Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1983 · 55th Convention › Page 200
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 200

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

200 STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION

e. Secretarial and clerical staff shall be employed
by the principal staff person with the approval of the
Synod’s Personnel Department under policies estab-
lished by the Board of Directors.

f. Alladditions to or replacements of staff shall be
in accordance with current position descriptions and
shall be within staffing limits approved by the re-
spective board or commission and the Board of
Directors.

2.803 Tenure and Terminations

a. Unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws, all
executive staff shall serve at the pleasure of the
appointing authorities described above, subject to
annual review and evaluation. Appointees may nor-
mally expect to continue in their positions if their
work is satisfactory as evidenced by the annual
review and evaluation and if there is a continuing
need for their services.

W. Definition of “Department” (Bylaw 1.37)

The use of the newly introduced definition of the word
“department” has caused considerable confusion. There are
many units at synodical headquarters that are conveniently
referred to as departments. Furthermore, those units covered in
the Bylaw do not really report directly to the Board of Directors.
but report through either the Administrative Officer or the
Treasurer of the Synod.

The Commission on Structure therefore recommends the
following revision of Bylaw 1.37:

f. A department is a functional unit which is
responsible to a board.

X. Lutheran Medical Mission Association (Bylaw 2.551)

Since the Lutheran Medical Mission Association no longer
exists, the Commission on Structure recommends that the
reference to the association be deleted from Bylaw 2.551 and
that the pertinent sentence therefore be cast in the singular
rather than the plural.

Y. Nominations (Bylaw 2.945)

In order to give the Committee for Convention Nominations
more time, the commission recommends that all names and
information be submitted 10 months (instead of 8 months)
prior to the synodical convention.

Z. Bylaws for Commission on Structure (Bylaw 2.581)

Although 1981 Convention Res. 2-22 asked this new com-
mission to present brief Bylaws governing the commission’s
work to the next convention, the same convention adopted Res.
2-18, which already incorporated bylaws for the new commis-
sion. The commission on Structure has reviewed these bylaws
and finds that at the present time they are satisfactory and
need no revision.

John Daniel, Chairman
Arthur Ahlschwede, Secretary

assistance in gathering names for consideration and
in securing evaluations. Each such position shall
have been approved by the respective board or com-
mission and shall be filled in accordance with policies
of the Synod’s Board of Directors.

d. Executives in other classifications as well as
secretarial and clerical staff shall be employed by the
principal staff person with the approval of the
Synod's Personnel Department under policies estab-
lished by the Board of Directors.

e. All additions to or replacements of staff shall be
in accordance with current position descriptions and
shall be within staffing limits approved by the re-
spective board or commission and the Board of
Directors.

2.803 Tenure and Termination

a. Unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws, all
executive staff shall serve at the pleasure of the
appointing authorities described above, subject to
annual review and evaluation. Clergy and teacher
members of the Synod who are appointed to positions
requiring a clergyman or teacher shall receive a
Solemn Call; lay persons whose position must be
filled by a member of a congregation of the Synod
shall receive a Solemn Appointment. Appointees
may normally expect to continue in their positions if
their work is satisfactory, as evidenced by the annual
review and evaluation, and if there is a continuing
need for their services.

b—e. (Retain present Bylaw)

5-03

Report of Synodical Commission
on Adjudication

The Synodical Commission on Adjudication was formed by
action of the New Orleans convention of 1973. The first appeal
submitted to it which resulted in a hearing and decision was in
1976. From 1976 to date the Commission has processed four
appeals fully through the hearing and decision stage. A current
appeal has been decided and is in the rehearing stage. It has
processed other appeals by adjusting them to the mutual
satisfaction of the parties or, in cases where it did not have
jurisdiction, by referring the appellant to the appropriate
District Commmission on Adjudication.

As a result of its experience with such hearings and
adjusted settlement of disputes, the Commission on Adjudica-
tion has made recommendations to the Board of Appeals for
some changes in rules of procedure.

At all synodical conventions from 1975 through 1981
representatives of the Commission have furnished assistance
to convention floor committees as a resource on adjudication
processes in the Synod and also on proposed resolutions or
Bylaw changes.

The commission incurs expenses only when hearings are
held on appeals or when commission representatives attend
synodical conventions.

Ottis L. Sauls, Chairman
Robert Doggett, Secretary

5-04

Report of Ad Hoc Committee
on Adjudication Procedures

The 1981 convention of the Synod resolved (Res. 2-23) thata
five-person committee will be appointed to draw up “‘acomplete
rewrite of Chapter V of the Bylaws [Chapter VIII in the 1981
Handbook)and pertinent paragraphs of Chapter VI, including
in its study a review of Constitution Article XIII.” The object of
the review was to clarify and streamline procedures dealing
with the adjudication of matters of disagreement, accusation,
and controversy.