# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S116 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SYNODICAL REPORTS 115 Synodical Vice-Presidents It has been said, quite correctly, that perception is reality for most people. It has become apparent that for many of the Synod’s Districts, the perception is that the specific situation in which they share the Gospel is not understood by those in other parts of the Synod. Conse- quently, they find it difficult at times to feel that they are really part of the Synod. They can come to believe that their concerns are neither fully heard nor fully understood. The TF takes it as a goal to find ways to enhance the relationship between the national and District levels of the Synod and to climinate, or at least reduce, such a perception. It concludes that one helpful change would be to group Districts into areas from which congregations would be able to nominate candidates for synodical Vice-President (Second through Fifth). A number of our Districts currently elect Vice- Presidents from prescribed areas within the District. A similar procedure at the national level would provide another parallel between na- tional and District operations. While proposing this change in the election of national-level Vice-Presidents, the TF neither proposes nor supports adding another layer of synodical administration, a move which quite possibly would result in national, regional, and District stratification. For this rea- son, while the TF proposes that nomination for Vice-Presidents other than the First Vice-President be made by congregations on a re- gional basis, it is convinced that synodical Vice-Presidents should continue to be elected and ranked by action of the Synod in convention. Thereby it will be made clear that area Vice-Presidents are Vice-Presidents of the entire Synod. The TF envisions no additional duties for the Second through Fifth Vice-Presidents. 8-31 To Elect Area Vice-Presidents for Synod Resolved, That the synodical Bylaws be amended as proposed: CURRENT L. Nominations and Elections 1. Nomination and Election of President and First Vice-President 3.960 Nomination Nominations for the office of President and First Vice-Presi- dent of the Synod shall be made in the following manner: a. Each voting congregation shall be entitled to nominate from the clergy roster of the Synod two ordained ministers as candidates for President and two ordained ministers as candidates for First Vice-President. d. The Secretary of the Synod, with the approval of the Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, may engage an external auditing firm to tabulate the nominations and shal] re- port to the convention by means of the convention manual the names and tallies of all clergymen who have received nominating votes for the office of President and First Vice-President. e. Groups and individuals within and without the Synod are urged to refrain from circularizing the Synod or areas thereof relative to fa- voritism in nominations for President and First Vice-President. 3.961 Candidates b. The Secretary of the Synod shall notify each candidate and shall secure his approval in writing for inclusion of his name on the convention ballot. Each candidate shall reply within 10 days as to his willingness to serve if elected. c. In the event of the death, declination, or unavailability of any candidate, the nominee having the next highest number of votes shall become a candidate. d. In the event of a tie for the fifth position among the candi- dates, all names involved in the tie shall be listed as candidates. PROPOSED L. Nominations and Elections 1. Nomination and Election of President and Vice-Presidents 3.960 Nomination Nominations for the office of President, First Vice-President, and Second through Fifth Vice-Presidents of the Synod shall be made in the following manner: a. Each voting congregation shall be entitled to nominate from the clergy roster of the Synod two ordained ministers as candidates for President and two ordained ministers as candidates for First Vice-President and two ordained ministers as candidates for Area Vice-President for the area in which such congregation is located. A candidate for Area Vice-President must have a minimum of ten years experience as pastor of an LCMS congregation and must re- side within the area for which he is nominated. d. The Secretary of the Synod, with the approval of the Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, may en- gage an external auditing firm to tabulate the nominations and shall report to the convention by means of the convention manual the names and tallies of all clergymen who have received nominating votes for the office of President, First Vice-President, and Area Vice-President. e. Groups and individuals within and without the Synod are urged to refrain from circularizing the Synod or areas thereof rela- tive to favoritism in nominations for President and the Vice-Presi- dents. 3.961 Candidates b. Candidates for Arca Vice-President shall be in each instance the five ordained ministers recciving the highest number of votes on the nominating ballots of the congregations in an area. c. CURRENT “b” UNCHANGED, BUT NOW DESIGNATED “en d. CURRENT “c” UNCHANGED, BUT NOW DESIGNATED “q” és ¢, CURRENT “d” UNCHANGED, BUT NOW DESIGNATED c. , . 2001 Convention Workbook