LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 159

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SYNOD STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE

Action: Referred to Commission on Handbook (11)
(After explanation of the resolution and deletion of its third
whereas paragraph by the committee, discussion followed until a
motion to refer the resolution to the Commission on Handbook was
introduced and carried [Yes: 583; No: 551] . In Session 12, a motion to reconsider the referral failed [Yes: 529; No: 576] .)

Congregations Walking Together in Mission
Establishing Synod’s Priorities
To Give Priority to Circuit and District Overtures
RESOLUTION 8-06A
TF Report (CW TFR, p. 37)
Whereas,
• Laity and called workers of local congregations exercise leadership to influence one another by the power
of the Word .
• Individual congregations exercise leadership to
influence congregations of the circuit (and/or their
next-nearest peers) and of the district by the power of
the Word .
• Circuit forums exercise leadership to influence other
circuits of the district by the power of the Word .
• District conventions (consisting of all of a district’s
congregations) exercise leadership to influence other
districts of the Synod by the power of the Word .
• The Synod, through conventions, exercises the responsibility to advise the members of the Synod by the
power of the Word with respect to the collective will
and understanding of the Synod (resolutions) .
• Congregations of the Synod ratify certain resolutions (constitutional amendments and/or doctrinal
statements) .
• Members of the Synod exercise the responsibility to
honor and uphold the resolutions of the Synod .
• Members of the Synod exercise the privilege of dissent
by the power of the Word according to the provisions
of the Synod .
Therefore be it
Resolved, That a preferred process of receiving overtures to
the conventions of the Synod be established; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to send convention overtures to the circuit for study, discussion, and
possible amendment; and be it further
Resolved, That while all overtures sent to district and
national conventions are received, those overtures which have
been a part of the circuit’s work “to review decisions of the
Synod, to motivate one another to action, and to shape and
suggest new directions” (Bylaw 1 .3 .6) are to be given a higher
priority of consideration; and be it further
Resolved, That priority be given to overtures submitted to
the conventions of the Synod by circuits and districts, with

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floor committees still giving consideration to all submitted
overtures; and be it finally
Resolved, That the amendments advocating giving priority
to circuit and district overtures by national Synod conventions proposed for Bylaws 3 .1 .6 .2–3 .1 .6 .2 .5; 4 .2 .1 (b)–(c);
5 .2 .3 (f); and 5 .3 .3–5 .3 .4 be adopted accordingly as shown
(“2007 Handbook Convention Version,” TB, pp . 232–233,
311, 320–321) .
Action: Declined (12)
(During discussion, an amendment was proposed to reinstitute
the language of Bylaw 5 .3 .3, ruled by the chair to be a substitute
motion and declined consideration by the assembly [Yes 481; No:
542] . After lengthy discussion, Res . 8-06A was not adopted [Yes:
488; No: 617] .)

Congregations Walking Together in Mission
in Larger Clusters (Districts)
To Study Future District Function
and Configuration
RESOLUTION 8-07
TF Report (CW TFR, pp. 25–26); Overtures 8-51–55
(CW, pp. 238–240)
Preamble
Districts are large ecclesial clusters (congregations and
circuits) established by the Synod for the care, support,
advice, ecclesiastical encouragement, service, coordination,
and counsel that will foster the congregation’s greater participation in God’s mission . Present district boundaries were
determined by the national Synod with the intention of providing the most efficient and effective support and ecclesiastical
encouragement and counsel to local congregations . Districts
(all congregations together) also serve as grassroots mission
councils and as leadership avenues for in-depth study, influence, and persuasion by the Word of God, thereby serving as
channels to persuade and influence the national Synod through
overtures and expanded leadership (assisting in setting the
agenda for the national convention) .
According to the data received from all 35 districts in 2008,
the districts are vastly different in size—ranging from 53 to
372 congregations and from 11,000 to 166,000 communicants .
Staffing in the districts ranges from 1 .5 full-time-equivalent
(FTE) workers to 28 FTE workers . (A total of 386 FTEs work
for the 35 districts) . District budgets vary from $570,000 to
more than $7,000,000 . Annual unrestricted remittances from
districts to the national Synod vary from $60,000 to nearly
$3,000,000 .
Is the current make up of districts with its disparity in
sizes the most effective and efficient means to support the
congregations of Synod? What is the purpose and function
of the districts and how do they help the local congregation
carry out its ministry? This is a topic that deserves careful and
thoughtful study so that we can be about our Lord’s work . This
study needs to be done with great care and sensitivity to the
2010 Convention Proceedings