# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S236
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 235

PRESENT WORDING

H. CONFERENCES OF PASTORS
AND TEACHERS

4.111 Pastoral Conferences

Each District of the Synod shall arrange con-
ferences for its pastors. Four weeks prior to the
convention of the District the minutes and essays
or a reasonably comprehensive summary of the
essays accepted by these pastoral conferences shall
be submitted to a committee appointed by the Dis-
trict President for examination and a report to the
convention.

4.113 Teachers Conferences

Each District of the Synod shall arrange confer-
ences for its teachers. The minutes and essays or
a reasonably comprehensive summary of the essays
accepted by these conferences shall be submitted to
the District convention in the same way as those of
pastoral conferences.

4,115 Joint Conferences

Each District shall encourage joint conferences
of pastors and teachers.

4.117 Smaller Conferences

Pastors and teachers are encouraged to organize
smaller conferences in addition to their regular
conferences and to meet for the purpose of discuss-
ing doctrinal, professional, and practical matters.

4.119 Intersynodical Conferences

Intersynodical conferences for the study of the-
ology are desirable and are encouraged on a regu-
lar basis.

4.121 Purposes of Conferences

The official conferences of pastors and teachers
shall be conducted for the spiritual and professional
growth of their members. Matters pertaining to
Christian doctrine and practice, to professional
problems, to the proper conduct in office, to private
study, to the welfare of the respective congregations
and schools, to the work of the District and of the
Synod, or to any other professional matter shall at
all times receive due and sympathetic attention.
The members of the conferences shall aim to cul-
tivate brotherly relationship, be mutually helpful
in every way possible, and encourage, instruct, and
admonish one another in a spirit of sincerity and
Christian love. Professional conferences have no
synodical administrative functions.

PROPOSED WORDING

H. CONFERENCES OF PASTORS
AND TEACHERS

4.111 Official Pastoral and Teachers Conferences

a. In each District of the Synod there shall be
an official conference for its pastors and an official
conference for its teachers. Each official conference
shall consist respectively of all clergymen and all
teachers on the District roster and shall meet, if
possible, in plenary sessions at least once each year
and may meet more frequently in major sections
(not more than four sections) whose geographical
boundaries shall be established by the District in
convention. Also such major sectional meetings
shall be regarded as sessions of the official confer-
ence.

b. All clergymen and teachers on the District
roster are expected to attend meetings of their of-
ficial conference or present a valid excuse.

c. The plenary and the sectional meetings of
both official conferences may adopt and submit
overtures to the District and synodical conventions.

d. Four weeks prior to the convention of the
District the minutes and essays or a reasonably
comprehensive summary of the essays accepted by
the pastoral conference and by the teachers confer-
ence in plenary and sectional meetings shall be
submitted to a committee appointed by the District
President for examination and a report to the con-
vention.

4.113 Other Conferences

a. The official pastoral and official teachers con-
ferences shall be encouraged to meet also jointly
for the purpose of discussing doctrinal, professional,
and practical matters.

b. Pastors and teachers are encouraged to or-
ganize smaller conferences in addition to their offi-
cial conferences.

c. Intersynodical conferences for the study of
theology are desirable and are encouraged on a
regular basis.

4.115 Purposes of Conferences
present 4.121