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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 418

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

418

ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

12-07

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

To Remove Time Restriction on Candidate Status
(Bylaw 2.11.2.2)
Whereas, Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (a) limits eligibility for candidate status to “a period not to exceed four years,” with no provision to extend
candidate status beyond this period; and
Whereas, Once eligibility for candidate status expires, a pastor
who would choose to remain on candidate status and who otherwise
meets the criteria for continuing on candidate status enumerated in
Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (c) must nevertheless choose between emeritus status
(if 55 years or older), non-candidate status, or resignation—without
the option of choosing candidate status; and
Whereas, Eligibility for candidate status for many inactive pastors who have patiently waited, hoped, and prayed for a call back into
active ministry and who otherwise meet the criteria enumerated in
Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (c) expires through no fault of their own; and
Whereas, Expiration of eligibility for candidate status for no
other reason than the passage of time spent faithfully waiting, hoping, and praying is very demoralizing and discouraging for the pastor
and his family (his wife in particular); and
Whereas, Reclassification to non-candidate status unnecessarily
compounds the very real and unjustifiable stigma already suffered by
the pastor and his family associated with candidate status, incorrectly
implying to prospective call committees that the pastor fails to meet
the criteria for continued candidate status (Bylaw 2.11.2.2 [c]); and
Whereas, Non-candidate status should be reserved only for those
pastors who, given the option of continuing candidate status, instead
choose non-candidate status or who fail to meet the criteria for continuing candidate status (Bylaw 2.11.2.2 [c]), and not for those pastors
who have patiently waited, hoped, and prayed for a call back into
active ministry and who otherwise meet the criteria for continuing
candidate status (Bylaw 2.11.2.2 [c]); therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (a) be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
2.11.2.2 A “candidate” member is one who is eligible to perform
the duties of any of the offices of ministry specified in Bylaw section
2.11 but who is not currently an active member or an emeritus member.

2.11.2.2 A “candidate” member is one who is eligible to perform
the duties of any of the offices of ministry specified in Bylaw section
2.11 but who is not currently an active member or an emeritus member.
(a) A candidate in good standing will continue may be continued on the
active candidate roster in the district in which the person holds membership as long as that candidate remains in good standing, unless
that candidate requests a change of status through the district president. for a period not to exceed four years by act of the president of
the district through which the person holds membership.

and be it further
Resolved, That all prior ordained clergy who had been in good
standing and yet were removed from active candidate status only
because of this mandated expiration be notified in writing by the
Synod that they will be reinstated on the active candidate status as
soon as such a person confirms that desire in writing to the current
district president within three months of being thus notified.
Our Savior
Carmi, IL
12-09

To Amend Bylaw 2.11.2.2
to Provide for Placement of Candidates
Whereas, The 2013 Synod convention passed Res. 3-10A; and
Whereas, The 3-10A Task Force has submitted its report; and
Whereas, The 3-10A Task Force noted, “Short of changing
Synod’s bylaws that will accommodate the placement of candidate
status ministers as they do for first call graduates, we must continue
to follow the existing call processes”; therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 2.11.2.2 be amended with the addition of
a new paragraph (d):
(d) The Council of Presidents, acting as the Board of Assignments, shall
regularly assign candidates of the Synod those calls that have been
duly extended to fill active member positions as identified in Bylaw
2.11.1 for ordained and commissioned ministers, if positions for
which candidates are qualified are available.

Ascension
Niles, IL

(a) A candidate may be continued on the roster for a period not to exceed
four years by act of the president of the district through which the
person holds membership.

And be it further
Resolved, That pastors currently on non-candidate status who otherwise meet the criteria for candidate status (Bylaw 2.11.2.2 [c]) be
allowed and encouraged to apply for reinstatement to candidate status under the amended Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (a).
Circuit 16, Southeastern District; Circuit 17, Southeastern
District
12-08

To Amend Synod Bylaw 2.11.2.2
re Time Restriction for Candidate Status
Whereas, Synod Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (a) does not explicitly grant the
ability for a minister of religion on candidate status to remain on candidate status beyond the stated four-year window; and
Whereas, such ministers of religion may still wish to receive a
divine call and be considered candidates; therefore be it
Resolved, That Synod Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (a) be amended as follows:
2016 Convention Workbook

12-10

To Amend Synod Bylaw 2.11.2.2
re Candidate Status
Whereas, Synod Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (a), as worded in the 2013
Handbook, does not explicitly grant the ability for a minister of religion on candidate status to remain on candidate status beyond the
stated four-year window; and
Whereas, Such ministers of religion may still wish to receive a
call and be considered candidates; therefore be it
Resolved, That Synod Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (a) be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
(a) A candidate may be continued on the roster for an indefinite period of time not to exceed four years by act of the president of the district
through which the person holds membership.

Emmaus
South Bend, IN