# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S298 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 298 NATIONAL/DISTRICT SYNOD RELATIONS Resolved, That the present wording of Bylaw 3.921 be retained. Eastern District 8-41 To Continue Appointment of CTCR Members by COP WHEREAS, One of the greatest strengths of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations is the diversity of appointment of the members; and WHEREAS, The preliminary report of the Task Force on Na- tional/District Synod Relations seeks to remove this duty from the Council of Presidents; and WuerEAS, If any group should have its input enhanced rather than diminished in order to ensure diversity of participation, it would be the Council of Presidents representing the various sec- tions of the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That the proposal to eliminate or diminish the role of the Council of Presidents be rejected and the present Bylaws con- ceming the appointment of the CTCR be retained. Trinity Walnut Creek, CA 8-42 To Preserve Checks and Balances in CTCR Appointment Process WHEREAS, The current system of election and appointment con- tinues to serve the Synod well by providing a system of checks and balances to eliminate one party or special interest selection of CTCR; and WHEREAS, The current system recognizes the importance of the inclusion of the Council of Presidents (District Presidents) who are elected as truly representing the accurate cross-sections of the Synod, and have well-informed knowledge of the theological acu- men of the people of the Synod; and WHEREAS, The current system has served the Synod well in ad- dressing the doctrinal, theological, social, and moral issues of our day; therefore be it Resolved, That we support and encourage our District Presi- dents in their role on the CTCR; and be it further Resolved, That we do not change this system of selection and checks and balances so that the CTCR can be truly representative of the best of our church body without the suggestion of one party or special interest involvement. Ascension North Olmsted, OH 8-43 To Continue Role of COP in CCM Appointments WHEREAS, The practice of ratifying appointments to the Com- mission on Constitutional Matters is not considered a burden to their workload by the LCMS Council of Presidents; and WHEREAS, This responsibility of ratifying appointments by the President of the Synod to the CCM is one highly valued by our District Presidents as a part of their willing service to our Synod; and WHEREAS, Such ratification of the appointments made by the President of the Synod continues the delicate system of checks and balances intended by the current Bylaw; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention respectfully decline the proposal of the Task Force on National/District Synod Relations to remove or reduce the role of the Council of Presidents in the process of the selection of members for the CCM; and be it further Resolved, That the present wording of Bylaw 3.903 be retained. 2001 Convention Workbook Eastern District 8-44 To Continue Service of COP in Assigning Vicars WHEREAS, The current process of assignment of vicars by the Council of Presidents acting as the Board of Assignments has worked extremely well; and WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents does not consider its priv- ilege of participating in the career development of these servants of the church to be burdensome as suggested by the report of the Task Force on National/District Synod Relations; and WHEREAS, The District Presidents have firsthand knowledge of those places of ministry throughout the Synod to which vicars will be potentially assigned; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention respectfully decline the proposed elimination of the partieipation of the Council of Presi- dents in the assignment of vicars; and be it further Resolved, That the present wording of Bylaw 6.85 be retained. Eastern District 8-45 To Initiate Evaluation of District Structure of Synod Please refer to the Report of the Task Force on National/Dis- trict Synod Relations for the text of this overture, p. 120. 8-46 To Form Smaller, More Numerous Districts WHEREAS, There is a shortage of both pastors and church work- ers; and WHEREAS, This shortage has caused many churches to be va- cant; and WHEREAS, Many of these vacancies could be filled by church workers who serve full-time in District staff positions; and WHEREAS, The need for full-time District staff positions is caused by the great number of parishes being served in a District, causing the tasks to be too large to be handled through part-time involvement; and WuereAS, If Districts were smaller, many full-time positions could be replaced by part-time workers, saving both time and ex- penses and filling many vacancies; and WHEREAS, Having smaller Districts would allow for better in- teraction between both pastors and parishes, thus enabling us to walk together as one; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in its 2001 convention form a special task force to divide the Districts into smaller, more manageable Districts of 50-60 parishes; and be it further Resolved, That each new District in a special District conven- tion elect its own District President and Vice-President to serve part-time; and be it finally Resolved, That the new smaller Districts hold annual conven- tions and that every three years these smaller Districts form into regions of three to four Districts for convention. Pilgrim West Bend, WI 8-47 To Consolidate and Reduce Number of Districts WHEREAS, There has been a number of discussions regarding the structure of the Synod and the relationship between the Synod and the Districts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and