers of religion—
commissioned (Church Worker Update System, March 2021) who
serve the mission and ministry of congregations, schools, child
development centers, camps, compassion centers, and mission work
throughout the national and global mission fields; and
WHEREAS, The current structure of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS) does not allow for a third category of
voting delegates at district and Synod conventions (Constitution
Articles IX; XII 10 b); and
WHEREAS, The LCMS highly values ministers of religion—
commissioned for their eagerness to serve the Lord and His Church
(2019 Resolution 9-17, “To Study Voting Privilege in the LCMS,”
Proceedings, 201); and
WHEREAS, Ministers of religion—commissioned are considered
advisory members with representation, voice, but no vote at
conventions of districts and Synod, along with “those ordained
ministers not eligible for election as a voting delegate under Bylaw
3.1.2.1 (d) …” (Bylaw 3.1.3) with representation, voice, but no vote
at conventions of districts and Synod; and
WHEREAS, This honors the bylaw and structure of the convention
while allowing the nonvoting advisory delegate voice to be heard
and their vote recognized; and
WHEREAS, At least one other district (Northern Illinois) utilizes
the voice and guidance of their ministers of religion—
commissioned in district convention through a non-counted
advisory member vote; and
WHEREAS, The Southeastern District in its 2022 convention
voted to forward this overture to the Synod convention for
consideration; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod enable nonvoting advisory delegates
to provide a preliminary non-binding vote during its regular
convention; and be it further