LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 153

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RESOLUTIONS 153

Wuereas, The Atlantic District in convention at
Bronxville, N. Y., June 23—26, 1968, petitioned The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod at the Denver con-
vention in 1969 to realign the present Atlantic District
into three Districts; and

WHEREAS, The Denver convention deferred action and
referred the matter to the Board of Directors of the
Synod for further study and recommendation (Denver
Proceedings, Res. 5-29); and

Wuereas, The Board of Directors of the Synod has
studied the matter of the division of the present Dis-
trict and has proposed a realignment into three Districts
with the added provision that these Districts are to
operate without synodical subsidy; and

Wuereas, Studies and other information indicate that
all Districts established can be self-supporting and can
function effectively; therefore be it

Resolved, That the present Atlantic District of The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod shall be divided
and realigned so as to constitute three nonsubsidized
Districts:

a. The New England District, the geographical ter-
ritory of which shall be comprised of the states of Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
and Rhode Island;

b. The New Jersey District, the geographical terri-
tory of which shall be comprised of the state of New
Jersey;

c. The Atlantic District, the geographical territory of
which shall be comprised of that part of the state of New
York which is presently in the Atlantic District;

provided, however, that those present member con-
gregations of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
which are within the geographical areas set forth above
but which are not now members of the Atlantic District,
shall not be included in the said new Districts; and be
it also

Resolved, That the Atlantic District of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod and the member congrega-
tions thereof be, and they are hereby, authorized and
empowered to do such acts and things as may be neces-
sary or convenient to effect such division and realign-
ment of the Atlantic District, provided, however, that
before imp!ementation the final detailed plan shall be
subject to the review and approval of the Board of
Directors of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.

Action: Adopted (17).
(This resolution was adopted 395 to 259.)

5. CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

To Decline to Require Forfeiture
of Privileges on Part of Protesting Members

RESOLUTION 5-01
Overture 5-23 (CW, pp. 257—258)

Wuereas, Member congregations, pastors, and teach-

ers who have entered upon a “state of protest” never-
theless retain their membership in the Synod; and

Wuereas, The Constitution of the Synod does not
recognize a limited membership such as is proposed by
our petitioning brethren; therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations and individuals who
are in a “state of protest” remain entitled to all benefits
and privileges of synodical membership; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That we remind ourselves that the priv-
ileges of synodical membership also carry with them
duties and responsibilities (synodical Handbook, para-
graph 1.05); and be it finally

Resolved, That we refrain from granting Overture
5-23.

Action: Adopted (2).

To Accept Statement on Extending Franchise
RESOLUTION 5-02
Overture 5-08 (CW, p. 254)

Wuereas, The Denver convention requested the Pres-
ident of the Synod to appoint a special committee to
study, among other items, the matter of convention
franchise; and

Wuereas, This committee in its report (CW, p. 218)
has included the following paragraphs:

From the beginning the franchise has belonged to the
congregation. Even the right of a pastor to vote at a con-
vention is dependent on his relationship to a member
congregation of the Synod. If any worship group, includ-
ing a campus, deaf, blind, or old folks home group orga-
nizes itself into a congregation, is accepted into member-
ship by the Synod, and signs the Constitution of the
Synod, it has the right of franchise. Clergymen serving
various types of worship groups are already eligible to
become advisory members at a convention under section
1.57.

The committee, therefore, recommends to the conven-
tion that it make no changes in its present practices re
such worship groups’ vote at the convention;

therefore be it

Resolved, That we accept this part of the report of
the Committee on Organization; and be it also

Resolved, That this recommendation be the guide-
line for groups mentioned in Overture 5-08 of the 1971
Convention Workbook.

Action: Adopted (2).

To Decline Granting of Franchise to Teachers
RESOLUTION 5-03
Overture 5-12 (CW, p. 255)

Wuereas, The Denver convention requested the
President of the Synod to appoint a Committee on Or-
ganization which should study, among other items, also
the matter of franchise for teachers; and

Wuereas, This Committee on Organization has in-
cluded in its report to this convention (1971 CW, p. 218)
the following statement: