# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S226
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

226 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

To Increase Lay Delegate
Representation to District
Conventions

WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod has tradi-
tionally been said to be a church of laymen and many in the
church have expressed a desire to involve the laity to a greater
extent in the synodical and District operations: and

WHEREAS. The District is an extension of the Synod, therefore
not a separate entity in itself: and

WHEREAS, Laymen make up 99 percent of church member-
ship and at present have only half of the delegate strength: and

WHEREAS, The District in District conventions should attempt
to represent the church more equally: and

WHEREAS. The cost of District conventions could be reduced
by reducing the number of delegates, thereby freeing funds to
extend the various ministries involved in spreading the Gospel:
therefore be it

Resolved. That the Bylaws of the Synod, Section 3.17 (Ac-
crediting of Delegates), be amended to read that each voting
congregation shall send a lay delegate to be accredited and
entitled to vote and that each circuit shall send its Circuit
Counselor and one pastor elected by the pastors of the circuit
to be accredited and entitled to vote: and be it further

Resolved. That the Commission on Constitutional Matters
be instructed to make all appropriate changes in the Handbook
to implement this change in time for the 1976 district conven.
tions.

Christ Lutheran Church
Coos Bay, Oreg.

Wayne Buckles. President
Curt Aman, Secretary

5-33

To Revise Basis for Representation
at Conventions

WHEREAS. There are far more lay people than there are
clergy in the church: and

oe

PRESENT WORDING

1.53 Election of Delegates

a. Each electoral circuit shall meet at the call
of the Counselor(s) to elect its delegates not later
than 9 months prior to the opening day of the con-
vention. The election shall be by written ballot.
All pastors who are not advisory members under
Article V B shall be eligible for election. The privi-
lege of voting shall be exercised by one pastor and
one layman from each member congregation of the
circuit. Multiple parishes shall be entitled to a lay
vote from each member congregation. Each dele-
gate shall vote for two pastors, and balloting shall
continue with the lowest candijate being removed
from each succeeding ballot until one pastor shall
have received suprort from a majority of the voters,
whereupon he shall be declared the pastoral dele-
gate. The congregation or congregations served by
the elected pastoral delegate shall be removed from
consideration for supplying any other voting dele-
gate or alternate for that particular convention.

WHEREAS, The lay people are equally endowed with the gifts
of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12: 1 Cor. 12) and for that reason ought
to have a more proportionate representation at our conventions:
therefore be it

Resolved. That the President of the Synod be instructed to
appoint a committee to study this problem for the purpose of
securing a more equitable representation of the laity at our
conventions.

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
Cornelius, Oreg.

Leonard Muhly, President
Gary L. Mrosko, Secretary
Alfred L. Enders, Pastor

To Retain Present Bylaws re
Representation

WHEREAS, The present Bylaws provide for one lay delegate
from each congregation: and

WHEREAS, This method protects the autonomy of the individ-
ual congregation in District and synodical yoting matters:
therefore be it

Resolved. That the 1975 synodical convention abide by the
present Bylaws.
Christ Lutheran Church
New Orleans, La.
Ronald Holle, Secretary
Henry Pepper Jr., President
Micheal M. Strong, Pastor

5-35
To Clarify Method of Electing Delegates

WHEREAS. There has been considerable confusion regarding
some of the wording of Bylaw 1.53 (Election of Delegates):
therefore be it

Resolved. That the wording of Bylaw 1.53 be clarified in the
following way:

PROPOSED WORDING

1.53 Election of Delegates

a. Each electoral circuit shall meet at the call
of the Counselor(s) to elect its delegates not later
than 9 months prior to the opening day of the con-
vention. The election shall be by written ballot.
All pastors who are not advisory members under
Article V B shall be eligible for election. The privi-
lege of voting shall be exercised by one pastor and
one layman from each member congregation of the
circuit. Multiple parishes shall be entitled to a lay
vote from each member congregation. Each dele-
gate may write in the name of two pastors on the
initial ballot. The three pastors (or more, in case
of a tie vote) who receive the highest number of
votes in this preliminary ballot shall be placed on
the next ballot. Each voter shall now vote for only
one candidate. Balloting shall continue with the
lowest candidate being removed from each suc-
ceeding ballot until one pastor shall have received
a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he
shall be declared the pastoral delegate. The con-
gregation or congregations served by the elected
pastoral delegate shall be removed from considera-
tion for supplying any other voting delegate or
alternate for that particular convention.