LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 377

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STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
Resolved, 1. That henceforth from five to ten congregations shall
combine to form an electoral circuit, with the understanding that
the relative size of congregations shall determine how many shall
constitute a circuit, provided, however, that no circuit comprise
less than five nor more than ten congregations; each circuit, as
heretofore, to be represented by a clerical and a lay delegate.
… (1917 Proceedings, English, 52)
These parameters remained in effect until the 1944 convention
when a change was made, again prompted by the perception that the
conventions were becoming too large. Note the reasons specified in
the resolution adopted:
ACTION
The following resolutions submitted by Committee 6 were
adopted:
WHEREAS, The number of delegates to synodical conventions is
steadily growing larger; and
WHEREAS, This causes great difficulty in providing proper
housing; and
WHEREAS, An equal reduction of delegates will not infringe upon
the representation rights of any congregation; therefore be it
Resolved, That Art. IV, A, page 19 of the Synodical Handbook
be revised to read: “Every ten to fifteen member congregations shall
form an electoral circuit, which shall elect one pastor and one
layman and their alternates to represent them at the conventions of
Synod”; … (1944 Proceedings, 207)
The Synodical Survey Commission Report, written by Dr. August
Suelflow in 1959 indicated that in nine of the districts, the electoral
and visitation circuits were usually identical. The other two thirds
of the districts used a system which treated the two types of circuits
independently in one degree or another. The report concluded that
it is legitimate to question the degree to which the districts followed
the encouragement of the 1917 resolution. Note the following from
the 1960 Handbook, which sets the parameters, but makes no
specific connection between electoral and visitation circuits:
1.51 Electoral Circuits of Member Congregations
An electoral circuit shall comprise from 10 to 15 member
congregations. Each electoral circuit shall be represented by one
pastor and one layman. Large congregations shall form small
circuits, and small congregations shall form large circuits. A
fractional portion remaining after the circuits have been formed
shall be entitled to the same representation as a complete circuit
(1960 Handbook).
The 1967 convention proposed a manner of electing delegates to
conventions in a way which would ensure that there was some kind
of an ongoing relationship between the congregations involved in
the electoral circuits. It did this by both changing the parameters of
an electoral circuit and tying visitation circuits to electoral circuits.
It also proposed a means by which an electoral circuit, which did
not meet the parameters, could request an exemption from the
Office of the President. Note the following sections from the
overture proposed in the 1967 Workbook (pp. 124–25):
To Revise Handbook Regulations Regarding Convention
Delegates
Considerable confusion and dissatisfaction exist with reference
to the election of delegates to the convention of the Synod and
their accountability. For example:

377

1. Electoral Circuits (1.51). These have often been artificially
created entities, with little cohesiveness, hindering effective
postconvention action in implementing resolutions and even in
transmitting information. We propose that representation be on
the basis of the regular, permanent visitation circuits.
2. Number of Congregations (1.51). Present requirement: from
10 to 15 member congregations shall form an electoral circuit.
Some visitation circuits have fewer than 10 congregations. If two
visitation circuits are combined (we are proposing that provision
be made for that possibility), the electoral circuit may well
number more than 15 congregations. Furthermore, many have
felt that representation should be based not on the number of
congregations but on the number of communicant members
involved. We propose a method based on both number of
congregations and number of communicants, with a wide enough
spread between minimum and maximum requirements in each
category to take care of most situations and with a prescribed
procedure which permits the President of the Synod to deal with
those cases which still prove to be exceptional.
…
4. Functions of the Delegate. What does the delegate do?
Presumably he attends the convention, studies, listens, dialogs,
makes judgments, votes. And then, according to the present
paragraph 1.55, he reports to the circuit the action of the Synod.
And this is all? This delegate has just had the experience of a
lifetime. He has been caught up in a great cause. He has gained
fresh insights. He has grown tremendously in the faith. A fresh
love for his Synod and for his Savior lives in his heart. And then
he goes home. To what? We are of the opinion that the Synod
should dignify this position and therefore recommend that the
delegate be elected for a 2-year term, to serve until the next
convention of the Synod. What a source of power this man can
be for the mission of the church!
PROPOSED WORDING
1.51 Voting Delegates
Voting delegates shall consist of one pastor and one layman from
each electoral circuit. An electoral circuit shall consist either of
one or of two adjacent visitation circuits, as shall be determined
by each district, on the basis of the following requirements: each
pair of delegates shall represent from 7 to 20 member
congregations, involving an aggregate communicant
membership ranging from 1,500 to 10,000. Exceptions to these
requirements and limitations can be made only by the President
of the Synod upon the request of a district board of directors.
Voting delegates shall serve a 2-year term, beginning with the
convention; after the convention they shall function as resource
persons in their circuit and assist in the dissemination and
implementation of the synodical resolutions in their area.
…
The convention adopted the proposed wording for electoral circuits
(1967 Proceedings, 121–22). The 2019 Handbook retains
essentially the same wording with a slight change in structure and
wording (Bylaw 3.1.2 [a–d]).
B. Current Trends
Due to demographic changes over the past several convention
cycles, it has become necessary for more and more visitation
circuits either to request an exemption from the President of the
Synod or to be combined in order to qualify to meet the parameters
2023 Convention Workbook