# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S230
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

230 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

1. Congregations having one called staff person
are entitled to two votes—one of which is to be cast
by the called staff person and the other by a lay
delegate.

2. Congregations having a parochial school and
having more than one called staff person are entitled
to four votes. The congregation shall designate two
called staff members and two lay delegates to cast
votes on its behalf.

3. At the meetings of the Synod a number of con-
gregations shall form a group, which shall be repre-
sented by two voting delegates, one a called person
and one a lay person.

4. Congregations have the option to send advisory
delegates.
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
East Detroit, Mich.
Fred Zizelman, Chairman
Wm. H. Otten, Pastor

5-45A

To Change Franchise

WHEREAS. The voting privileges originally provided for in
the Constitution of the Synod reflected the fact that most called
professional workers of the Synod were also pastors of con-
gregations: and

WHEREAS, At the present time the large majority of the
called professional workers of the Synod are engaged in other
ministries of the church: and

WHEREAS, The equal balance of voting privileges between
lay and professional workers seems desirable to maintain;
therefore be it

Resolved. That Article V of the Synod’s Constitution be
amended from:

Membership in the Synod is held and may be acquired
by congregations, ministers of the Gospel, and teach-
ers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church who confess
and accept the confessional basis of Article II.

to:

Membership in the Synod is held and may be acquired
by congregations and called professional workers
who confess and accept the confessional basis of
Article II.

and Article V A (Voting Members) be changed from:

All organized congregations that have joined the
Synod hold voting membership. At the meetings of
the Districts of the Synod every congregation or parish
is entitled to two votes, one of which is to be cast by
the pastor and the other by the lay delegate. At the
meetings of the Synod a number of congregations
shall form a group, which shall be represented by two
voting delegates, one a pastor and one a lay delegate.

to:

All organized congregations that have joined the
Synod hold voting membership. At the meetings of
the Districts of the Synod every congregation or parish
is entitled to two votes, one of which is to be cast by
the called professional worker and the other by the
lay delegate. At the meetings of the Synod a number
of congregations shall form a group, which shall be
represented by two voting delegates, one a called
professional worker and one a lay delegate.

and be it further
Resolved. That Article XII A be changed from:
The pastors of such congregations as hold voting
membership in the Synod and the lay delegates
elected and deputed by these congregations shall be
voting representatives.
to:

The called professional workers of such congregations
as hold voting membership in the Synod and the lay

delegates elected and deputed by these congregations
shall be voting representatives.
and be it finally
Resolved. That the Synod’s Commission on Constitutional
Matters be instructed to modify the Articles of Incorporation
and Bylaws accordingly to bring them into agreement with
these constitutional amendments.

Peace Lutheran Church

Fort Wayne, Ind.

Norman O. Hesterman, President
Wayne F. Bultemeier, Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-45B and 5-45C

St. John’s, Waco, Nebr.
Cal.-Nev. District

5-46

Harold Malotky
Paul Jacobs

To Extend Franchise to Pastors
Emeriti Serving Vacant Congregations

WHEREAS, Pastors emeriti, normally advisory delegates to
conventions, may at times be serving on a virtually full-time
basis congregations with relatively long-term vacancies; and

WHEREAS, Precedent has been set by the California and
Nevada District in its 1974 convention by seating five such pas-
tors emeriti; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention at Anaheim clarify
the above procedure in the Handbook so that such pastors
emeriti may sit as voting delegates.

California and Nevada District
Theo. A. Iverson, Secretary

5-47A

To Provide Suffrage for Teachers

WHEREAS, Lutheran teachers are copartners in the public
ministry of the church and are public ministers of the Word:
and

WHEREAS, The lack of franchise relegates these servants
of the Word to a less-than-full partnership in the church’s min-
istry; and

WHEREAS, An effective ministry to the parish, community,
and world is best accomplished by a team of ministers — pastors,
teachers, and laymen—working in harmony and using their
God-given individual gifts and abilities in mutual acceptance
and appreciation; therefore be it

Resolved. That this convention declare itself in favor of
granting franchise to the called teachers of the church at District
and synodical conventions; and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod’s Commission on Constitutional
Matters be hereby instructed to prepare the necessary changes
in the Synod’s Handbook to carry out this directive, including
a formula for balanced representation between pastors, teach-
ers, and laymen (e. g., one pastor, one teacher, and two laymen
from each circuit as voting delegates at synodical conventions;
one pastor and one layman from each congregation, as well as
a representative number of voting teachers, at District conven-
tions); and be it finally

Resolved. That the proposals of the Commission on Consti-
tutional Matters be presented to the 1977 synodical convention
for final action and referral to the Synod’s congregations for
the necessary referendum.

English District
Robert L. Landeck, Secretary

Identical or similar:

5-47B to 5-47F

Nebraska District F. Niedner
Zion, Bensenville, III. T. Miles
Our Savior, Carmi, III. H. Halter
Immanuel, Gaylord, Minn. J. Panning

Northern Indiana Teach. Conf. Bernard Geyer