# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S224 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 224 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS Synod shall sign the Constitution of the Synod in open session of the District convention when they are re- ceived into membership. If this imposes a hardship or if they desire to become members at a convention of the Synod, they shall file a signed statement of subscription to the Constitution, which statement shall read as follows: "Having read the Constitution of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod, I hereby subscribe to it, dated _, signed _.”' This statement shall be filed with the Secretary of the District prior to the convention in which they wish to be received. The duly elected lay delegate of... Commission on Constitutional Matters Herbert Mueller. Secretary To Limit Size of Conventions WHEREAS. The size of our synodical convention has been steadily increasing to the point where the total number at the Anaheim convention will approximate 1,800 official delegates and observers: and WHEREAS. The cost of this expanding gathering is making synodical conventions financially prohibitive: and WHEREAS. The size of the conventions is sharply limiting the number of cities where we might convene: and WHEREAS. The number of those who have the right to the floor is increasing to the point where it is nearly impossible to achieve proper group interaction: therefore be it Resolved. That the number of voting delegates to a synodical convention be limited to a maximum of 300 delegates, with the number of delegates sent by each District to be determined proportionate to its size. except that no District shall send less than two (2) lay delegates and two (2) pastoral delegates: and be it further Resolved. That the number of advisory delegates be limited to 100, proportioned to our Districts according to how many teachers and advisory pastors they have. except that. where applicable, no District shall have less than one (1) advisory pastoral delegate and one (1) advisory teacher delegate: and be it further Resolved. That representatives of synodical boards, com- mittees and commissions, and of synodical institutions be scaled down proportionately: and be it finally Resolved. That each District President and one official representative of the Board of Directors of each District shall be invited to attend. Board of Directors Southeastern District Ralph E. Wiechmann, Secretary 3-24A To Reduce Size of Conventions WHEREAS. The size of synodical conventions has increased to the point where it makes transacting business difficult and expensive: and WHEREAS, It is advisable to keep visitation circuits small so that the Circuit Counselor can adequately carry out his responsi- bilities: therefore be it Resolved. That electoral circuits shall consist of two or more visitation circuits so that each pair of delegates shall represent from 20 to 30 member congregations and from 5,000 to 20,000 communicant members. Trinity Lutheran Church Fort Dodge, Iowa William Hotz, President Gary W. Andersen. Secretary Henry Wesenberg, Pastor Identical or similar: 5-24B and 5-24C Emmaus, Tripp. S. Dak. Bethlehem, Houston. Tex. Eugene Kruse D. A. Robbins To Reapportion Delegates to Synodical Conventions WHEREAS. The number of voting delegates to the synodical conventions continues to increase in number: and WHEREAS, There is quite a disparity of delegates from the various Districts of the Synod, when the size of the Districts is considered both as to communicant membership as well as the number of congregations represented: and WHEREAS. The only directive the Synod has given to Districts in this regard involves the number of congregations and the communicant strength of the electoral circuit: and WHEREAS. This directive itself tends to cause Districts to send larger numbers of delegates: therefore be it Resolved. That Handbook Section 1.51 (Voting Delegates) be changed to read: a. Each District shall be represented by one voting pastor and one voting lay delegate for each 5,000 communicant members in the District. Fractional com- municants in excess of 3.000 shall also be represented by one voting pastor and one voting lay delegate (i. e., a District with 18,500 communicants would have a representation of four pastors and four lay delegates: a District with 17,000 would be represented by three pastors and three lay delegates). In no case shall a District be represented by fewer than three voting pastors and three lay delegates. The communicant strength of the District shall be determined by the latest Statistical Yearbook in hand at the time of election of delegates. b. Voting delegates shall be elected by each elec- toral circuit of the District. The electoral circuit shall be determined by each District and shall be made up of sufficient congregations, adjacent to each other, with a communicant membership totaling from four to six thousand members. c. Voting delegates shall serve a 2-year term, begin- ning with the convention: after the convention they shall function as resource persons for the congrega- tions they represent and assist in the dissemination of the synodical resolutions in these congregations. Board of Directors Texas District Carl A. Heckmann, President 3-26A To Improve Delegate Election Method WHEREAS. A study of delegate representation at the New Orleans convention gives evidence of disproportionate and unequal representation of the membership of the Synod; and WHEREAS. It is desirable to achieve as closely as possible the ‘one person one vote” principle in its delegate election to assure more equitable and responsive representation; therefore be it Resolved. That the Michigan District request the 1975 con- vention of the Synod to develop a method of delegate election which will represent more equitably the membership of the Synod at future conventions of the Synod. Michigan District Norbert H. Mueller, Secretary