# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_February 23 2013_S43
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

(b) Two factors shall be averaged to determine the number of delegates from each district:
(1) The percentage of the district’s member congregations compared to the number of
member congregations of the Synod; and
(2) The percentage of the number of confirmed members of a district’s congregations
compared to the number of confirmed members of the member congregations of the
Synod.
(c) The most recent roster statistics available six months prior to the convention shall be used
to determine all matters related to delegate representation.
(d) One-half of the district’s total allotment of delegates shall be laity from member
congregations of the district and one-half shall be ministers of religion—ordained with
membership in the congregations of the district.

(B) To Change Process for Electing Delegates to Synod Conventions
WHEREAS, The Synod convention is the “…principal legislative assembly, which amends the
Constitution and Bylaws, considers and takes action on reports and overtures, and handles appropriate
appeals”…“and establishes general positions and policies of the Synod, provides overall program
direction and priorities, and evaluates all such positions, programs, policies, directions, and priorities in
order to provide responsible service for and on behalf of its members…” (Bylaw 3.1.1); and
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:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
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
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