# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S123 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 122 SYNODICAL REPORTS B, of the Constitution shall be eligible for election. The privilege of voting shall be exercised by one pastor and one layperson from each member congregation of the Circuit, both of whom shall have been selected in the manner prescribed by the congregation. Multi- ple parishes shall be entitled to a lay vote from each member con- gregation. Each delegate may write in the names of two pastors on the initial ballot. The three pastors (or more, in case of a tie vote) who receive the highest number of votes in this preliminary ballot shall be placed on the next ballot. Each voter shall now vote for only one candidate. Balloting shal] continue with the lowest candi- date being removed from each succeeding ballot until one pastor shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he shall be declared the pastoral delegate. The congregation or con- gregations served by the elected pastoral delegate shall be removed from consideration for supplying any other voting delegate or al- ternate for that particular convention. b. Prior to the meeting of the electoral Circuit, each congrega- tion may nominate one layperson, either from its congregation or from the Circuit. These names must be submitted to the Circuit Counselor(s) prior to the day of the Circuit meeting and shall con- stitute the slate of candidates. All congregational nominees, except those who have been eliminated through the election of the pas- toral delegate, shall be eligible for election. Each delegate may write in the names of two of the remaining lay nominees on the ini- tial ballot. The three laypersons (or more, in case of a tie vote) who received the highest number of votes in this preliminary ballot, shall be placed on the next ballot. Each voter shall now vote for only one candidate. Balloting shall continue with the lowest candi- date being removed from each succeeding ballot until one layper- son shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast, where- upon he or she shall be declared the lay delegate. The congregation from which the lay delegate has been elected shall then be removed from consideration for supplying any remaining alternates to that particular convention. 3.07 Responsibilities of Delegates Congregations shal} not require their delegates to vote in accor- dance with specific instructions, but every delegate shall be per- mitted to vote according to his or her own convietion. Delegates are nevertheless responsible to their Circuits, whom they represent, and shall attempt to discover the sentiment of the members thereof. They shall be expected to be faithful in attendance at all sessions of the convention. After each convention they shall report the actions of the Synod to their Circuits, preferably appearing before each of the congregations which they represent. Voting delegates shall serve a three-year term beginning with the convention; they shall function as advisory members of the Circuit Forum, shall serve as resource persons in the Circuit. and shall assist in the dissemina- tion and implementation of synodical resolutions in their area. 5.31 Representation Each congregation shall be represented at the Circuit Forum at least by its pastor and one member designated by the congregation, although each Circuit may request additional representation de- pending on its adopted objectives. The Circuit Forum will meet at least once triennially to elect circuit delegates to the national con- vention and in addition is encouraged to meet at least twice a year. 5.35 Election of Synodical Convention Delegates It is the Circuit Forum which tnennially shal! elect the pastoral and lay delegate, and their alternates, to the national convention of the Synod according to the regulations of the Synod. The lay dele- gate shall upon his election serve through the triennium following the next convention as an advisory member of the Circuit Forum. 2001 Convention Workbook appoint a Circuit Counselor to serve as chairman of each electoral region caucus. The election shall be by written ballot. All pastors who are not advisory members under Article V B of the Constitu- tion shall be eligible for election. The privilege of voting shall be exercised by one pastor and one layperson from each member con- gregation of the electoral region, both of whom shall have been se- lected in the manner prescribed by the congregation. Multiple parishes shall be entitled to one lay vote from each member con- gregation. Each voter may write in the names of two pastors on the initial ballot. The three pastors (or more. in case of a tie vote) who receive the highest number of votes in this preliminary ballot shall be placed on the next ballot. Each voter shal] now vote for only one candidate. Balloting shall continue with the lowest candidate being removed from each succeeding ballot until one pastor shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he shall be declared the pastoral delegate. The congregation or con- gregations served by the elected pastoral delegate shall be removed from consideration for supplying any other voting delegate or al- ternate for that particular synodical convention. b. Prior to the caucus of the electoral region, each congregation within the electoral region may nominate one layperson, either from its congregation or from the electoral region. These names must be submitted to the appointed Circuit Counselor prior to the day of the electoral region caucus and shall constitute the slate of candidates. All congregational nominees, except those who have been eliminated through the election of the pastoral delegate, sha!] be eligible for election. Each voter may write in the names of two of the remaining lay nominees on the initial ballot. The three laypersons (or more. in ease of a tie vote) who received the highest number of votes in this preliminary ballot shall be placed on the next ballot. Each voter shall now vote for only one candidate. Bal- loting shall continue with the lowest candidate being removed from each succeeding ballot until one layperson shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he or she shall be de- clared the lay delegate. The congregation from which the lay dele- gate has been elected shall then be removed from consideration for supplying any remaining alternates to that particular synodical con- vention. 3.07 Responsibilities of Delegates Congregations shall not require their delegates to vote in accor- dance with specific instructions, but every delegate shall be per- mitted to vote according to his or her own conviction. Delegates are nevertheless responsible to their electoral regions, which they represent, and shall attempt to discover the sentiment of the mem- bers thereof. They shall be expected to be faithful in attendance at all sessions of the synodical convention. After each synodical con- vention they shall report the actions of the Synod to their electoral regions, preferably appearing before each of the congregations that they represent. Voting delegates shall serve a three-year term be- ginning with the synodical convention; they shall function as advi- sory members of the Circuit Forum(s) within their electoral region, shall serve as resource persons in the electoral region, and shall as- sist in the dissemination and implementation of synodical resolu- tions in their region. 5.31 Representation Each congregation shall be represented at the Circuit Forum at least by its pastor and one layperson designated by the congrega- tion, although each Circuit may request additional representation depending on its adopted objectives. The Circuit Forum is encour- aged to meet at least twice a year.