# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S272 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 272 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 7-104 To Place Parish Assistants on Roster WHEREAS, We have a number of parish assistants listed in the 1997 Lutheran Annual, p. 286; and WHEREAS, These parish assistants are graduates of a four-year synodical program and each has a theology minor, plus an intern- ship under synodical auspices; therefore be it Resolved, That the parish assistants be placed on the roster of the Synod as Ministers of Religion, Commissioned, or whatever terminology the Synod adopts for the roster category. Faith Ypsilanti, MI 7-105 To Delay Elections WHEREAS, There are many first-time delegates who have not had an opportunity to become personally familiar with potential candidates for synodical offices; and Wuereas, Due to electronic balloting, there is no longer a need to provide time for counting votes; and WHEREAS, Several days at the convention will help all delegates to become more helpfully informed in regard to the qualifications of candidates; therefore be it Resolved, That the synodical elections begin no sooner than the third day of the convention. St. Luke Mesa, Arizona 7-106 To Change Procedure for Election of Officers Rationale The current practice for electing officers of the Synod calls for the election of synodical President on the first day of the conven- tion, followed by the election of other officers. The procedure was adopted to allow time for the laborious task of counting written bal- lots. With today’s electronic voting, the entire election process is completed in less than two days. Since the election of synodical of- ficers is so important and since many delegates are first-time atten- dees to the convention, it would be helpful to delay the election procedure and allow the delegates an opportunity to adjust and to be more informed before asking them to vote. WHEREAS, It has been the policy of the convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to begin the election process on the first day of the convention to accommodate the slow process of counting written ballots; and WHEREAS, The election procedure of the synodical convention has been greatly expedited by electronic voting; and Wuereas, Each convention is blessed by the presence of many first-time delegates; and WHEREAS, The first days of a synodical convention can be over- whelming to first-time delegates; therefore be it Resolved, That the election of synodical President and other synodical officers begin not earlier than the third day of the con- vention; and be it further Resolved, That the church continue to pray for God to raise up faithful and dedicated leaders for the Synod. Board of Directors Pacific Southwest District 7-107 To Revise Election Procedure for Commission on Constitutional Matters WHEREAS, The membership of the present Commission on Con- stitutional Matters (CCM) is appointed by the Council of (District) Presidents (Bylaw 3.903 a 2); and WHEREAS, Decisions of the Commission on Constitutional Mat- ters often involve actions taken by the District Presidents; there- fore be it Resolved, That the Commission of Constitutional Matters will henceforth be elected by the Synod at convention, from a slate pre- pared by the regular Nominations Committee; and be it further Resolved, That if time remains in the 1998 synodical conven- tion for the Nominations Committee to prepare such a slate after the passage of this resolution, then the CCM shall be elected at this convention and its new members will be inducted into office at the normal time (Bylaw 3.65 a). St. Paul Brookfield, IL 7-108 To Revise Election Procedure for Commission on Constitutional Matters WHEREAS, The membership of the present Commission on Con- stitutional Matters (CCM) is appointed by the Council of (District) Presidents (Bylaw 3.903 a 2); and WHEREAS, This appointment means that the CCM is predis- posed to favor the District Presidents; and Wuereas, In their capacity as the constitutional review com- mittee of the Synod (Bylaw 3.905 a), this means that the CCM is predisposed to overlook amendments which enhance the powers of District Presidents contrary to the Synod’s Constitution and the Lutheran Confessions; and Wuereas, In their capacity as the supreme court of appeals (By- laws 3.905 d and 8.21 i), this means that the CCM is predisposed to rule in favor of complainants in the “dispute resolution” process who are District Presidents or their associates; and WHEREAS, This adjudicatory predisposition means that most cases that reach the synodical appeal level will be decided in a prej- udicial manner; therefore be it Resolved, That the Commission on Constitutional Matters will henceforth be elected by the Synod at convention, from a slate pre- pared by the regular Nominations Committee; and be it further Resolved, That if time remains in the 1998 synodical conven- tion for the Nominations Committee to prepare such a slate after the passage of this resolution, then the CCM shall be elected at this convention and its new members will be inducted into office at the normal time (Bylaw 3.65 a). Trinity, Iuka, IL; Messiah, Middletown, OH; Bethany, Fort Wayne, IN; Grace, Paris, TX 7-109 To Change Election Process of Commission on Constitutional Matters WHEREAS, Members of the Commission on Constitutional Mat- ters (CCM) are appointed by the Council of (District) Presidents from a list of nominations from District Boards of Directors (Bylaw 3.903 a); and Wuereas, A function of the Commission on Constitutional Matters is to interpret the Synod’s Constitutions, Bylaws, and res- olutions upon request and render binding opinions unless over- turned by the Synod in convention (Bylaw 3.905 d); and