# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S153
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

To Make Circuit Convocations Voluntary

153

(Delegates declined requests to remove Ov. 7-63 and Ov. 7-93
from the list included in the resolution.)

RESOLUTION 7-18
Overture 7-83 (CW, p. 265)
WHEREAS, Circuit Convocations have met with success
in some locations and have not been adequately attended
or even held in other locations; and
WHEREAS, Many of the functions of Circuit Convocations
are implemented already at the congregational level; and
WHEREAS, Other opportunities are available in which
congregational members may learn about and celebrate the
ministry of Circuit congregations, may review and discuss
the work of the Circuit Forums, and may implement information received on the various phases of the work pursued
through District and the Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, To change the word shall in 5.51 of the 1995
Handbook to may as concerns the holding of Circuit Convocations.
Action: Adopted (5)

RESOLUTION 7-19
Overtures 2-86, 7-11, 7-24, 7-27, 7-33, 7-40, 7-41, 744–49, 7-52, 7-57–58, 7-60–68, 7-73–77, 7-85, 7-89–96,
7-102, 7-107–14, 7-132, 7-136–38, 7-141–45 (CW, pp.
151, 242, 246–49, 251–69, 271–74, 278–82)
WHEREAS, The floor committee has considered all overtures assigned to it and has concluded, for various reasons,
that certain overtures should be declined; therefore be it
Resolved, That the following overtures be respectfully
declined for the reasons given:

Ov. 7-40
Ov. 7-41
Ov. 7-27,
7-45–49,
2-82, 2-86
Ov. 7-44
Ov. 7-52
Ov. 7-57–58
Ov. 7-60
Ov. 7-61–68
7-23–77
Ov. 7-85
Ov. 7-89
Ov. 7-90–94
Ov. 7-95–96
Ov. 7-102
Ov. 7-107–10
Ov. 7-111–13
Ov. 7-114
Ov. 7-132
Ov. 7-136–137
Ov. 7-138
Ov. 7-141,
7-145

Subject
Free Discussion
Commandments and State Laws
Eliminate Council of
Presidents
District President and
Staff to Parish
Visitations
Evangelical Supervision

Reason
Bylaw 2.39
LCMS Constitution, Art. VIII
Wrong premise

Pastoral Assessment
Downsizing

Errors in assumptions
Synod does not do District
staffing

“Walther District”
Electing Reconcilers
Adjudication Process

Not practical
Incorrect assumption
False assumptions,
incorrect information
Bylaws 3.01, 4.21
Faulty assumption,
Bylaw 2.19, 2.33
Addressed in President’s
Report (CW p. 94)
Accomplished
Already addressed by CCM
Unsupported assumption
Limits provided through
voting process
BOD already acted
Dealt with in Bylaws
Synod membership voluntary
Synod membership voluntary
Insufficient rationale

District Conventions
Review and Reform
Candidate Status
Certification of
Herman Otten
Robert Rahn
Retired Pastors Voting
Election of CCM
Term Limits
Policy Changes
Doctrinal Review
Amend Bylaws
Daughter Church Body
Nominating Committee

Action: Adopted (9)

RESOLUTION 7-20
WHEREAS, The Texas District of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod has invited the Synod to meet in convention in Dallas, TX, in the year 2004; and
WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents has received information in regard to this invitation and has voted to recommend that the invitation to Dallas in 2004 be accepted if it
is feasible; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention accept the invitation of the Texas District, and plan to meet there, if feasible, for our Synod’s convention in the year 2004.
Action: Declined (9)

To Place Parish Assistants on Roster

To Respectfully Decline Overtures

Number
Ov. 7-11
Ov. 7-24
Ov. 7-33

To Establish a Site for the 2004
Convention

Synod does not do District
staffing
Not practical
Bylaws allow for due process

RESOLUTION 7-21
Overture 7-104 (CW, p. 272)
WHEREAS, We have a number of parish assistants listed
in the 1998 Lutheran Annual, p. 294–95; and
WHEREAS, These parish assistants are graduates of a
four-year synodical program and each has a theology
minor, plus an internship under synodical auspices; therefore be it
Resolved, That the parish assistants be placed on the
roster of the Synod as Ministers of Religion—Commissioned; and be it further
Resolved, That the constitution Article V (Handbook, p.
10) be amended by adding the words parish assistants,
after the word deaconesses,; and be it further
Resolved, That the constitution Article V B (Handbook,
p. 10) be amended so that the “parish assistants” are listed
as number 9 under advisory members, that “Certified Lay
Ministers” be number 10, and that the “Candidates for office of ministry” be number 11; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Bylaws be amended to reflect this
change as follows:
Bylaw 2.07 a (Handbook, p. 22) be amended to read “ directors of Christian outreach, deaconesses, and parish assistants”
Bylaw 2.09 b (Handbook, p. 22) be amended to read “director of Christian education, deaconess, or parish assistant ministry”
Bylaw 2.09 f 2 (Handbook, p. 23) be amended to read “directors of Christian outreach, deaconesses, parish assistants, or certified lay ministers”
Bylaw 2.43 (Handbook, p. 32) be amended to read “director of Christian outreach, certified lay minister, deaconess, and parish assistant rosters”
Bylaw 7.05 (Handbook, p. 119) be amended by deleting
“parish assistant” from the classification and renumbering
the classifications listed below them as numbers 3, 4, and 5
respectively.
Action: Adopted (5)
(Amendment of the Constitution Article received the necessary two-thirds majority vote.)