# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S256 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 256 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION WHEREAS, This has forced the Synod to cut back on its financial assistance to such important areas as our Synod’s seminaries and foreign missions; and WHEREAS, The Synod has seen a decrease in its total number of members; and WuerEAS, The number of vacant churches continues to in- crease; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in its 1998 convention instruct the synodical President to appoint a com- mittee of an equal number of qualified pastors and laymen to study and examine the number of individuals employed by each District, and suggest to the synodical President a reduction in the number of those who are employed by each District (Bylaw 1.07 a; Bylaw 4.07 b, e); and be it further Resolved, That the synodical President then present these rec- ommendations to each District President and its elected board; and be it further Resolved, That each District President be instructed that he must immediately implement the reduction of paid employees (Bylaw 4.71 b); and be it further Resolved, That those employees who are ordained ministers be extended calls to those congregations which are in need of a pastor to serve God’s people; and be it finally Resolved, That at the next synodical convention each District President give a report on how the reduction of the number of em- ployees was carried out. Salem Taylorsville, NC 7-53 To Propose Redefinition and Realignment of Districts WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was founded upon agreement in doctrine and a desire for cooperation in its func- tions, especially education and missions; and WHEREAS, The Synod, through the Lord’s rich blessings, grew to such a size that its functions and theological oversight of its members was considered difficult to be done by the President of the Synod alone, thus leading to the formation of Districts (cf., Bylaw 4.01); and WHEREAS, The Synod decides when and whether a District shall be formed, divided, realigned, or merged with other Districts, de- termines boundaries of Districts, and approves the names of Dis- tricts (cf., Bylaw 4.03 a); and WHEREAS, Said Districts were intended to be the “Synod in a particular place,” carrying forth the will of the Synod in accord with Scripture and Lutheran Confessions, thus continuing harmo- nious relationships throughout the Synod; and WHEREAS, The Districts were especially empowered to aid and counsel the congregations of the Synod and to provide oversight for the pastors of the Synod, especially through regular and faithful visitation of congregations by the Presidents of the Districts; and WHEREAS, Due to many factors, the size and relative influence of the Districts varies widely; and WHEREAS, So-called nongeographic Districts were admitted into the Synod, with member congregations scattered widely; and WHEREAS, Many parts of the United States, especially large metropolitan areas, currently house congregations belonging to three or four different Districts; and WHEREAS, Communication and transportation have been greatly improved in terms of speed and cost-effectiveness; and Wuereas, Many of the Districts have established programs and services which duplicate those of the Synod; and WHEREAS, The vast proportion of offerings contributed by member congregations of the Synod do not first flow to the Synod for use in education and outreach; and WHEREAS, Many Districts have programs and services which duplicate those of the Synod; and WHEREAS, Districts have often developed and encouraged pro- grams contrary to the desires of the Synod expressed in conven- tion; and WHEREAS, Districts are often perceived as being unresponsive to the needs of the members of the Synod; and WHEREAS, The theological oversight and discipline of the offi- cers of said Districts currently does not extend to the removal from office by the President of Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That Synod in convention assembled institute a pro- posal in accordance with Bylaw 4.03 b for the realignment of the Synod, including incorporation of the congregations of nongeo- graphic Districts into geographic Districts; and be it further Resolved, That this proposal include plans to increase the num- ber of Districts while striving for a numerical balance of congre- gants and members of the Synod among the Districts; and be it fur- ther Resolved, That the new, smaller Districts assume those respon- sibilities now held by the Circuits and the current three-tiered bu- reaucracy of Synod be replaced by this two-tiered structure; and be it further Resolved, That the vast financial resources controlled by the current Districts through such entities as Church. Extension Funds and Lutheran foundations would be brought under the control and direction of their respective synodical organizations and agencies as specified by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That the institutions of higher education within Synod no longer be directly affiliated with any Districts, but be held in common by the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That the office of District President and the other of- ficers of the Districts shall be made part-time and the Presidents shall be pastors of member congregations of their respective Dis- tricts; and be it further Resolved, That the headquarters and other real holdings of the current Districts be turned over to the Synod for its use or sold at fair market value, these funds then being remitted to the Synod in order to bear the cost of realignment, with excess funds then being held in trust for the education of pastors, teachers, and other church workers; and be it further Resolved, That the Districts shall have no permanent offices, but shall be overseen from the congregations and offices of their elected Presidents; and be it further Resolved, That the direct supervision of the Presidents and other officers and staff of these newly aligned and defined Districts shall be performed by the President of the Synod working with the elected Praesidium, who shall have final doctrinal oversight, in- cluding right of removal from office of those who willingly repu- diate the doctrinal statements of the Synod or work counter to or in noncompliance with the directives of the Synod in convention assembled; and be it further Resolved, That a new plan of visitation and theological over- sight through these Districts be designed, with the primary task of the Presidents of the respective Districts being that of visitor and theological overseer of the pastors and congregations of their Dis- tricts; and be it further Resolved, That enabling resolutions dealing with other matters of polity be prepared where this realignment and redefinition of the Districts brings the new District structure into variance with the current synodical Bylaws; and be it further Resolved, That an implementing committee for this proposal be appointed by the President of the Synod at the earliest possible mo- ment; and be it further Resolved, That this implementing committee shall work within the confines of this overture and in accordance with synodical Bylaw 4.03; and be it finally Resolved, That the proposal of the implementing committee shall be returned to the President of Synod at least 12 months prior