Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1981 · 54th Convention › Page 132
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 132

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

132 TASK FORCE

WHEREAS, The synodical Board of Directors is authorized to
act in emergency situations and on concerns requiring atten-
tion between conventions; and

WHEREAS, A schedule of quadrennial conventions would
permit the present tenure of most offices to continue on both the
District and synodical levels; therefore be it

Resolved, That the delegate Synod hereafter meet on a
quadrennial basis (every fourth year); and be it further

Resolved, That the Districts of the Synod meet in conven-

tion every two years, in the interim’s odd-number year when

the Synod does not meet.

Board of Directors

Southern California District

Robert W. Wolter, Secretary

2-08A

To Grant Additional Lay Vote
in Dual Parish

WHEREAS, An organized congregation of the Synod is a
separate self-governing entity regardless of whether it has its
own pastor or calls one in cooperation with one or more
organized congregations; and

WHEREAS, Congregations entering into a multiple-parish
agreement are not represented individually at the District
convention but collectively by one delegate per multiple parish;
and

WHEREAS, According to Art. V, section A, of the Constitu-
tion, “All organized congregations that have joined the Synod
hold voting membership”; and

WHEREAS, The present shortage of pastors makes the forma-
tion of multiple parishes more desirable; and

WHEREAS, During a vacancy in a congregation, that con-
gregation does not lose its voting identity; and

WHEREAS, For synodical representation each congregation
is considered as a voting unit whether it bein a multiple parish
or not; and

WHEREAS, The future growth of the kingdom of God by
multiplication rather than by addition depends upon the active
participation by the laity; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.17 be amended as follows:

3.17 Accrediting of Delegates

The pastor of a voting congregation shall stand
accredited and entitled to vote. The lay delegate of a
voting congregation shall stand accredited and
entitled to vote upon presenting to the Secretary at
the opening of the convention the proper credentials
signed by his pastor and two of the congregation’s
officers. If a pastor serves two or more congregations,
the pastor shall be entitled to one vote and each
congregation shall be entitled to one lay vote.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Persia, Iowa

Vern Redinbaugh Jr., Chairman
Lynn Grap, Secretary

Leland Schmidt, Pastor

Identical or Similar:

2-08B and 2-08C
St. John’s, Honey Creek, Iowa
Eastern District

Leland Schmidt
Richard L. J. Hoemann

2-09
To Give Voting Status
to Retired Pastors Serving
as the Only Pastor of a Congregation

WHEREAS, A number of the congregations of the Synod
cannot support a full-time pastor because of limited size or
economic factors; and

WHEREAS, The need of these congregations for pastoral care
and leadership can often be provided adequately by retired
pastors serving on a part-time basis; and

WHEREAS, According to the present Bylaws of the Synod,
congregations served by part-time retired pastors are
not entitled to a pastoral vote at District conventions; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Bylaws of the Synod be revised to permit
retired pastors serving part-time as the only pastor of a
congregation to be entitled to cast the pastoral vote of that
congregation.

Board of Directors
Colorado District
Ralph A. Phipps, President

2-10

To Create a Retired but Active
Classification for Right of Franchise

WHEREAS, The structure of the Synod grants each congrega-
tion holding membership in the Synod two votes, one clergy
and one lay (Art. V, A); and

WHEREAS, Many small congregations are being fully served
by pastors who are classified as “retired”; and

WHEREAS, The “retired” classification allows those pastors
to receive retirement benefits and limits the remuneration they
can receive from the congregations served but does not limit
the amount of service rendered to the congregations; and

WHEREAS, The “retired” classification heretofore has been
so interpreted as to deny such pastors the right to vote at
District conventions and the right to be considered as voting
delegates for synodical conventions, even though they are
filling the pastoral office of congregations; and

WHEREAS, The present procedure also denies some member
congregations part of their franchise; therefore be it

Resolved, That such pastors be classified as “retired but
active,” defining the same as “a clergyman serving a member
congregation as its pastor, but receiving only such remunera-
tion for his services as allowed under current pension plans”;
and be it further

Resolved, That Art. XII, 10, A of the Synod’s constitution be
changed as follows:

PRESENT WORDING

A. Voting Representatives

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.

PROPOSED WORDING

A. Voting Representatives

The pastors of such congregations as hold voting
membership in the Synod, also those having “retired
but active” status, and the lay delegates elected and
deputed by those congregations shall be voting
representatives.

Board of Directors
Texas District
Walter A. Dube, Secretary

To Grant Voting Rights
to Certain Emeriti Pastors

WHEREAS, Some of our congregations through necessity
have found it imperative to use the part-time services of a
retired pastor and deem this adequate to meet their spiritual
needs; and

WHEREAS, Up to this time, such pastors emeriti serving a
congregation have not been given voting status at District