# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S227 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 227 b. Prior to the meeting of the electoral circuit, each congregation shall nominate one layman, either from its congregation or from the circuit, the name to be submitted to the Circuit Counselor. All congregational nominees shall be eligible for election. The election shall follow the same pro- cedure as in paragraph “a” above, until a lay dele- gate has been chosen by majority vote, whereupon he shall be declared the lay delegate. The congre- gation from which the lay delegate has been elected shall then be removed from consideration for sup- plying any remaining voting delegate or alternate to that particular convention. c. Balloting shall continue in the same manner on the remaining pastoral candidates until another has gained majority support, whereupon he shall be declared the alternate pastoral delegate. The congregation or congregations served by the elected alternate pastoral delegate shall be removed from consideration for supplying any other voting dele- gate or alternate for that particular convention. d. Balloting shall continue in the same manner on the remaining lay candidates until another has gained majority support, whereupon he shall be declared the alternate lay delegate. e. The Counselor(s) shall report the results of the election to the Secretary of the District in writing immediately after said election. If neither the delegate nor the alternate (pastoral or lay) can serve, the vacancy shall be filled by the Dis- trict President in consultation with the respective Circuit Counselor(s). b. (remains unchanged) c. Balloting shall continue in the same manner on the remaining pastoral candidates (two candi- dates except in case of a tie vote on the initial bal- loting) until another has received a simply ma- jority of all votes cast, whereupon he shall be de- clared the alternate pastoral delegate. The congre- gation or congregations served by the elected alter- nate pastoral delegate shall be removed from con- sideration for supplying any other voting delegate or alternate for that particular convention. d. Balloting shall continue in the same manner as in paragraph c on the remaining lay candidates until another has received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he shall be declared the alternate lay delegate. e. (remains unchanged) Commission on Constitutional Matters Herbert Mueller, Secretary I _ GN 5-36 To Change Procedures for Selection of Delegates WHEREAS. It is important that the Synod, meeting in conven- tion, have a balanced representation of the Synod; and WHEREAS. Under the present system representation of Cir- cuits to conventions may well fall only to a select few over the years: and WHEREAS. All pastors duly ordained and serving in member congregations of the Synod should be judged capable of respon- sible participation in the decision-making processes of the church: and WHEREAS, All congregations in a Circuit should be given opportunity to be represented at a synodical convention: therefore be it Resolved. That the synodical Bylaws governing the selection of pastoral and lay delegates to synodical conventions read as follows: 1.53 Election of Delegates a. Each electoral circuit shall meet at the call of the Counselor(s) to elect the delegates not later than 9 months prior to the opening day of the convention. The election shall be by written ballot and the majority of the votes cast shall constitute election. All pastors who are not advisory members under Article V B shall be eligible for election. The privilege 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. The order of elections shall be pastoral delegate, lay delegate congregation, alternate pastoral delegate, and alternate lay delegate congregation. As delegates are elected, the congregations represented shall be removed from consideration for supplying any other voting delegate or alternate for that particular con- vention. b. Each eligible pastor and layman at the meeting of the electoral circuit shall be entitled to nominate two pastors as delegates. The two pastors receiving the highest number of nomination votes shall then be voted upon and the pastor receiving the highest number of votes shall be the pastoral delegate. The same procedure shall be followed for the election of the alternate pastoral delegate. No pastor may succeed himself as a convention delegate. c. The election of the lay delegate congregation and the alternate lay delegate congregation will be made on a rotational basis as determined by the circuit delegates, taking into consideration previous partici- pation by the congregations, so that all congregations of the circuit will have attended a convention before starting a new rotation. d. The Counselor(s) shall report the results of the election to the Secretary of the District in writing immediately after said election and shall maintain appropriate rotational records. If neither the delegate nor the alternate (pastoral or lay) can serve, the vacancy shall be filled by the District President in consultation with the respective Circuit Counselor(s). Board of Directors Northwest District Emil G. Jaech, Chairman D. C. Schroeder, Secretary