# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S221 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 220 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS Resolved, That the Synod appoint a committee or com- mission, the majority of whom shall be women, to investigate and evaluate steps towards equality and to inform the Synod of them; and be it finally Resolved, That Synodical and District officials be directed to counsel with congregations and schools of the Synod that need help in removing differences on the basis of sex in calling procedures, tenure, salary, retirement programs, con- ference attendance and other responsibilities and privileges of the office of teacher. LutHer MemorraL CHuRcH Richmond Heights. Mo. Victor Saeger, President Karen Lindberg, Secretary Robert Trautmann, Pastor 5-21A To Grant Voting Rights to All Professional Church Workers Wuereas, Voting procedures within the LCMS at both District and synodical conventions are based on congrega- tional ministries; and Wuereas, The church's ministry to the world increasingly involves expressions of witness and service beyond congre- gational structures; and Wuergas, All professional church workers should be members of the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod authorize a special committee to study the granting of voting representation to all professional church workers regardless of the ministry in which they serve, at District and synodical conventions; and be it further Resolved, That this committee submit its recommenda- tions to all professional church workers of the Synod and to all the congregations for their study and reaction and to the 1975 convention of the Synod for action, CALIFORNIA AND Nevapa District Theo. A. Iverson, Secretary Similar: 3-21B Area I Pastor-Teacher Conference, Texas District, R. G. Friedrichs, President: Donald Hinz, Secretary. 5-21C Teachers Conference, California and Nevada District, Janice Alexander, Secretary. 3-22 To Grant Right to Vote to Retired Pastors Actively Serving as Interim Pastors Wuereas, Our active retired pastors have a rich experi- ence which the Lord of the church would want Synod to use since they represent a large percentage of our communi- cants; and WHEREAS, The appointment of active retired pastors to boards would relieve some pastors who attend excessive board meetings and are unable to perform their pastoral duties as they should: and Wuereas, Active retired pastors contribute regularly, and as well as any, to the support of their local congregation and Synod, and since many are pensioned and would be willing to serve without pay; therefore be it Resolved, That we earnestly recommend that a percentage of active retired pastors, equal to the percentage of regular pastors, be granted a vote at synodical conventions: and be it further Resolved, That the praesidium seriously consider appoint- ing active retired pastors to the vital boards of Synod, in- cluding at least one active retired pastor to Synod’s Board of Control, Curist Divine LuTHERAN CHURCH Sarnia, Ontario George Sebele, President 5-23 To Permit Installed Lay Ministers to Serve as Voting Delegates Wuereas, Voting privileges are restricted to (ordained) pastors and representing laymen of member congregations; and Wuereas, There are a goodly number of congregations being served by lay ministers who are assuming the role of a fully ordained pastor: and WHEREAS, The member congregations involved respect such a servant of God as their pastor and minister of the Gospel; therefore be it Resolved, That such lay ministers who are installed into the pastoral ministry be included understandably as eligible voting delegates representing their parish along with the representing lay delegate. REDEEMER CHURCH Prince Albert, Sask. Neal Brackhan Roland Poier To Grant Wider Enfranchisement in the Synod Wuereas, By tradition and practice, and not by direct apostolic or dominical command, the franchise in Synod has belonged to the member congregations; and Wuereas, Even the pastoral vote has been dependent upon his relationship to a member congregation of the Synod; and Wuereas, This system of franchisement served the Synod well in the past when the most common and usual expression of the church's life and ministry was the organized in- corporated congregation, but this system is woefully inade- quate in light of the varied ministries and forms of church life the Spirit has created in our time: and Wuereas, The present system of franchisement disen- franchises many Spirit-created ministries of our Synod simply because they do not exist in the form of the tra- ditionally incorporated congregation; and Wuereas, This system violates the fraternal nature of the Synod by discriminating against all ministries of people and pastors that are not confined to the incorporated congrega- tional structure, and is thereby insensitive to the Holy Spirit’s effective working beyond the confines of the tradi- tional incorporated congregation; and Wuereas, The word “synod™ emphasizes the unity of all its members and thereby implies that all who are a part of its purposes and activities are “walking together” instead of being categorized in decreasing ranks of representation and importance: and Wuereas, It is most desirable to allow the full diversity of the Synod to participate as equals in the governance and policy-making activity of the Synod: therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod with joy enfranchise all its varied ministries and forms of mission, even though they be not organized in the traditional congregational structure: and be it further Resolved, That all professional workers of the Synod who belong to congregations be enfranchised without distinction. Grace LUTHERAN CHURCH Jacksonville, Fla. Herbert Schert, Chairman Similar: 5-24B South and East Michigan Lutheran Teachers Conference, Rochester, Mich.. Arlene Kolb, Secretary.