# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S192 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 192 ADMINISTRATION WHEREAS. The Synod in resolution after resolution has recognized this fact: and WHEREAS. The Synod has refused the active assistance of minority personnel on sensitive committees and boards: and WHEREAS. District boards of education. evangelism, steward- ship. and social ministry made up of minority personnel would understand the needs and challenges of minority ministries: and WHEREAS. The funds of the minority communities could be channeled to meet the needs of the minority communities: and WHEREAS, Recruitment to ministry from among minority communities could be facilitated by members of the minority communities being in responsible and effective positions of responsibility; and WHEREAS, The church needs the voice of minority com- munities to respond to God's challenge to the church in liberat- ing action in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: and WHEREAS. Recruitment for professional workers in the church from the minority communities can be much more effec- tively done by minority personnel; therefore be it Resolred. That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod recognize the divine right of the minority community to answer its problems in its own way. St. Philip's Lutheran Church St. Louis, Mo. David L. Hawkins. President 4-45 To Hold Council of Presidents Meetings at a Central Synodical School WHEREAS. Each District President is an elected representa- tive of the congregations within his District: and WHEREAS. Each District President is to set an example for the entire District he serves, in stewardship of time and money: therefore be it Resolved. That the Council of Presidents hold their meetings at a synodical school most centrally located to all District Presi- dents within the Synod. Zion Lutheran Church Ocheyedan, Iowa Allen Schmidt. President Dennis Bremer. Secretary 4-46A To Keep Proper Balance Between Synodical Board of Directors and Synodical Boards WHEREAS, The synodical Handbook confers on the Board of Directors of the Synod supervision in the area of business matters as well as certain other coordinative powers: and WHEREAS, The Board of Directors of the Synod with goodwill and urged by conditions of stress and confusion in the Synod has set up study committees involving themselves in the work of certain of the boards of the Synod: but WHEREAS. It is easy for such goodwill efforts to be translated into entering into the operational activities of the boards of the synod: and WHEREAS. Such intrusion into the work of the boards of the Synod would put the Board of Directors into the position of holding great centralized power: and WHEREAS. It is neither possible nor desirable for one board to exercise this much power over the activities of all of the boards of the Synod: therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod thank the Board of Directors for its attempts to reconcile in difficult situations: but be it further Resolved. That the Synod remind the Board of Directors that its power is limited to the terms of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod: and be it finally Resolved. That the Synod express its conviction that it con- tinues to desire the boards elected by the Synod to be respon- sible to the Synod in the manner prescribed in the Constitution and Bylaws. Grace Lutheran Church Lexington. Mo. Arnold Viebrock. President Edward Kolster, Secretary K. Michael Simminger, Pustor Identical or similar: 4-46B Immanuel, Olivette. Mo. Walter J. Hoffmann 4-47A To Clarify Role and Responsibilities of Synodical Boards and Officers WHEREAS, The problems and issues of the last biennium have been of such a nature that it has been difficult at times to de- termine proper procedures under the constitutional structure of the Synod; and WHEREAS, The pressure of unusual circumstances and emer- gencies tends to weaken the governmental functions of an organization such as the Synod: and WHEREAS, The Synod in 1935, faced with the question of the role and function of the Board of Directors, called upon the Commission on Constitutional Matters to render an opinion on this matter, which opinion was adopted by the Synod: and WHEREAS, The Synod in 1935 adopted the following: According to the Constitution of Synod the members of the Board of Directors are: 1. The legal representatives of Synod: 2. The custo- dians of the property of Synod: 3. The general managers and super- visors of all the business affairs of Synod. Your Committee recom- mends therefore that the members of Synod as well as the Board of Directors always keep this threefold sphere of the Board's activities in mind and that the members of Synod carefully avoid committing such matters to the Board of Directors as do not come within its sphere of activities and that the Board of Directors carefully avoid accepting, and acting on, such matters as are none of its concern. Thus we shall avoid conflicts and retain the democratic character of our Synod. and WHEREAS, The revised regulations adopted by the Synod in 1941 indicated that the Board of Directors should ‘‘be kept in- formed” of the work of the boards and “render to them all necessary and possible aid" but did not rescind the action of the 1935 convention nor grant the Board of Directors authority to control boards or circumvent or assume their rights and re- sponsibilities (synodical Proceedings. 1941, pp. 256 — 260): and WHEREAS, The scope of synodical activities is so broad and so complex that it is quite impossible for a single board such as the Board of Directors to direct and control all of them: and WHEREAS, Direct management of the activities of other synodical boards by the Board of Directors would reduce the effectiveness and the contribution of boards and render them less necessary: but WHEREAS, The synodical regulations do not appear to be clear in some respects on these matters and the Board of Directors in recent months acted in good faith when it seemed decisive action was necessary: therefore be it Resolved, That the members of the various boards and the officers of the Synod be commended for having dealt with the recent synodical issues according to what seemed best in their judgment: and be it further Resolved. That the Commission on Constitutional Matters be instructed to clarify the synodical Constitution and Bylaws so as to preserve the independent function and role of the various boards, such as the Board for Missions, the Board for Higher Education, Boards of Control, and others, so as to pre- serve the democratic character of our Synod and yet provide for efficient government: and be it further Resolved, That the role and the powers of the President and Vice-Presidents of the Synod, other officers, the executive officer of the Board of Directors, and other aides also be clarified: and be it finally