# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_August 25 26 2012_S3
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

WHEREAS, It is important that representatives of member congregations understand in advance of
the election of delegates for Synod conventions that an orderly process will be followed; and
WHEREAS, Such orderly process for the election of delegates to the Synod convention should
include
• an apportioning of congregations in light of a district’s prescribed number of delegates;
• a selection of delegates in a manner that takes into consideration reasonable and equitable
representation;
• a process for creating electoral caucuses; and
• an election by those electoral caucuses at a district convention; therefore be it
Resolved, That voting delegates for Synod conventions be elected by electoral caucuses; and be it
further
Resolved, That each district shall select advisory delegates (ministers of religion—ordained and
ministers of religion—commissioned) retaining the proportionate representation to voting delegates
as is currently followed; and be it finally
Resolved, That Bylaws 3.1.2.1–3.1.3.1 be amended as follows:
3.1.2.1 Elections of voting delegates to the national convention shall take place in accordance
with established policy and proceduresas follows.
(a) Each electoral circuit shall meet at the call of the counselor(s) to elect its
delegates not later than nine months prior to the opening day of the convention.The
district board of directors shall determine how its electoral caucuses will meet in
light of its prescribed number of delegates to the next national convention. Such
groupings shall take into consideration geographical factors, visitation circuits, and
such other factors as will provide reasonable and equitable congregational
representation in and as a result of the delegate selection process to occur not later
than nine months prior to the opening day of the Synod convention.
(b) Elections shall be by written ballot. Candidates for election as delegates to the
national convention shall be delegates attending the district convention, except for
those unwilling or unable to serve.
(c) The privilege of voting shall be exercised by one pastor and one layperson from
each member congregation of the circuit, both of whom shall have been selected in
the manner prescribed by the congregation. Multiple parishes shall be entitled to a
lay vote from each member congregation.Time shall be allotted on the district
convention agenda to allow the delegates from each electoral caucus to select its
delegates to the following national convention.
(d) All pastors who are not advisory members under Article V B of the Constitution
shall be eligible for election.A circuit counselor appointed by the president of the
district shall chair the caucus. Nominations shall be received and delegates elected
in the following order: (1) minister of religion—ordained delegate; (2) lay delegate;
(3) alternate minister of religion—ordained delegate; and (4) alternate lay delegate.
(1) Each voter may write in the names of two pastors on the initial ballot. The
three pastors (or more, in case of a tie vote) who receive the highest number of
votes in this preliminary ballot shall be placed on the next ballot.
(2) Each voter shall now vote for only one candidate. Balloting shall continue
with the lowest candidate being removed from each succeeding ballot until one
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