# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S228
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 227

dropped from the ballot, with the provision, how-
ever, that two names shall appear on the subse-
quent ballot for each position still to be filled. In
every election balloting shall continue until every
position has been filled by majority vote.

COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MatTTERS
Herbert Mueller, Secretary

5-56A

To Reveal Tally in All Nominating
and Election Procedures

Wuereas. We desire that synodical elections be fair to
each candidate; and

Wuereas, All voting delegates should have access to facts
rather than rumors; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Secretary of Synod be instructed to
report the number of votes each candidate for the President
of Synod and for the First Vice-President of Synod received
in the nominating ballot; and be it further

Resolved, That the Committee on Elections report the
tally of the candidates whenever a succeeding ballot is re-
quired to establish a majority.

TALLMADGE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Tallmadge, Ohio

Glendon Umbaugh, Chairman
Elizabeth Tenyak, Secretary

Similar:

5-56B

University Lutheran Chapel, Ont., Canada, Rev. Lawrence
E. Martin, Pastor, David Chambers, Secretary.

5-56C

Clifton Lutheran Church, Marblehead, Mass., Charles Vv.
Lovely, President; Mary Hosmer, Secretary.

5-57

To Eliminate Ministers Limitation Clause

Wuereas, Article X, B, 1 of the Constitution of the Synod
now reads, “The President, the Vice-Presidents, and the
Secretary must be ministers of the church .. > and

Wuereas, This limitation is one of tradition and practice
rather than a matter of direct apostolic or dominical com-
mand; and

Wuereas, The Holy Spirit's gifting to the church, includ-
ing the gift of administration (1 Cor. 12:22-30) is not limited
to the church's clergy but is active in the whole church;
and

Wuereas, The leadership of the evangelical church does
not need to be restricted to a clerical caste as in such episco-
pal systems as the Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Methodist;
an

Wuereas, The cultural situation of the 19th century no
longer exists in which the clergymen of the Synod were
the only educated persons in a largely rural church: and

Wuereas, We know from church history that many noble
church leaders, administrators, and theologians were not
drawn from the ranks of a professional clergy but were
drawn from the ranks of the laity, including the apostles
and St. Ambrose; therefore be it

Resolved, That Article X, B, 1 of the Constitution be
changed to read as follows:
1. The President, the Vice-Presidents, the Sec-
retary, the Treasurer, and the members of the
Board of Directors shall be members of voting
congregations.
Grace LUTHERAN CHURCH
Jacksonville, Fla.
Herbert Schert, Chairman

5-58
To Limit Terms of Elected Officers

Wuereas, It has been deemed expedient to limit the term
of office of the President of the U.S. to two consecutive 4-
year terms: and

Wuereas, It is generally acknowledged that the office of
President of the country is more demanding than that of
any elected official at a synodical or District level; and

Wuereas, Success is partly contingent on fresh approaches
and vitality: and

Wuereas, The ages of retirement for most offices of re-
sponsibility are steadily being lowered; and

Wuereas, Various Districts have seen fit to limit the
number of terms a District president may serve. and

Wuereas, All other elected synodical officers except the
President of the Synod, the First Vice-President and the
Secretary are limited in their terms of office (Handbook 2.07)
therefore be it

Resolved. (1) That all elected officials of Synod be sub-
ject toa limitation of two successive 4-year terms, and
(2) That all elected officials of Synod not be eligible for
reelection upon completion of the term in which they pass
their 68th birthday.
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE CovENANT
Maple Heights, Ohio
Albert Zimmerman, President
Norman Lisy, Secretary
Omar Stuenkel, Pastor

5-59

To Request Regulations Change
Re District Secretary

Wuereas, Paragraph 3.21 a of the synodical Handbook
now reads, "The following officers shall be elected from the
clergy roster of the Synod by each District: a President,
two or more Vice-Presidents, a Secretary and a Circuit
Counselor for each circuit established by the District” and

WuereEa§, It is desirable that the office of Secretary should
be made open to teachers and lay people, as well as to the
clergy, therefore be it

Resolved. That the words “a Secretary” be removed from
paragraph 3.21la of the synodical Handbook, page 84.

Jowa District East
E. L. Stuempfig, Secretary

5-60A
To Appoint Committee to Define
Responsibilities and Authority of President

Wuereas, The President of the Synod is given supervision
over doctrine taught in the Synod (Handbook, Section 2.27);
and

Wuereas, Such supervision often involves interpretation
of theology, doctrine. and the confessional position of the
Lutheran church as it relates to the life of the church, and

WuereEas, The historical position of the Lutheran church
has denied and considered expressly dangerous giving au-
thority or responsibility for the interpretation of doctrine
to one office and person (Augsburg Confession Article
XXVIII and Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article
XXVIII, “Of Ecclesiastical Power”: Apology of the Augs-
burg Confession, Articles VII, VIII “Of the Church”); there-
fore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod,
gathered in convention in New Orleans, La., in 1973, instruct
the College of Presidents to appoint a committee within 90
days of the convention which will define the responsibilities
and authority of the office of synodical President; and be it
further

Resolved, That this committee be comprised of 12 mem-