# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S40 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 40 SYNODICAL REPORTS spect this decision, and the District involved shall take action with respect to the congregation as it may deem appropriate. 8.13 District Reconcilers a. Within three months after the synodical convention, each Dis- trict Board of Directors shall appoint a District roster of four rec- oncilers, no more than two of whom shall be pastors, from a list supplied by the Circuit Counselors of the District. The term of ser- vice shall be six years, renewable without limit. They shall be peo- ple “of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). Vacancies for an unexpired term shall be filled in the same manner by the District Board of Directors within 30 days following their occurrence. A District Board of Directors may add to the Dis- trict roster of reconcilers a reconciler who moves into the District from the District where appointed. b. One of the four shall be chosen by blind draw according to the procedures set forth in the Standard Operating Procedures Man- ual (hereafter referred to as SOPM) by the Secretary of the District to serve as reconciler in the following situations arising in the Dis- trict: 1. Procedural questions involved in excommunication cases 2. Cases in which a member of the Synod shall have been re- moved from the position which that member holds in a congrega- tion which is a member of the Synod 3. Cases in which a person, whether or not a member of the Synod, is removed from the position which the member holds in the District 4. Cases involving differences between congregations within the same District or between a congregation and its District c. The members of the District roster of reconcilers of all the Districts shall comprise the synodical roster of reconcilers. One member of the synodical roster of reconcilers shall be chosen by blind draw according to the SOPM by the Secretary of the Synod in all disputes except those (a) enumerated in section b above, or (b) cases under Article XII of the Constitution, which shall follow the procedure set forth in sections 2.26-2.29 of the Bylaws. d. Limitations on holding multiple offices do not apply to rec- oncilers. e. If a reconciler moves from the District where appointed, such reconciler shall remain as a member of the synodical roster of rec- oncilers until the term of service of the reconciler expires. f. If all of the District reconcilers are unavailable for a particular matter, the Secretary of the District shall request that a reconciler from another District be chosen in the prescribed manner by the Secretary of the adjacent District. 8.14 Hearing Facilitators a. Within three months after the Synodical convention, each District Board of Directors shall nominate two hearing facilitators from a list supplied by the Circuit Counselors of the District. They shall be people “of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wis- dom” (Acts 6:3) and whose sole interest is the proper conduct of a fair and impartial hearing. In consultation with the District Presi- dents, the Secretary of the Synod shall identify 45 of the nominees, at least one from each District, to comprise the Synodical roster of hearing facilitators, who shall be trained for such service. The term of service shall be six years, renewable without limit. Any vacan- cies for an unexpired term shall be filled in the same manner as de- scribed above as needed and as requested by the Secretary of Synod. b. Limitations on holding multiple offices do not apply to hear- ing facilitators. . c. If a hearing facilitator moves from the District where nomi- nated, such hearing facilitator, if on the roster of hearing facilita- tors, shall remain as a member of the synodical roster of hearing facilitators. 2004 Convention Workbook d. A hearing facilitator shall not serve as a reconciler or as a voting member of a panel. 8.15 Dispute Resolution Panels a. The synodical roster of reconcilers shall comprise the list from which Dispute Resolution Panel voting members will be se- lected. b. Each Dispute Resolution Panel shall consist of three voting persons, at least one of whom shall be a pastor and one a layman, selected as follows: 1. Nine names shall be selected by a blind draw from the dis- pute resolution roster. 2. No member of a panel shall be from the District in which the dispute arose or, if it is a synodical question, from any District in which a party holds membership. 3. The list shall be mailed simultaneously to each party, who shall be entitled to strike three names and return the list to the Sec- retary of the Synod within one week. 4. The Secretary of the Synod shall correct any problem with the panel from the remaining names by blind draw according to the SOPM. In the event additional names are needed, three names will be selected in the manner set forth above and those names submit- ted to each party who shall have the right to strike one. In the event, there is more than one remaining, the Secretary shall determine the final member by a blind draw according to the SOPM from that re- mainder. c. The synodical roster of hearing facilitators who shall com- prise the list from which hearing facilitators for Dispute Resolu- tion Panels will be selected, shall be selected as follows: 1, Three names shall be selected by a blind draw according to the SOPM from the hearing facilitator roster. 2. No hearing facilitator shall be from the District in which the dispute arose or, if it is a synodical question, from any District in which a party holds membership. 3. The list shall be mailed simultaneously to each party, who shall be entitled to strike one name and return the list to the Secre- tary of the Synod within one week. 4. The Secretary of the Synod shall correct any problem with the panel from the remaining names by blind draw according to the SOPM. In the event additional names are needed, two names will be selected in the manner set forth above and those names submit- ted to each party who shall have the right to strike one. In the event, there is more than one remaining, the Secretary shall determine the final member by a blind draw according to the SOPM from that re- mainder. d. The hearing facilitator, who shall conduct the hearing and who shall serve as chairman of the panel, may draw upon persons and resources which he deems necessary for conducting a hearing in a fair and equitable manner. e. Under the chairmanship of the hearing facilitator, the panel shall elect a secretary. 8.16 Appeal Panels and Review Panels a. The Appeal Panel shall be made up of three District Presi- dents who shall be trained for such service; one selected by the complainant, one selected by thie respondent, and the third selected by the two Appeal Panel members so selected. If the two Appeal Panel members cannot agree on a third, the Secretary of the Synod shall select the third member by blind draw according to the SOPM from the remaining District Presidents. b. The synodical roster of reconcilers shall comprise the list from which Review Panel members will be selected. c. Each Review Panel shall consist of three persons, at least one of whom shall be a pastor, and at least one layman, selected as fol- lows: