# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S214 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 213 performance of their official duties, and provide for them and their families in cases of disability or retirement. 10. Protect ministers, teachers, and congregations in the performance of their duties and the main- tenance of their rights. CoMMISSION ON MISSION AND MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH L. C. Wuerffel, Chairman M. L. Kretzmann, Consultant To Restudy and Reevaluate the Synod’s Objectives Wuereas, God has graciously blessed our Synod for 125 years and has brought us to a new age and era in American culture and society: and Wuereas, It is helpful to all concerned to have periodic reevaluation of an organization's goals and objectives: and Wuereas, We. as a Synod, are committed to the proclama- tion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for every person in every changing age and era; therefore be it Resolved. That this convention of the Northwest District of the LCMS request the entire Synod in its 1973 conven- tion to authorize and implement. through the svnodical Board of Directors and Commission on Theology and Church Relations. a restudy and reevaluation of the purposes and objectives of Synod as stated in Handbook, Article II of the Articles of Incorporation. and Article III of the Constitution of Synod. in the light of the Mission, Evangelism. and Social Ministry Affirmations passed by recent synodical conven- tions: and be it further Resolved, That the findings and recommendations for a restatement of goals and objectives be made available to all Districts and congregations as soon as practicable for further study, evaluation. and consideration. NorTHWEST DISTRICT Wayne H. Brandmire, Secretary 5-05A To Convene a Constitution Committee to Review and Rewrite Constitution The present Constitution — including its Bylaws — of the LCMS has served the church faithfully for more than a cen- tury. Originally written by svnodical fathers in the middle of the 19th century, that document has undergone many al- terations, particularly in its Bylaws. During recent years additional changes and modifications have been suggested. The number of suggestions seems to indicate the need for a comprehensive review of those aspects of the Constitution and Bylaws that deal with the governance of the Synod and not the doctrinal basis as stipulated in Article II. Some recurring issues that seem to indicate the need for a revised Constitution include: 1. Convention costs. The rising cost of biennial conven- tions has increased dramatically during recent years. The amount of time. money. and manpower spent on synodical conventions is of concern to many in the church. 2. The present circuit structure. The current policy of representation seems grossly inequitable (one District of 150,000 members is represented by 62 voting delegates: an- other having 258,000 members is represented by 64 dele- gates). 3. Lay. clergy representation. The present Constitution disfranchises almost two thirds of Synod's professional work- ers (e.g., teachers, assistant pastors. campus pastors. insti- tutional chaplains, professors. deaconesses. DCEs, youth di- rectors, synodical officers, and employees. etc.)- 4. Resolving theological issues. Past conventions high- light the difficulty of resolving complex theological issues by convention procedures. The relationship between deciding theological issues and organizational matters needs to be clarified. The machinery for administering a 20th century church is different from that required in the 1850s, yet anti- quated procedures are retained (e.g, call and placement procedures for a diversified ministry). 5, Administration. Available manpower and talents are sometimes not wisely used. Administrative elected positions are open only to ordained clergymen, though positions are primarily administrative. Such procedures fail to permit the use of competent nonordained people in some adminis- trative positions in the church. Wuereas, The foregoing seems abundantly evident; there- fore be it Resolved, That a Constitution Committee be elected to review the Constitution as a whole and to rewrite those portions of the Constitution that need modification; and be it further Resolved, That the committee be convened by a member of the presidium who will be appointed by the President of the Synod; and be it further Resolved. That the Board of Directors allocate funds nec- essary for the support and work of the committee; and be it further Resolved, That all members of the committee be elected except for the convener of the committee; and be it further Resolved, That all members hold the same standing and be eligible for all committee offices: and be it finally Resolved. That the committee be constituted in the fol- lowing manner: A. 60 Laymen Sixty laymen elected by Districts, according to propor- tionate representation. Each District shall have at least one lay delegate: additional lay delegates shall be desig- nated on a proportionate basis by the Synod’s Bureau of Statistics and elected by the Districts entitled to more than one lay delegate. B. 60 Professional Workers a. Ten District Presidents elected by the Council of Pres- idents. b. Twenty pastors elected by the pastors of Synod. Two pastors shall be nominated from the roster of pastors of the Synod by the pastors of each District. Such nominations shall be accomplished at the District con- vention. Election shall be by mail ballot. c. Twenty teachers elected by the teachers of the Synod. Two teachers shall be nominated from the roster of the teachers of the Synod by the teachers of each Dis- trict. Such nominations shall be accomplished at the District conventions. Election shall be by mail ballot. d. Ten other ministers elected by their fellows (campus pastors, deaconesses, DCEs, lay ministers, etc.). Two ministers shall be nominated from the roster of “other ministers” of the Synod by the “other ministers” of each District. Such nominations shall be accomplished at the District conventions. Election shall be by mail ballot. And be it further Resolved, That the nominations and elections be super- vised by the Board of Directors of Synod; and be it finally Resolved, That the committee to be convened shall elect its own officers. fill vacancies, develop its own procedures, insure accessibility for communication from all members of Synod and of Synod's congregations, and report its recom- mendations to a regular convention of the Synod to be con- vened within 5 years of the first meeting of the Committee. IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH Valparaiso, Ind. Edgar Luecke, Chairman Helen Dauberman, Secretary Identical or Similar: 5-05B Northeastern Indiana Pastor-Teacher Conference, Lu- ther G. Strasen, Chairman; Annetta Stork, Secretary. 5-05C Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor, Mich., G. Pat Hawk, Chairman; Vanette Schwartz, Secretary.