# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2013_S277
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Structure and Ecclesiastical Matters
process with its checks and balances, which will facilitate bringing
about peace to our Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2013 LCMS convention restore the former
adjudication process as found in the 1989 Handbook.
Salem Lutheran Church
Taylorsville, NC

277

Resolved, That the 2013 LCMS convention thank and encourage
those who work diligently on floor committees for their very essential work.
Prince of Peace
Anaheim, CA
7-37

7-35

To Provide Congregational Record of Dispute
Resolution Panel Decisions
Whereas, The Synod Handbook does not require the decisions
of a Synod dispute resolution as described in the Rules of Procedure
1.10.18.1 to be published in the official minutes of the congregations
involved in the dispute; therefore be it
Resolved, That all decisions of a Dispute Resolution Panel be
recorded in the official minutes of each party’s congregation during a
regularly called council or voters assembly with both parties present.
Zion Lutheran Church
Aniwa, Wisconsin
7-36

To Provide Instruction to Convention Floor
Committees
Whereas, The floor committees for LCMS conventions (“floor
committees” or “committee”) serve an essential function in preparing
usable resolutions for consideration at LCMS conventions (“convention”); and
Whereas, Several overtures may be submitted to a convention on
the same or a closely related subject, and those overtures may conflict or be in direct opposition with each other; and
Whereas, The purpose of the floor committee should be primarily
to clarify and organize multiple and potentially conflicting overtures
into usable resolutions for action; and
Whereas, Floor committees have not always been true to the
spirit or intent of the overtures, at times submitting resolutions to the
convention floor that are in direct opposition to the overtures or significantly changing wording to the point that the intent or spirit of
the overture is lost; and
Whereas, Congregations and circuits and districts should have
the right to be heard, with their ideas or concerns discussed and
decided on the convention floor; therefore be it
Resolved, That the right of all congregations and circuits and districts to have their ideas and concerns heard and decided in convention
be affirmed, without undue alteration by floor committees; and be it
further
Resolved, That floor committees submit all resolutions in a manner which complies with the spirit and intent of an overture unless
that overture is outright sinful or openly offensive; and be it further
Resolved, That floor committees not be allowed to decline overtures in which they find disagreement; rather, the committee should
submit those overtures in total to the convention without committee comment, for the convention to either approve or decline; and
be it further
Resolved, That where multiple overtures are to be combined into
a single resolution for the convention, that the predominance of the
majority of the overtures set the spirit and intention for the resolution
presented; and be it finally

To Include Past Presidents in Synod Conventions
Whereas, Psalm 133:1–3 encourages the people of God in saying,
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It
is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It
is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the
Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore”; and
Whereas, The current emphasis of Synod is Witness, Mercy,
Life Together; and
Whereas, Witness is internal to the Synod and external to the
world and Life Together encourages us, in the words of Christ, to
“love one another” (John 13:34–35); and
Whereas, We understand that transitions in leadership must occur
as in the case of Moses and Joshua, as well as in Elijah and Elisha,
and in those biblical accounts the mantle is passed from the senior
to the junior; and
Whereas, Leaders by their example as they follow Christ (1 Cor.
11:1) are worthy of double honor (1 Tim. 5:17), are the model of
godly living, and motivate followers to do the same; therefore be it
Resolved, That at Synod expense the living past presidents of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod be invited and encouraged
to attend the Synod in convention and to bring words of welcome and
blessing to the Synod in convention, current president, and administration; and be it further
Resolved, That past presidents of the Synod be invited to participate in the installation of the newly elected President of the Synod;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for all
their leaders, especially the presidents in attendance, with the singing of the Doxology.
Florida-Georgia District
7-38

To Provide Alternative Voting on Memorials,
Commendations, or Expressions of Sentiment
Whereas, In the 21st century, God has blessed our land and
church with amazing communication technology; and
Whereas, Gathering in convention is extremely expensive and
requires expenditure of increasingly scarce financial resources; and
Whereas, Reducing the time spent at convention would reduce
the cost of convention and preserve resources for other uses; and
Whereas, More deliberate transitions allowing congregations
to adapt to alternate means of conducting church business might be
prudent; and
Whereas, Congregations are generally unaware of overtures that
commend, memorialize, or express sentiment; therefore be it
Resolved, That overtures that commend, memorialize, or express
sentiment should not be actions taken by the church in convention;
and be it further

2013 Convention Workbook