LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1967, Page 122

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122 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

disregarded except that each District shall be entitled to at
least one advisory delegate in each category.
157 Certification .

The names and addresses of all voting and advisory dele-
gates and alternates shall be forwarded by the District Sec-
retary before the announced registration deadline to the
Secretary of the Synod on registration forms provided by
the latter. This procedure shall constitute certification. In
addition, every lay delegate shall present credentials sup-
plied by the synodical Secretary and signed by the pastor
and two officers of the congregation.

159 Delegates Not Bound by Instructions

Congregations shall not require their delegates to vote
in accordance with specific instructions, but every delegate
shall be permitted to vote according to his own conviction.
Delegates are nevertheless responsible to their circuits, whom
they represent, and shall attempt to discover the sentiment
of the members thereof. After each convention they shall
report to their circuits the action of the Synod.

Action: Adopted.

To Clarify Functions of Commission
on Constitutional Matters
RESOLUTION 5-19
Report 5-01, VI D (CW, p. 120)
Wuereas, The regulations of the Commission on Con-
stitutional Matters need to be brought more into har-

mony with the realities of the work of the commission;
therefore be it

Resolved, That Handbook paragraphs 2.107 e and
2.107-g be revised to read as follows:

e. The commission shall interpret the Synod’s Constitu-
tion, Bylaws, and resolutions upon the request of a member
(congregation, clergyman, or teacher), official, board, com-
mission, or agency of the Synod. An opinion rendered by
the commission shall be binding on the question decided
unless and until it is overruled by a synodical convention.

_ g. The commission shall maintain a file of the articles of
incorporation (or articles of association) and bylaws and
regulations of all Districts of the Synod. It shall examine the
articles of incorporation (or articles of association) and the
bylaws or regulations of every District, and all proposed
amendments of such documents, to ascertain whether they.
are in harmony with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolu-
tions of the: Synod. A District shall make such amendments
to, or changes ‘in, these documents as may be necessary to:
conform. :

Action: Adopted.

To Retain Interpretation of Constitution
and Bylaws

RESOLUTION 5-20
Overture 5-58 U (URO, p.51)

‘... WHereas, There is a demonstrated need for the pro-
visions of Handbook section 2.107 e requiring the
Synod’s Commission on.Constitutional Matters to inter-
pret the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws; and

WHEREAS, A synodical convention has the right to
overrule any such interpretation as provided for in that
same Handbook section; therefore be it

‘» Resolved, That the petition of Overture 5-58 U be
declined.

Action: Adopted.

To Study in Depth Office of Circuit Counselor
RESOLUTION 5-21 oe
Overture 5-43 (CW, pp. 134—135)

Wuereas, The English District of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod has submitted a proposed re-
vision of Handbook 3.73, “Circuit Counselor and Pas-
tor”; and

Wuereas, It is the considered opinion of your floor
committee that the entire office of Circuit Counselor
should be studied in depth, and the purposes and func-
tions of this office carefully defined; and

Wuereas, Such a study in depth can best be made by
a carefully chosen group of men; therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of the Synod designate
either an existing body of men within the Synod or a
special committee to study in depth the office of Circuit
Counselor and to define the functions of this office; and
be it further

Resolved, That Overture 5-43 be turned over to
whatever group is entrusted with this study; and be it
finally

Resolved, That this group report to the Synod at its
next convention.

Action: Adopted.

To Decline to Require Approval of District
President in Calling Pastors, Teachers, etc.

RESOLUTION 5-22

Overture 5-46 (CW, p. 136)

Wuereas, Overture 5-46 points up the great need for
the Synod to use its trained pastors and teachers in the
positions in which they are best fitted to serve, but the
provisions of this overture militate against the Synad’s
Constitution, Art. VII, “Relation of Synod to Its Mem-
bers”: oo

In its relation to its members Synod is not an ecclesi-.
astical government exercising legislative or coercive pow-
ers, and with respect to the individual congregation’s right
of felt government it is but an advisory body. (Handbook,

p.
therefore be it

Resolved, That the request of Overture 5-46 be de-.
clined; and be it further |

Resolved, That the Synod urge all its member
congregations and groups within the Synod which have
the right to call to avail themselves fully of the advice of
their District Presidents in all call matters.

Action: Adopted.

To Decline an Appeal
RESOLUTION 5-23

Overture 5-56 U (URO, p.50)

Wuereas, The Synod does not handle appeals in con-
vention but through its Board of Appeals on the basis of
procedures set forth in Handbook, Article V, pp:
103-110; ands Ct a Ls we