# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_August 25 26 2012_S7
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

WHEREAS, The Secretary of the Synod plays an important role in assisting the Committee for
Convention Nominations by gathering and presenting to the committee names and information for
individuals to be considered for election to office in the Synod; and
WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.12.3.4 sets forth the Secretary’s duties in the nomination process, but limits
the agencies and individuals with whom he works in carrying out his work; and
WHEREAS, This limitation might inadvertently exclude qualified individuals from nominations
for elected office; and
WHEREAS, Greater involvement of the agencies and members of the Synod in the nominations
process would increase confidence in it; therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.12.3.4 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.12.3.4 The Secretary of the Synod shall handle the preliminary work for the Committee for
Convention Nominations.
(a) He shall begin to solicit names of potential nominees from officers, boards,
commissions, and agencies of the Synod and its districtsthe agencies and officers of
the Synod at least 24 months prior to the convention.
(b) Approximately 24 months before a regular meeting of the Synod in convention,
he shall solicit from the mission boards and the synodwide corporate entity
boardsthose agencies with positions to be filled descriptions of criteria of qualified
candidates to serve in those positionson those boards.
(c) With such criteria in view, the Secretary shall issue the first call for nominations
through a publication of the Synod and on the Synod Web site 18 months before
the convention, soliciting names from the agencies and officers of the Synod and
the congregational and individual members of the Synodmission boards and
synodwide corporate entity boards, as well as congregations, district presidents,
district boards of directors, circuit counselors, and other likely sources.
(d) All incumbents eligible for reelection shall be considered for nomination.
(e) QualificationsThe qualifications of each nominee shall be submitted together
with the names on forms made available on the Synod’s Web site.
(f) All suggested names and information for consideration by the Committee for
Convention Nominations shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Synod no later
than nine months prior to the convention of the Synod.
(g) The Secretary shall present the names and information gathered to the
Committee for Convention Nominations at its first meeting.
44. Removal of Reconcilers from Office (12-030)
During the commission’s April 2012 meeting, Secretary Raymond Hartwig surfaced the issue of the
absence of a provision in the Bylaws for the removal of district-appointed dispute resolution process
reconcilers (Bylaw section 1.10). As assigned, Secretary Hartwig submitted a proposed convention action
to the commission during its August meeting. After discussion and changes by the commission, the
proposed resolution “To Allow Removal of Reconcilers for Cause” was adopted as follows.
Overture to the 2013 Convention
Page 24 – 08.25 to 08.26.12 – COH Minutes