# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1911_S306
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 92 —

...teachers as advisory members.” (Synodical Handbook, p. 28, 29.)

To this was added, in 1896, the following resolution of the Synod:
“The General Synod requests all district synods to see to it that the
electoral districts for delegates to the General Synod be formed as large
as possible, but not exceeding seven congregations, and that in forming
electoral districts such an order prevail that all congregations receive
their due in respect of their representation.” (p. 44.)

To be sure, this order has by no means been generally observed. The
undersigned has examined the elections held for an earlier Synod and
found that, of 245 electoral districts, 77 violated the order, and that on
one occasion a single advisory pastor represented fifty-three advisory
pastors — quite apart from the fact that the Synod's wish was often
disregarded altogether.

At the last Synod there were present: 212 voting pastors, 209 deputies,
total: 421; 42 advisory pastors, 76 teachers, 49 presidents and
professors, total: 167. This large number of delegates (588) was in any
case what prompted the request mentioned above.

The undersigned now ventures to recommend the following proposals to
the Reverend Synod for its consideration:

1. That the above-named provisions now in force be amended;

2. That the provision concerning voting congregations be given the
following wording: “Every ten congregations shall be entitled to send
one pastor and one deputy as their representatives”;

3. That the provision concerning advisory members be given the
following wording: “Namely, one out of every fifteen advisory pastors
and one out of every fifteen schoolteachers shall always be elected as
advisory members for the same.”

Under this arrangement, the Delegate Synod this year would be composed
roughly as follows: 150 voting pastors, 150 deputies, 35 advisory
pastors, 65 teachers, 50 presidents and professors; total: about 450
delegates.

Such a composition of the Delegate Synod would also be fitting in that
the Synod would then consist of two-thirds voting members and one-third
advisory members.

The districts should be charged with seeing to it precisely that the
delegate elections take place in accordance with the established order,
and also that the electoral districts are not formed altogether
arbitrarily and by chance, but that, as far as possible, regard is paid
to equal and just representation and to local circumstances.