LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 395

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STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
each geographic region who receive the most nominating votes shall
form the slate from which the Synod convention shall select by majority vote each regional [Board for International Mission member]. (d)
No opportunity shall be provided for additional nominations from the
floor of the convention”; and
Whereas, While the process defined in 2013 Bylaw 3.12.2.7
may result in an election slate that includes incumbent regional vicepresident nominees and incumbent regional members of the Board
of Directors of the Synod nominees who have garnered a relatively
larger total number of nominating votes within their regions, the same
might not be anticipated for incumbent members of the Board for
International Mission nominees, especially laypersons, whose work
on these boards may be less “publicly visible,” who have lower “name
recognition,” and who may receive a relatively fewer total number of
nominating votes; and
Whereas, Relatively fewer nominating votes for any nominee would give proportionally larger weight to each nominating
vote, making it possible that an incumbent member of the Board
for International Mission with less public visibility or lower name
recognition could be more susceptible to not receiving sufficient nominating votes to be included in the election slate for a subsequent term,
even though the incumbent member of the Board for International
Mission might be otherwise eligible under the Bylaws and readily
willing to stand for reelection, possibly continuing in highly valued service as a member of the Board for International Mission; and
Whereas, 2013 Bylaw 3.8.3 states, “The Board for International
Mission is charged with developing and determining policies in support of mission and ministry in foreign countries for the Office of
International Mission (Bylaw 1.2.1 [m]),” and, therefore, the members
of the Board for International Mission carry out crucial activities in
the development of policy and the oversight of policy implementation
for the support, guidance, planning, and execution of core program
ministries in the Synod’s witness, mercy, and life together; and
Whereas, Owing to the crucial nature of the work of the Board
for International Mission, continuity of board membership and the
possibility of ongoing service of eligible members of the Board for
International Mission is a characteristic that appropriately ought to be
placed before the Synod in convention and taken into consideration
when electing members to the Board for International Mission; and
Whereas, In regard to the selection of candidates to be included
in the report (Bylaw 3.12.3.6 [b]) of the Committee for Convention
Nominations, the Synod has historically acknowledged the value
of continuity of service in elective offices and on elective boards
and commissions requiring nonregional nominations, since Bylaw
3.12.3.4 (d) states, “All incumbents eligible for reelection shall be
considered to be nominees”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Commission on Handbook be requested to
prepare bylaw revision language that makes incumbent (and only
incumbent) members of the Board for International Mission who
are not otherwise ineligible for reelection (e.g., under the term limits specified in 2013 Bylaw 3.2.4.2), if they have not otherwise been
included in the election slate formed by the procedure defined in 2013
Bylaw 3.12.2.7 (c), eligible for convention floor nominations to be
included in the election slate for the Board for International Mission;
and be it further
Resolved, That the 2016 Synod convention be encouraged to adopt
the aforementioned revision of the Bylaws to be prepared and submitted by the Commission on Handbook and accept floor nominations

395

as described above, prior to the election of the members of the Board
for International Mission.
Board for International Mission
11-27

To Revise and Enhance Nomination and Election
Process for Regional Board Members
The 2010 LCMS convention adopted changes to the bylaws that
allow for the regional election of certain vice-president, Board of
Directors, and mission board positions. While these regional elections
have been well received, recent experience has shown that there are
a number of deficiencies and opportunities for improvement to the
nomination and election processes.
Currently, the submission of nominations for regional positions
is restricted to congregations within that region. The final slates for
these positions are populated by the five nominees who receive the
highest number of nominations. In some cases, the slate includes persons who have low, single digit numbers of nominations. The Board of
Directors believes expanding the pool of nominators will likely result
in more nominees for consideration. Because the slate is currently
compiled based solely on the number of nominations received, there
is no opportunity for an assessment to determine whether a candidate
possesses sufficient qualifications necessary to perform the functions
of the position for which they are being nominated. Additionally, the
current process does not allow for floor nominations which would
provide an opportunity to amend the slate should there be a more qualified candidate in the pool of nominees.
The proposed overture attempts to address each of the issues identified in the preceding paragraph. Additionally, we advocate for the
inclusion of the Committee on Convention Nominations in the process of gathering and reviewing the nominees, tasking them to create
a slate of the most qualified candidates using previously established
processes that are used for the election of other LCMS positions.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That certain bylaws be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.12 Nominations and Elections
Regional Elections
3.12.1 For all elections requiring regional representation, the Board
of Directors of the Synod and the Council of Presidents acting jointly
shall designate five geographic regions.
(a) Regions shall be designated 24 months prior to conventions of the
Synod and shall take into consideration geographical and number of
congregations information in the interest of fair representation.
(b) For purposes of regional elections, individuals will be considered a
part of the geographical region where their congregational membership is held in which their home address is located. Canadian congregations will be placed as a whole into the region which the Board
of Directors and the Council of Presidents deem appropriate.
(c) This information shall be shared immediately with all districts of the
Synod.

Nominations and Elections of Regional Vice-Presidents
3.12.2.7 After the results of the first-vice-presidential election have
been announced, the convention shall elect five regional vice-presidents
according to the following nominations and elections process. (This
shall also be the process used for all other regional elections.)

2016 Convention Workbook