LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 200

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9. STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.3.1
The President of the Synod shall be a full-time
executive and shall serve as a voting member of the Board
of Directors of the Synod.
(a) He shall not be in charge of a congregation or hold a
chair at any educational institution but may be called as
an assistant pastor to a congregation in an assisting
capacity, provided such services do not interfere with his
official duties as President.
(b) He shall, with the approval of the Board of Directors
of the Synod, be empowered to engage sufficient staff to
carry out the duties of his office.

and be it further
Resolved, That congregations and district presidents be
urged to arrange for those regularly assisting
congregations with pastoral service to be called, installed,
and rostered as such; and be it further
Resolved, That LCMS Rosters & Statistics and the Council
of Presidents be directed to coordinate changes to the forms
and procedures for multi-congregation parish designation
and then to assist congregations in adjusting calls and
designations as necessary under these newly-adopted
bylaws; and be it finally
Resolved, that the Commission on Handbook be
authorized to make the necessary changes and clarification
to these bylaws on the basis of constitutional amendments
resulting from the ratification of Resolution 9-05.
Action: Adopted (7)
After discussion by the assembly, the chair proposed, and it
carried, to end debate [Yes: 798; No: 54]. The resolution was
adopted [Yes: 831; No: 32].

To Amend Bylaw 3.1.3.1
regarding the Election of
Nonvoting and Advisory Delegates
RESOLUTION 9-14
Overture 9-19 (CW, 500–501)

WHEREAS, The Bylaws of the Synod state in regard to
nonvoting advisory delegates for the convention of the
Synod, “Each district shall select one advisory delegate for
every 60 advisory ordained ministers and specific ministry
pastors, and one advisory delegate for every 60
commissioned ministers on the roster of the Synod” (Bylaw
3.1.3.1); and
WHEREAS, The current Bylaws of the Synod do not
address balloting methods that are available through
current technologies, e.g. electronic balloting, to aid in the
selection of nonvoting advisory delegates from the districts
to the convention of the Synod (cf. Bylaw 3.1.3.1 [a]); and
WHEREAS, The widespread accessibility and overall
acceptance of various methods of balloting for elections,
200 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION

such as electronic technologies and others, are viewed as
valid and expedient and are being utilized in the conduct of
corporate business in both the secular and church realm;
and
WHEREAS, The use of alternate methods of meetings in
which an election takes place are currently incorporated in
the operation of the Synod with inclusion in the bylaws as
a possibility for the election of voting delegates to the
convention of the Synod (cf. Bylaw 3.1.2.1[a], “… a circuit
may select another manner of meeting [e.g. e-meeting
technologies] that is suitable and made available to all
participants”) and in the election of the President of the
Synod (cf. Bylaw 3.12.2.4, “… the Secretary of the Synod
shall provide, via a secure and verifiable method,
opportunity for two voting delegates from each
congregation, as determined according to Bylaw 3.12.2.3, to
vote for one of the candidates for President”); and
WHEREAS, The quality of decisions is improved when
voting occurs within the auspices of a deliberative body
using real-time communication; and
WHEREAS, The current Bylaws of the Synod include
alternate methods for the selection of voting delegates to
the convention, but such provisions are not provided in the
bylaws for the selection of district nonvoting advisory
delegates to the convention; and
WHEREAS, The inclusion of alternate methods of
balloting, such as the use of electronic technologies, for the
selection of district nonvoting advisory delegates for the
convention of the Synod would offer an expedient method
for this process and assist in meeting the nine-month
deadline for selection completion, as official conferences
conducted the year before a Synod convention may occur
after the nine-month deadline; and
WHEREAS, The inclusion of alternate methods of
balloting for the selection of district nonvoting advisory
delegates for the convention of the Synod could allow for
more widespread involvement and overall greater
participation in the selection process for these advisory
delegates; therefore be it
Resolved, That current Synod Bylaw 3.1.3.1 (a) be revised
to include the opportunity for meetings using electronic
technologies, in which voting may occur for the selection of
district nonvoting advisory delegates for the convention of
the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That the district secretary, who is currently
charged with calling for these elections, be the district
officer charged with oversight for any alternate methods of
balloting that may be employed; and be it finally
Resolved, That Synod Bylaw 3.1.3.1 (a) be revised to read,
as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Reports and Overtures
3.1.3.1

Each district shall select one advisory delegate …
Resolutions