# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S161
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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5. CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

To Retain Bylaw 2.129 b
(Prior Consent to Serve)

RESOLUTION 5-01
Overtures 5-48—5-52 (CW, pp. 225—226)

Wuereas, The present nomination and election pro-
cedure was determined by the Milwaukee convention,
without any voice recorded in opposition to it, on the
basis of a recommendation made by a special task force
authorized by the previous convention in response to
demands for a more satisfactory method of nomination;
and

Wuereas, Our congregations have acted in accord
with this resolution and nominated men for these offices;
and

Wuereas, Your floor committee has studied the pro-
cedure adopted by the last convention in Milwaukee
(1971) and found nothing objectionable in this pro-
cedure; and

Wuereas, We have five men nominated for each po-
sition who have indicated their willingness to serve if
elected; and

Whereas, If one of them were to be elected and then
indicated that in the four or five months since the com-
mitment was made a changed situation made it neces-
sary for him to decline the election, the church would
certainly recognize the validity of such a decision; and

Wuereas, The present procedure provides for an
orderly and thoughtful approach for our congregations
to have a voice in electing leaders to these responsible
positions and for the Synod to have opportunity to
learn to know the candidates and their position on issues
facing the church and thus be in a position to exercise
democratic church government by voting with full in-
formation at the time of the convention; therefore be it

Resolved, That in fairness to the congregations who
have followed this procedure in nominations and in fair-
ness to the men who have agreed to offer their service
to the Synod under the terms of the election procedure
adopted by the Milwaukee convention we decline this
overture.

Action: Adopted (1).

To Provide for Reporting of Ballot Tally
RESOLUTION 5-02
Overtures 5-56A, 5-56B, 5-56C (CW, p. 227)
Wuereas, It is desirable that synodical elections be
fair to each candidate; and
Wuereas, All voting delegates should have access to
facts rather than to rumors; therefore be it

Resolved, That effective immediately the Secretary
of the Synod be instructed to report the number of
votes received by each clergyman who received at least
five nominating votes for the office of President of the

163

Dr. Ellis Nieting, chairman of Committee 5

Synod or for the office of First Vice-President of the
Synod in the nominating process; and be it also

Resolved, That the chairman of the Committee on
Elections report the tally of the votes cast for each can-
didate following each ballot in all elections.

Action: Adopted (1).

To Clarify “All Matters of Doctrine
and of Conscience Shall Be Decided
Only by the Word of God”

RESOLUTION 5-03
Overture 5-46 (CW, p. 224)

Wuereas, Article VIII C of the synodical Constitu-
tion, “Resolutions at Synodical Meetings,” reads, “All
matters of doctrine and of conscience shall be decided
only by the Word of God. All other matters shall be
decided by a majority vote. In case of a tie vote the
President may cast the deciding vote”; and

Wuereas, Overture 5-46 requests that the meaning
of this paragraph “be clarified before any ‘matters of
doctrine and conscience’ are presented for decision by
vote at the 1973 New Orleans Convention”; and

+

Wuereas, Article VIII as presently formulated dates
back to the earliest texts of the synodical constitution,
including the original draft of May 1846; and

Wuereas, It is therefore instructive to see how the