# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S260 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 260 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS candidates for various full-time positions, as pastors, teachers, lay workers, deaconesses, and determining their qualifications: and WHEREAS, In recent years the concept has arisen among some of our members that the Council of Presidents is similar to a senate or legislative body, with powers inherent in itself to define and set policy within the church: and WHEREAS, The Synod functions with a Board of Directors for continuing operation and has invested the Commission on Theology and Church Relations with certain specific duties: and WHEREAS, The District Presidents by nature of their office are to carry out the policies and decisions of the Synod itself: therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod in convention clearly state that the Council of Presidents is only an advisory body and does not possess legislative powers, nor does it have the power to re- Strict or veto the actions of the President of the Synod or the presidium: and be it further Resolved. That the District Presidents be restricted to their function to carry out the directives of the Synod in their respec- tive Districts: and be it finally Resolved. That District Presidents who fail to carry out these directions be asked to resign their position (office), St. Paul's Lutheran Church Hartley, Iowa Duane Kolpin, Chairman Virgil Treimer, Secretary 3-146A To Clearly Define the Council of Presidents and Its Duties WHEREAS. District Presidents are the arms of the synodical President and responsible to him | Handbook 3.41): and WHEREAS. The role of the Council of Presidents. as his- torically carried out in the LCMS. would be one in which the council exists in an advisory capacity to the synodical President. that it would have the prerogative to offer suggestions to the President. would assist him in carrying out his duties. and would perform such duties as the Synod would at times prescribe and allocate to it: and WHEREAS. The concept has arisen in recent years that the Council of Presidents has or ought to have administrative and legislative powers to define and set policy within the Synod: and WHEREAS. The Handbook of the Synod does not clearly de- fine the Council of Presidents and its duties: therefore be it Resolved. That we petition the LCMS in convention in 1975 to change the Bylaws of the Synod by deleting the last sentence of Bylaw 3.41, which says: “The District Presidents. together with the President and Vice-Presidents of the Synod. shall form the Council of Presidents’: and be it also Resolved. That a new Bylaw (suggested as 3.42) be adopted as follows: 3.42 Council of Presidents The Council shall consist of the President. the Vice- Presidents of the Synod. and the District Presidents. The council shall convene: a. To enable the President to advise and counsel his representatives in the Districts: b. to enable the District Presidents in turn to give counsel to the President: c. to counsel with one another on matters regard- ing the doctrine and administration of the Synod and its Districts: d. to edifv and support one another in the work which they share: e. to carry out such assignments as the Synod may give to the council from time to time. South Wisconsin District Robert A. Schmidt. Secretary Identical or similar: 3-146B Immanuel, Grand Forks, N. Dak. Neil Schmidt 3-147 To Provide for Synodical Convention to Elect All District Presidents WHEREAS. The Synod establishes Districts in order to achieve its objectives and to carry out its activities more effectively (Bylaw 3.01): and WHEREAS. Every District President. according to Bylaw 3.41, is to be a responsible subordinate to the President of the Synod: and WHEREAS. It is desirable that the Districts have as wide a choice as possible of candidates for the office of District Presi- dent from a slate of proven men in the Synod who have effec- tively served in other assignments or calls of the Synod: there- fore be it Resolved. That the Synod in convention at Anaheim. Calif.. declare the office of District President a synodical office. pro- vide for the election of District Presidents by the Synod in convention on the basis of Synodwide nominations by congre- gations. and regulate the office of District President to conform with the intention of the Constitution of the Synod. Our Savior Lutheran Church Carmi, II. Adolph W. Kirsch, President Betty Reid. Secretary Herbert G. Halter, Pastor 3-148 To Disband Council of Presidents WHEREAS, By tradition and definition a District of Synod is the Synod itself at work in a given geographical area: and WHEREAS. Therefore. the office of District President exists to serve as an extension of the office of the President of the Synod: and WHEREAS. In recent years the Council of Presidents has assumed for itself powers and prerogatives beyond its assigned Jurisdiction, thus becoming a divisive factor in the life of our church body: and WHEREAS. The tendency to meddle in matters not belonging to the office of the District President has shown itself in a partic- ularly disturbing manner in connection with the work given to the theological faculties of the Synod (for example, certification and assignment of vicars and graduates): therefore be it Resolved. That Immanuel Lutheran Church, Olivette. Mo., petition The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in convention assembled to disband the Council of Presidents as an operating necessity within the Synod: and be it further Resolred. That the District presidents be directed to meet only on an ad-hoc basis as needed and desired by the President of the Synod in terms of consultation and advice: and be it further Resolred. That those responsibilities and activities carried on by the Council of Presidents in connection with the assign- ment of vicars. pastoral graduates, and teacher graduates be transferred to the jurisdiction of a newly created Board of Theological Education: and be it further Resolved. That the executive secretary of this new BTE be given the responsibility of working with the presidents and assignment officers of each of the terminal schools in developing the usual lists of assignments in terms of congregational needs and the individual qualifications of the graduates: and be it further Resolved. That the actual assignment to parishes and schools be made the responsibility of the respective faculties working