# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S267
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

7-44

To Provide More Equitable Representation and Voting
Privileges at Conventions and Study Other
Organizational Matters

WHEREAS, Under the blessing of God, The Lutheran Church
—Missouri Synod has grown in size and complexity far beyond
the imaginings of our founding fathers; and

WHEREAS, We now include many laymembers, pastors, and
commissioned workers such as teachers, directors of Christian ed-
ucation, chaplains, District and Synod staff, college, university, and
seminary professors; and

WHEREAS, There exists a great difference in the size of congre-
gations, Circuits, and Districts; and

Whereas, Professors and commissioned workers have no direct
vote in the government and decisions of The Lutheran Church
—AMissouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, The number and size of Synod boards and commis-
sions has grown over the years; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Kansas District request the Synod conven-
tion of 2004 to direct the Commission on Structure of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod to study the Synod’s voting and organi-
zational structure; and be in further

Resolved, That they bring recommendations for solving the fol-
lowing matters, and other issues related to these structures, to the
entire Synod no later than one year prior to the 2007 synodical con-
vention:

Reducing the size and number of Synod boards and commis-
sions, wherever possible,

Determining the best method for selecting members, and
Considering ways by which two or more Districts may share
the services of individual staff members.
Kansas District; Trinity, Roselle, IL

7-45

To Provide More Equitable Representation
and Voting Privileges at Conventions

Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has grown,
under the blessing of God, to include commissioned ministers; and

WHEREAS, Commissioned ministers have no direct vote in the
government of The Lutheran Church—NMissouri Synod; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the Pacific Southwest
District memorialize the 2004 convention of the LCMS to require
the Commission on Structure of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod to study the voting and organizational structure of our Synod
and bring recommendations to give commissioned ministers the
opportunity to participate in the voting process at District and
Synod conventions.

Board of Directors
Pacific Southwest District

7-46

To Enable More Equitable Representation
at Synod Conventions

Whereas, The current Bylaws of the Synod call for one pastor
and one lay delegate to represent a Circuit of 1,500 communicant
members or more; and

WHEREAS, This causes a great disparity when many Circuits or
even congregations have more than 1,500 communicant members;
and

WHEREAS, One pastor and one lay delegate for each 1,500 com-
municant members in a Circuit would give a more equitable voice
and representation at the Synod’s conventions; therefore be it

267

Resolved, That the Pacific Southwest District Board of Direc-
tors memorialize the 2004 convention of the LCMS to amend its
Bylaws to allow one pastor and one lay delegate for every 1,500
communicant members for representation at the Synod’s conven-
tions.

Board of Directors
Pacific Southwest District

7-47

To Expand Voting Privileges at District Conventions

WHEREAS, “Membership in the Synod is held and may be ac-
quired by congregations, ministers of religion—ordained, and min-
isters of religion—commissioned, such as teachers, directors of
Christian education, directors of Christian outreach, directors of
parish music, deaconesses, parish assistants, and certified lay min-
isters” (LCMS Constitution, Art. V); and

WHEREAS, Ministers of religion—commissioned would bring a
wealth of leadership to the decisions of the District but are ineligi-
ble to vote at District conventions; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has always attempted to maintain a good
representation of the church-at-large in its conventions (many years
ago changing from a pastor and lay vote from every congregation
to the current electoral Circuits which take into account the size of
communicant membership in each Circuit [i.e., Bylaw 3.03: “each
pair of delegates shall represent from 7 to 20 member congrega-
tions, involving an aggregate communicant membership ranging
from 1,500 to 10,000”]); and

WueREAS, The median of communicant membership of our
LCMS congregations was 204 members in 2001 (LCMS Informa-
tion Center); and

WHEREAS, This type of equal representation is absent at District
conventions between larger and smaller congregations; and

WtereAS, Most Districts charge convention expenses on a per
communicant member basis while not granting the same in repre-
sentation; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod amend Art. V to allow congregations
to send ministers of religion—commissioned as voting delegates
and allow each congregation to send an additional pair of delegates
(lay delegate and church worker) for every additional 500 commu-
nicant members.

Redeemer
Austin, TX

7-48

To Change Requirements for Delegate Representation

WHEREAS, Our Synod and District conventions have functioned
well with the equal balance of lay and clergy voting delegates; and

WHEREAS, It will be beneficial to maintain this balance as
closely as possible; and

WHEREAS, This system has traditionally and consistently denied
a majority of full-time professional church workers the right to at-
tend District and Synod conventions as voting delegates (such as
teachers, principals, DCEs, directors of music, chaplains, profes-
sors, assistant pastors, and others); and

Whereas, It remains unfair to keep so many dedicated servants
disenfranchised; and

WHEREAS, The Districts and the Synod can be hurt by the loss
of the interest and wisdom of these individuals; and

WHEREAS, It is better to recognize people and their God-given
gifts than to set them aside; therefore be it

Resolved, That beginning with the 2006 District conventions,
each congregation be represented by a church worker voter and a
lay voter; and be it further

Resolved, That beginning with the 2007 Synod convention, each

Circuit be represented by a church worker voter and a lay voter; and
be it further