# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S269 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 269 Resolved, That time be scheduled in the convention to allow candidates for President and First Vice-President to address the del- egates prior to the election; and be it further Resolved, That the elections take place on the third full day of the convention. St. Paul, Weston, FL; Immanuel, Riverside, CA 7-81 To Allow Convention Presentations by Candidates for President Rationale No decision made by delegates to the synodical convention is more important than the election of synodical President. In the past, the election for President has been the first item of official busi- ness. Because the election has been scheduled first, many delegates have never had the opportunity to hear from the candidates about their vision for the Synod. In fact, because the delegates have not had opportunity to hear from the candidates firsthand, many have made decisions based on videotapes sent to them by unofficial groups within the LCMS. This has provided an unfair advantage to candidates for President who enjoy the endorsement of certain self- interest groups within the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That the convention take up as its first item of busi- ness the introduction of the five leading candidates for President. Each candidate should be given 20 minutes to speak to the assem- bly. At the end of these presentations, the election for synodical President should take place. Abiding Savior Lake Forest, CA 7-82 To Encourage and Commend District Presidents WHEREAS, The Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has established the position of District President to guide and direct the churches of each of our Districts; and WHEREAS, These positions are held by faithful and good men willing to serve the Savior in this capacity; and WHEREAS, St. Paul implores us to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), and that we support one another and build one another up; and WHEREAS, We all may at times give harsh and unloving criti- cism to these servants of Christ; therefore be it Resolved, That we as congregations and individuals continue to encourage our District Presidents by lifting them up in prayer; and be it further Resolved, That the New England District petition the next con- vention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod that a commen- dation of all District Presidents be made at that convention with thanksgiving to God. New England District 7-83 To Thank and Encourage District Presidents WrereEas, District Presidents are servants in Christ to the con- gregations of their Districts; and WHEREAS, District Presidents often face thankless tasks in the areas of Christian admonition and counsel; and WHEREAS, District Presidents have recently received much unchristian criticism and have been blamed wrongly for problems in the church; therefore be it Resolved, That we thank the District Presidents for their ser- vice; and be it further Resolved, That we encourage the congregations of the Districts to pray for their Presidents and show their Presidents appropriate honor and respect as due their office; and be it finally Resolved, That we encourage our District Presidents to continue being a voice of faith to our Districts. Grace Queens Village, NY 7-84 To Assure Due Process for District Presidents WHEREAS, The current Bylaw 2.27 g does not assure due process for a District President suspended or removed from mem- bership in the Synod by the synodical President; therefore be it Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the Synod be directed to assure due process; and be it further Resolved, That the results of such action be reported to the Synod through an official announcement within six months of the closing of this convention. Faith Rochester, NY 7-85 To Add Bylaws re Review and Recall of District Presidents Wuereas, The office of District President is a human institu- tion, created by the congregations of the Synod through the Synod; and Wrereas, The office of District President and the Council of Presidents have taken unto themselves many powers and duties that have not been directly assigned to them by the Synod in conven- tion; and WHEREAS, The office of District President has a tremendous in- fluence over the lives of pastors who serve in the divinely insti- tuted office of the ministry and in congregations; and WHEREAS, This power and influence, along with the lifestyle that accompanies the office of District President, may have a cor- rupting influence on the men who serve in this position, and WHEREAS, The Bylaws presently have no provision whereby a man may be removed from the office of District President for neg- ligence, abuse of power, maleficence, administrative corruption, incompetence, or the inability to perform the duties of his office without also seeking his removal from the clergy roster of the Synod; and WuerEAS, The office of District President is a human institu- tion and as such may not require the same level of misconduct and evidence as would be true to remove a man from the divinely insti- tuted pastoral office (as set forth in Holy Scripture and Art. XIII of the LCMS Constitution); and WHEREAS, The misconduct of a District President may rise to the level of removal from the office of District President, but not to the level of removal from the clergy roster; and WuerEAS, The District President, while rightly possessing the authority of ecclesiastical supervision over the doctrine and life of the pastors and church workers in his jurisdiction, is still to be a humble servant of the congregations of the Synod; and WHEREAS, There is a great temptation, to which District Presi- dents have fallen, to lord their authority over those who may ques- tion their performance in office (Matt. 20:25-27); and WuereAsS, The District President has broad powers of restric- tion, investigation, and suspension and can use the same against those who might take issue with his administration; and WHEREAS, District Presidents are generally elected to their of- fice as the first item of business at District conventions; and WHEREAS, The Districts and the Synod have provided no venue or system wherein a proper and fair review, evaluation, or discus- 2001 Convention Workbook