LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 240

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240

Synod Structure and Governance

Resolved, That the English District encourage the Synod to adopt
a policy that if dissolution of the English District ever becomes a viable course of action, the idea must originate from within the English
District itself at such time as a majority of members of the English
District deem its mission to have been fulfilled.
English District
8-53

To Retain Present District Structure
Whereas, The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and
Governance (BRTFSSG) has raised the possibility of significantly
increasing or significantly decreasing the number of districts; and
Whereas, The BRTFSSG has presented little detailed analysis of
the strong points and the weak points of each suggestion; and
Whereas, The geographical diversity of the Synod makes establishing a single pattern which would function best everywhere
impossible; and
Whereas, The suggestion to do this restructuring has not come
from the congregations of the districts themselves; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Southern Illinois District in convention request
the BRTFSSG to leave the current number of districts as they are;
and be it further
Resolved, That if the BRTFSSG is convinced that a change to district structure is necessary, that it present a detailed analysis of the
strong and weak points of the proposed change.
Southern Illinois District
8-54

To Retain Current District Alignment
Whereas, There are concerns at the national level of our Synod
about continued viability of smaller districts; and
Whereas, The Wyoming District rejoices that there is fundamental
agreement in matters of doctrine and practice among the congregations and pastors of the district; and
Whereas, Any realignment or amalgamation of districts that
would divide or dissolve the Wyoming District would hurt the already
existing unity we share; and
Whereas, The first objective of the Synod is to “Conserve and
promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor. 1:10), work
through its official structure toward fellowship with other Christian
church bodies, and provide a united defense against schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy” (Constitution, Art. III 1); and
Whereas, The Wyoming District as it now exists is fulfilling this
objective; therefore be it
Resolved, That the congregations of the Wyoming District
gathered in convention encourage the Synod to retain the current
alignment of the Wyoming District.
Wyoming District
8-55

To Retain or Increase Number of Districts
Whereas, The wisdom of our world is impressed with numbers
and size, while often denigrating that which is small and insignificant
in worldly eyes as being less “effective” or “efficient”; and
Whereas, We learn from the wisdom of our world that things that
are bigger are by nature more efficient and effective, so that worldly

wisdom teaches us of such things as “efficiencies of scale” and “economies of size”; and
Whereas, The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and
Governance (BRTFSSG) speaks of our current district configuration
as being “a problem or deficiency” (slide 63 of the presentation format, “Walking Together”); and
Whereas, The BRTFSSG recommends that we “configure districts that are most effectively and efficiently sized,” even reducing
to 15 to 25 districts (slides 62–64); yet
Whereas, Even in the world, large size does not necessarily lead
to any effectiveness or efficiency but more often to ineffectiveness
and deficiency, so that anyone can see how, for instance, China or
Russia (the larger parties) are not more effective and efficient than,
say, Taiwan or Germany (the smaller parties), or how Citigroup or
AIG (the larger) are not more effective and efficient than, say, the
little bank in town that keeps personal contact with its investors; and
Whereas, Not only in the world but also in church history large
size does not necessarily lead to any effectiveness or efficiency, so
that anyone can see how, for instance, Egypt or Babylon (the larger
parties) are not more effective and efficient than, say, Israel, or how
the large church of the Pope in Rome is not more effective and efficient than a small church in, say, Wittenberg, even as something
greater would not be expected to come out of Greece than, say, out
of Nazareth; and
Whereas, Making districts larger and more able to support larger
bureaucracies will not necessarily make our districts more effective
or efficient or conducive than beneficial and supportive personal conversation among district pastors and congregations and with district
servants; and
Whereas, The Church rejoices in the promise of the Gospel and
in the gifts brought to us “through the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren” (Smalcald Articles, IV), so that personal contact
and conversation is beneficial and should be encouraged in our districts; therefore be it
Resolved, That we retain at least the current amount of districts;
and be it further
Resolved, That we increase the amount of districts in order to be
of better support and foster personal (as opposed to less personal
and more bureaucratic) conversations of support and encouragement
among our pastors, congregations, and district servants, rejoicing in
“the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren.”
North and South Sandia Circuit Forum
Rocky Mountain District
8-56

To Amend Bylaws re Formation of Circuits
Whereas, Bylaw 3.1.2 allows the Synod President the authority to grant exceptions to circuits for electing delegates to national
Synod conventions; and
Whereas, The irregularity for circuit exceptions has caused problems that have resulted in suspicion, mistrust, and even lawsuits; and
Whereas, Such problems besmirch the reputation of the church
and are unfitting for the Body of Christ; and
Whereas, It would be of great benefit to the Synod and her
President if there were further guidance and more specific regulations regarding the formation of circuits; therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaws 3.1.2 (b) , 5.1.1 (a) and 5.1.1 (b) all be
eliminated; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.2 (a) be changed to read

2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 240

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