LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 189

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STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION 189

Although this is true, the convention did not reinsert the
former sentence referred to in the paragraph above. What is
stated in that sentence which dropped away is, of course,
implicit in Constitution Art. V, A. So the reinsertion of that
sentence into new Bylaw 3.23 may not be necessary.

Nevertheless, in order to avoid confusion and to answer
questions which have been raised as a result of the 1981
convention action, the Commission on Structure, subject to
any proposals which the special ad hoc Committee on Fran-
chise may make and the convention may adopt, proposes that
the former sentence be added once again to new Bylaw 3.23:

... If a pastor serves two or more congregations,
these shall be regarded as one parish and shall be
entitled to only one lay vote.

E. Chairman of Circuit Forum (Bylaw 4.31)

Bylaw 4.03 a states: ‘The Circuit Counselor is the principal
officer of the Circuit and serves in accordance with the duties
assigned to this position in the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod and Districts.”

Some Circuits have indicated that they would find it more
advantageous and that it would also relieve the Circuit Coun-
selor of added responsibilities if the chairman of the Circuit
Forum could be any member of the Forum, instead of restrict-
ing it by implication to the Circuit Counselor.

The Commission on Structure recommends the addition of
one sentence to Bylaw 4.31:

4.31 Representation

... The Circuit Counselor ordinarily serves as
chairman of the Circuit Forum, but the Circuit Forum
may elect any other member to serve in that capacity.

F. Vice-Presidents

For more than a century and a quarter, true and faithful
children of God have served the Synod in the office of Vice-
President. The many and varied ministries these Vice-Presi-
dents have rendered to their church, their church’s Lord, and to
their Presidents are as many and varied as are the persons who
have held the office. The church bows gratefully before its Lord
for the love, the concern, the counsel, and the labors of these
gifted men.

PRESENT WORDING

2. The Vice-Presidents
2.121 The First Vice-President

The First Vice-President shall bea full-time execu-
tive. he shall not be in charge of a congregation or
hold achair at any educational institution but may be
called as an assistant pastor, provided such services
do not interfere with his official duties as First
Vice-President.

2.123 Other Vice-Presidents

Four additional Vice-Presidents shall be ranked
from two to five and are to be selected in the manner
prescribed in these Bylaws. These four Vice-Presi-
dents shall serve the Synod in a part-time capacity.

2.125 Relation to President

The Vice-Presidents shall be elected advisers of
the President. They may upon his request or as
provided by the Synod assist him in discharging his
responsibilities or represent him.

2.127 Succession to Presidency

The Vice-Presidents shall, in the order in which
they have been ranked, assume the presidency if the
office is vacated or perform the duties of the President
if he becomes incapacitated.

The office of the Vice-President, since its inception, has
never been an office “unto itself’ but has always been joined to
the office of the President. The basic nature and function of the
office of the President has not changed through the years; but
jet travel and high-tech media capabilities have drastically
changed the manner in which the President carries out the
duties of his office.

The emergence of full-time District presidencies has also
placed at the disposal of the synodical President additional
resources for assistance and counsel.

The Commission on Structure proposes the following:

WHEREAS, Respondents to a survey conducted by the Com-
mission on Structure in December of 1982 indicate that the
Synod no longer needs nor desires the offices of Vice-Presidents
two through five; and

WHEREAS, Ample provisions are made in our Bylaws for the
appointment of assistants to the Presidents; and

WHEREAS, The President has at his disposal an able and
respected corps of churchmen in the Council of Presidents for
advice and counsel; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod terminate the offices of Vice-
Presidents two through five, effective following the 1986
convention; and be it further

Resolved, That, after the 1986 convention of the Synod, the
office of Vice-President will cease to be a full-time position and
may be filled by a member of the clergy roster even though he
may hold another called or elected position (except a staff
position at synodical headquarters); and be it further

Resolved, That, beginning with the 1986 convention of the
Synod, the President of the Synod appoint a representative of
the President on the Boards of Regents of the seminaries of the
Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That, beginning with the 1986 convention of the
Synod, in the event neither the President nor the Vice-Presi-
dent can serve, the Secretary of the Synod shall succeed to the
office of the President.

The commission therefore recommends for adoption at this
time and for implementation at the time of the 1986 convention:

1. That Bylaws 2.121 through 2.129 be replaced with the
following:

PROPOSED WORDING
2. The Vice-President
2.121 Part-Time Position

The position of Vice-President shall be part time.
It shall be filled by a clergy member of the Synod. He
may hold another called or elected position. He shall
not, however, fill a staff position at synodical head-
quarters.

2.123 Successor to Presidency

The Vice-President shall assume the presidency if
the office is vacated or perform the duties of the
President if he becomes incapacitated. If neither the
President nor the Vice-President can serve, the Secre-
tary of the Synod shall be next in succession.