# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S261 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 261 7-28 To Provide for Resolution of Invalid Elections Rationale At times the Synod has elected individuals who are later deter- mined to be ineligible to serve according to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod. There are no provisions in the Constitution and Bylaws for addressing and resolving invalid elections. The 2001 convention included in Omnibus Res. A Overture 7- 131, “To Provide Process for Resolving Invalid Elections,” thereby referring the matter to the Commission on Structure. The Commis- sion submits the following Bylaw changes to the 2004 convention. Resolved, That Bylaw 3.990 be amended by adding the follow- ing new paragraph d and changing current paragraph d to read “e”: PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING : d. If an election is deemed invalid during the course of the vention, the Commi Electi 1 prepare ot to elect ano er_person to thi sition from names lied b the om for Convention Nominations, this ballot to in- | e fr ious igible for el and be it father Resolved, That Bylaw 3.985 b be amended to read as follows: PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING b. The chairman of the Committee for Convention Nomina- ° tions shall have on hand at the convention a reserve list of nom- inees, approved by the committee, for use if required, e.g., if a new board or commission is to be elected or if an election is deemed invalid during the course of the convention. Whenever possible, however, the Committee for Convention Nominations should be informed in advance if any new board or commission is likely to be established at a synodical convention, so that it may have a slate of candidates in readiness. Commission on Structure 7-29 To Equalize Tenures on Board for Black Ministry Services Rationale Bylaw 3.61 b speaks of successive terms for members of boards and commissions of the Synod. It establishes limitations of two successive terms for offices with six-year terms and three succes- sive terms for offices with three-year terms “unless otherwise pro- vided in the Bylaws.” Res. 1-01 of the 2002 LCMS Black Ministry Family Convoca- tion, “To Equalize the Tenures of the Board for Black Ministry Ser- vices,” petitioned the Commission on Structure to advocate in- creasing the term limitation for appointed members of the Board for Black Ministry Services from three three-year terms to four three-year terms, thereby equalizing the potential length of service of elected and appointed members of the board. Noting the provision of Bylaw 3.61 b, which allows exceptions to its requirements when “otherwise provided in the Bylaws,” the Commission on Structure recommends the following amendment to Bylaw 3.801 to accommodate the request of the Black Ministry Family Convocation. Resolved, That Bylaw 3.801 be amended as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 3.801 Membership The Board for Black Ministry Services shall consist of nine members. One ordained minister, one commissioned minister, and one layperson shall be elected by the Synod in convention. Three ordained ministers and three laypersons shall be appointed by the President of the Synod. The President shall appoint from a list of at least three candidates for each vacant seat on the board which the representatives of the black congregations, meeting in convoca- tion, will have reviewed, evaluated, and approved. Vacancies on the board shall be filled by appointment by the President of the Synod from the remaining nominees on the same slate of candi- dates. Elected members of the board shall be eligible to serve for two six-year terms, and appointed members shal] be eligible to serve for four three-year terms. and be it further Resolved, That Bylaw 3.61 b be amended as follows: PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING b. All members of all synodical boards and commissions shall be ineligible for reelection or reappointment to the same board or commission after serving etotal-of ¢ twe-steeessive-sit- 1 12 successive years, unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws. They may become eligible again for election or appointment to the same office, board, or commission after an interval of three or more years. One-half or more of a term shall be regarded as a full term under limited tenure rules. Commission on Structure 7-30 To Equalize Tenures of Board for Black Ministry Services Members WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.59 a states, “The term of office ... of all ap- pointed boards, commissions, and standing committees [shall be] three years, unless these Bylaws shall hereinafter specifically pro- vide otherwise”; and WHEREAS, The Synod convention elects one ordained minister, one commissioned minister, and one layperson to the Board for Black Ministry Services for a six-year term, with a two-term limi- tation, for a possible total of 12 years served; and WHEREAS, The Synod President appoints three ordained minis- ters and three laypersons to the Board for Black Ministry Services for a three-year term, with a three-term limitation, for a possible total of nine years served; and WHEREAS, The 2001 Black Ministry Family Convocation has adopted Res. 1-06 (p. 77 of Convocation Workbook) affirming nine-year term limitations between the election process by the con- vention and the convocation process; therefore be it Resolved, That the 2002 Black Ministry Family Convocation re- quest the Board for Black Ministry Services to petition the Commis- sion on Structure to increase the term limitation for appointed posi- tions to the Board for Black Ministry Services from three terms of three years for a total of nine years possible service to four terms of three years for a total of 12 years possible service; and be it further Resolved, That these new term limitations be retroactive to the Synod President’s 2001 appointments to the Board for Black Min- istry Services; and be it finally Resolved, That the Commission on Structure share its opinion with the Board for Black Ministry Services by June 1, 2003, so the appropriate action can be taken at the 2004 Synod convention. Black Ministry Convocation 7-31 To Change Review Process of Commission on Doctrinal Review Rationale The President of the Synod is responsible for the appointment of doctrinal reviewers for various entities of the Synod according to their needs (Bylaws 3.101 A 1; 10.05 a) and for appointing re- placements in the event of the termination of a reviewer (Bylaw 10.05 b). He is also responsible for the appointment of the five- member Commission on Doctrinal Review from the total number of doctrinal reviewers (Bylaw 3.907).