# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S233 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 233 send two advisory delegates: each 2-year college of the Synod shall send one advisory delegate. Such delegates shall be elected from the student body of the respective schools of the Synod. Faculty Concordia Teachers College River Forest, Ill. Merle L. Radke, Secretary Identical or similar: 5-56B First Trinity, Washington, D.C. David Preisinger a-57A To Revise Method of Selecting Convention Committees WHEREAS, The Synod is composed of congregations repre- senting many and varied interests, geographical areas, social and cultural strata: and WHEREAS, The Synod has expressed the principle that con- vention committees be composed of individuals representing varied backgrounds, i.e., pastors, teachers, and laymen (Hand- book 1.27 f); and WHEREAS, It is desirable for all points of view to be heard in committee, so that balanced recommendations can be pro- duced for consideration by the convention: and WHEREAS, It is imperative to the success of a convention that sustained discussion of resolutions take place in committee and not in plenary sessions: and WHEREAS, The present method of selecting convention com- mittees does not assure balanced and representative com- mittees: therefore we the Eastern District request the 1975 convention to substitute for Bylaw 1.27 f the following reading: f. All reports and overtures accepted by the Presi- dent in accordance with the foregoing paragraphs shall be referred by him to convention committees ap- pointed by a special committee consisting of the President, a vice-President designated by the Presi- dent, and three District Presidents elected by all the District Presidents. The special committee shall make its selection from the voting delegates (1.51), advisory delegates (1.57), and advisory representatives (1.61). Pastors, teachers, and lay persons shall be represented on all committees. Every effort shall be made to have broad representatives of viewpoints on the Conven- tion Committees. The President shall notify com- mittee members of their appointment and of the time and place of their first meeting no later than 8 weeks before the start of the convention. The committee rosters shall be published in the Lutheran Witness Reporter at least 6 weeks before the convention. After due consideration of the matters referred to it, each committee is to report its findings and recom- mendations to the convention. If the President deems it advisable, he may convene any committees prior to the opening of the convention. Eastern District, Richard L. J. Hoemann, Secretary Identical or similar: 5-57B and 5-57C Southeastern District Faith, Kirksville, Mo. Charles Mueller M. Appold 5-58 To Change Method of Selecting Convention Committees WHEREAS, In a congregation it is desirable to get a cross section of its membership to serve on the various boards and committees to carry on an effective ministry: and WHEREAS, It is desirable to hear all points of view that exist in the life of a congregation before making recommendations: and WHEREAS, Such principles can also serve our Synod in carry- ing out its ministry: therefore be it Resolved. That the floor committees at the synodical con- vention be appointed by a special committee consisting of the synodical President: a synodical Vice-President appointed by the President: three District Presidents elected by all the Dis- trict presidents: five laymen elected on the following basis: divide Districts into five regions, each District within each region to have a rotating term to choose one layman: and two teachers appointed by the Lutheran Education Association. The special committee shall make its selection from the voting delegates, the advisory delegates, and the advisory representa- tives. Pastors, teachers, and lay persons shall be represented on all committees. Every effort shall be made to have a broad representation of viewpoints on the convention committees. Concordia Lutheran Church Kirkwood, Mo. James McAllister, President Virginia Ziemann, Secretary To Assure that Floor Committee Appointments Are Geographically Distributed but Are Charged to Honor Bible, Confessions, ‘‘Handbook,” and Doctrinal Resolutions of Synod WHEREAS, The Synod has painfully but purposefully con- fronted its doctrinal problems and laid the groundwork for correction and cleansing: and WHEREAS. Those “liberal” minorities who would permit or profess the false doctrine and aberrations to continue as ac- ceptable teachings and practices are working hard to upset the progress made with such resolutions as Milwaukee 2-21 and 5-24 and New Orleans 2-12, 3-01, 3-09, and 3-12A: and WHEREAS, These liberal minorities, with such names as ELIM and their publications such as Missouri in Perspective. have persuaded various well-meaning synodical leaders to promote the concept that floor committees must have “‘an evenly distributed viewpoint’ on them and committee member appoint- ments should include those who represent ‘every area of thinking’”’: and WHEREAS, Such a concept should have no place in a con- fessional denomination and, considering the problems “every area of thinking” brought to the St. Louis seminary, this notion would normally be considered absurd: and WHEREAS, This “normally absurd concept’ has actually been endorsed by a group of leaders headed by a District Presi- dent (one of 16 District Presidents whom ELIM claimed at their national meeting in Chicago in August 1974 as ““ELIM support- ers’’): therefore be it Resolved. That appointments to floor committees continue to have geographical distribution both as to lay and clerical members: and be it further Resolved. That all appointees be required to affirm the authority of Scriptures as the only rule and norm of faith: be required to subscribe to the Confessions: and be required to vow to honor and uphold the Handbook and all of the doctrinal resolutions ‘of the Synod, keeping in mind that no resolution, Bylaw, or article of the Synod's Constitution is unchangeable through “due process” other than Article II and VI, which are unalterable: and be it finally Resolved. That procedures be used so as to assure that “every area of thinking” will never be allowed to be represented on floor committees on any “evenly distributed” concept but that instead every effort will be made to restrict the appoint- ments to only those who confess, profess, and teach the doctrine of the Synod. St. Paul's Lutheran Church Wenatchee, Wash. Joseph Leas, Pastor