# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S247 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION 247 WHEREAS, The Behnken Rule at times does not allow any dis- cussion of the substituted resolution by the delegates; and WueEREAS, This gives the floor committee undue privilege in presenting substitute resolutions; therefore be it Resolved, That the Behnken Rule no longer be used by the Synod conventions beginning with the 2007 convention. Mount Olive Billings, MT 7-30 To Discontinue Use of Behnken Rule WHEREAS, There is already very limited open and honest debate and discussion in our Synod conventions; and WuerEAs, The Behnken Rule says, “If a substitute motion is of- fered and seconded, the presenter shall be offered two minutes to provide the rationale..., after which the convention shall decide ...without debate whether or not to consider the substitute....” (Today's Business 2004, p. 10, #14); and Wuereas, The Behnken Rule allows for no debate of a substi- tute motion until after the original motion is removed from consid- eration; and WHEREAS, Without debate the convention is not in an informed position that would allow it to wisely remove the original motion from consideration; and WHEREAS, Without debate a convention of wise delegates would be very unlikely to remove the original resolution, proposed by a floor committee, from the convention floor in order to consider a substitute resolution; and WHEREAS, Robert’s Rules of Order says, “A primary amend- ment to substitute...is open to debate...; and such debate may go fully into the merits of both the original text and the substitute...” (10th Edition, pp. 146-47); and WHEREAS, Debate of the issues before our Synod in convention is healthy and beneficial; therefore be it Resolved, That the President of the Synod discontinue the use of the Behnken Rule by failing to propose it as part of the standing rules or special rules of the 2007 LCMS Convention; and be it further Resolved, That LCMS discontinue the use of the Behnken Rule at the 2007 convention. St. John Laurel, MT 7-31 To Amend Bylaw to Allow Presidential Candidates to Address Convention WHEREAS, The election of a man to be the President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod puts him in a special relation- ship with the people of the member congregations of the Synod; and Wuereas, Relationships are best developed when individuals can meet each other face-to-face; and WuerEAS, It is impractical for all individuals of the Synod, or even the delegates of a Synod convention, to meet each candidate for President face-to-face; and Wuereas, Even a brief appearance and presentation by these candidates would give delegates, at least, some personal acquain- tance with the person that could be interfaced with biographical narratives provided; and Wuereas, A better informed electorate would contribute to an even greater confidence in the electoral process of the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That LCMS Bylaw 3.12.1.2 be designated as 3.12.1.2 (a) and that 3.12.1.2 (b) be added to read, “The agenda of each con- vention of the Synod will allow each candidate for President up to 10 minutes to speak to the convention in assembly sometime prior to the first ballot for President”; and be it further Resolved, That the Montana District in convention memorial- ize the 2007 LCMS convention to make this change. Montana District 7-32 To Introduce Debates among Presidential Candidates into Election Process WHEREAS, Informed electors strengthen the integrity of the vot- ing process; and WHEREAS, Debates among presidential candidates allow for the Synod’s issues to be identified and for remedies to be proposed; and WHEREAS, A precedent for debates has been established (e.g., The Altenburg Debate of 1841 between C. F. W. Walther and Franz Marbach); therefore be it Resolved, That the Bylaws be amended to specify that debates among presidential candidates be scheduled at a sufficient time be- fore the election in convention to allow for recorded copies to be distributed to all LCMS congregations at least three months prior to the Synod convention. St. John, Arlington, MN; Worthington Circuit, Minnesota South District; Redeemer, Burnsville, MN; Brainerd Circuit 6, Minnesota North District; Zion, Crosby, MN; Fairmont Circuit 23 Forum 7-33 To Provide for Candidate Presentations Prior to Presidential Elections WHEREAS, The execution of presidential duties is enhanced by strong theological credentials, strong administrative abilities, and statesmanlike bearing; and WHEREAS, The objectivity of voting decisions is enhanced by the hearing of summary position statements from the presidential candidates, not to be of the form of campaign statements; and WHEREAS, The goal of this election is to identify and elect the strongest candidate, not to race against the clock at the expense of the quality of the most important election of the entire convention; and Wuereas, A sitting president, if he himself be a candidate for re-election, in performing his duties as chairman of the convention presents himself visibly before the voters, while contending presi- dential candidates are unseen and unheard; therefore be it Resolved, That the agenda for the convention be structured to allow for a presidential candidate presentation. This presentation by each presidential candidate would enable him to present his po- sitions and proposals to the convention prior to the presidential election. Maximum length of the presentation would be 15 min- utes; and be it further Resolved, That if the action specified in the previous paragraph requires an amendment to the Bylaws, then such an amendment to the Bylaws be resolved to accomplish it. St. John Arlington, MN; Worthington Circuit, Minnesota South District; Redeemer, Burnsville, MN; Brainerd Circuit 6, Minnesota North District; Zion, Crosby, MN; Fairmont Circuit 23 Forum, Minnesota South District