# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2013_S170
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the President,
Council of Presidents, and Commission on Constitutional Matters
to meet at least annually to discuss matters pertinent to Commission on Constitutional Matters opinions; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod President convene the Commission
on Constitutional Matters, Commission on Handbook, and representatives of the Council of Presidents to discuss making the
Commission on Constitutional Matters a more integrated servant
of the Synod, to offer suggested bylaw changes to the next convention, and to effectuate such changes; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod direct the Commission on Constitutional Matters to provide resources to educate members of the
Synod on how to address its published opinions, including requests
for clarification and expressions of dissent; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents be encouraged to work
with the Commission on Constitutional Matters to equip the circuit counselors to be resources for those wishing to inquire of the
Commission on Constitutional Matters.
Action: Adopted (9)
(Discussion of Res. 6-16A began during Session 9, when the
convention voted not to consider a substitute resolution “To Provide for Review of Opinions of the Commission on Constitutional
Matters” [Yes: 307; No: 621]. Discussion resumed during Session 9,
when the resolution was adopted as presented [Yes: 661; No: 160].)

To Amend Bylaw 3.12.2.3 re Election
of Synod President
RESOLUTION 6-18
Whereas, With the sweeping changes that were enacted by the
2010 LCMS convention regarding the election of the President of
the Synod, considerable interest was expressed in obtaining the use
of the voters list for the 2013 presidential election; and
Whereas, The confidentiality of the list of voters participating
in the election of the President of the Synod protects the integrity
of the election process, allowing the office to seek the man; and
Whereas, Once there is an election of the President of the
Synod, there is no reason to withhold that information from the
Synod as a whole; therefore be it
Resolved, that Bylaws 3.12.2.3, 3.12.2.4, and 3.12.2.5 be amended
as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Election of President
3.12.2.3 Four weeks prior to the national convention, tThe
Secretary of the Synod, using lists of delegates in
attendance at the prior year’s district conventions as
submitted by the secretaries of the districts, shall provide, via a secure and verifiable method, opportunity
for two voting delegates from each congregation in
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attendance at the previous district conventions who
remain members of the congregations they represented
to vote for one of the candidates for President. If one
or both delegates are unavailable, congregations shall
be provided opportunity to select substitute voters.
The Secretary shall, with the approval of the Board of
Directors of the Synod, obtain the assistance necessary
to accomplish this task. compile and maintain the voters list for the election of the President of the Synod in
coordination with the secretaries of the districts. This
list and any of its parts shall not be disseminated.
(a) If no candidate receives a majority of the votes
cast, the two candidates receiving the highest number
of votes shall be retained on the ballot, and another
vote shall be taken in the same manner. There shall be
no opportunity provided for additional nominations.
(b) Two weeks prior to the convention, the Secretary
shall notify the candidates of the results of the ballots.
He shall thereafter also make the results known to the
public. The candidate receiving a majority of the votes
cast shall be recognized as elected.
(a) This list shall include two voting delegates from
each congregation in attendance at the previous district
conventions who remain members of the congregations they represented.
(b) If one or both delegates are unavailable, congregations shall be provided opportunity to select substitute
voters.
3.12.2.4 Four weeks prior to the national convention, the Secretary of the Synod shall provide, via a secure and
verifiable method, opportunity for two voting delegates from each congregation in attendance at the
previous district conventions who remain members
of the congregations they represented to vote for one of
the candidates for President. The Secretary shall, with
the approval of the Board of Directors of the Synod,
obtain the assistance necessary to accomplish this task.
(a) If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast,
the two candidates receiving the highest number of
votes shall be retained on the ballot, and another vote
shall be taken in the same manner.
(b) There shall be no opportunity provided for additional nominations.
3.12.2.5 (b)Following the completion of the election and at least
Ttwo weeks prior to the convention, the Secretary shall
notify the candidates of the results of the ballot(s). He
shall thereafter also make the results known to the public. The candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast
shall be recognized asdeclared elected.
[The bylaws that follow will be re-numbered accordingly.]
Action: Adopted (2)
(After discussion, Res. 6-18 was adopted as presented [Yes: 932;
No: 40].)
R e s olu t i on s