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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 378

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

378

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

for an electoral circuit. The result has been a gradual decrease in the
number of electoral circuits within the Synod and the number of
delegates attending conventions.
The following table is compiled on the basis of the Proceedings
from the various convention years and The Lutheran Annual. (Note
the figures for 1967, 1969, and 1986 included the three Canadian
districts and the Argentina/Brazil District*, which have since
formed their own church body.) The 1967 convention was held
prior to the adoption of the current parameters. The percentage in
parenthesis for 1986, 2007, 2016, and 2019 states the percentage of
visitation circuits which were also electoral circuits. The number of
exemptions is unknown.
Year

Electoral
Circuits

Delegates

Visitation
Circuits

Congregations

1967

424
(441)*

882

?

5904

1969

478
(503)*

1006

?

5765

1986

558
(580)*
(89%)

1160

624

5933 (6150)*

2007

639 (99%)

1278

643

6168

2016

568 (89%)

1136

633

5968

2019

551 (86%)

1102

636

5875

2023

?

?

625

5777

The current estimate for the 2023 convention is that approximately
20 percent of the visitation circuits currently do not qualify as
electoral circuits, which would be about 125 of the 625 visitation
circuits. This in turn would mean that if no exemptions to the
parameters were granted by the President of the Synod, there would
be about 500 electoral circuits sending delegates to the 2023 Synod
convention and about 1,000 voting delegates.
What is unknown in the above table is the number of exceptions
granted for each convention to visitation circuits that did not qualify
as an electoral circuit and the number of visitation circuits that were
joined together to form an electoral circuit.
These numbers indicate that a growing number of visitation circuits,
because of demographic reasons, no longer qualify as electoral
circuits. In addition, the current Bylaws provide no guidelines to the
President of the Synod for determining whether or not to grant an
exception, or the basis on which exemptions are to be considered.
This ambiguity could result in questions being raised regarding why
one visitation circuit is granted an exception while another is not.
Another complicating factor involving circuits and voting, not
covered by the Bylaws, is the fact that there are currently 13 multicongregation parishes which cross district lines, as well as an
additional 50 multi-congregation parishes within districts which are
in different visitation circuits. This generates confusion in these
situations regarding voting for a circuit visitor, eligibility to
represent an electoral circuit, and voting at district conventions.
All of this points to the advisability for the Synod, due to
demographic changes, to again consider the parameters for the
electoral circuits which select delegates to conventions of the Synod
to determine if they are adequate as they are or should be changed.
In addition, it would be helpful for the Synod to clarify some of the

2023 Convention Workbook

ambiguity in the Bylaws regarding multi-congregation parishes
which cross district or circuit lines.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That the Southern Illinois District in convention
memorialize the Synod in convention establish a task force to
consider the parameters for electoral circuits, and to clarify any
ambiguities in the Bylaws regarding exceptions to the electoral
circuit parameters and to address situations of multi-congregation
parishes which cross district and circuit lines.
Southern Illinois District
Ov. 9-12

To Re-evaluate Size Requirements
for Electoral Circuits in the Synod
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod had one
million more members (35 percent more) during the time when our
current electoral circuit minimum size requirements were set; and
WHEREAS, An increasingly large number of circuits ask for
exceptions to the current rules due to changing demographics in
order to make valid electoral circuits; and
WHEREAS, An increasingly large number of circuits are denied
said exceptions and therefore a voice and vote; and
WHEREAS, Our Synod leaders have let it be known the number
of exceptions has grown excessive and needs to change downward;
and
WHEREAS, The recent COVID-19 pandemic has decreased
attendance and membership in many congregations of Synod; and
WHEREAS, Realigning the circuits in the many districts
throughout the Synod would potentially create less participation by
pastors due to longer distances needing to be traveled; and
WHEREAS, A realignment of circuits to qualify for the current
structure would result in fewer circuits and less representation of
the unique areas within districts of the Synod; and
WHEREAS, Various districts throughout the Synod have
experienced the increased need for exemptions over the past several
Synod conventions; therefore be it
Resolved, That the number of communicant members for an
electoral circuit be lowered after consultation by the Council of
Presidents; and be it further
Resolved, That the required number of communicant members
reflect the change in our Synod membership.
Florida-Georgia District
Ov. 9-13

To Memorialize Synod to Study
Circuit Size Requirements
WHEREAS, Current Synod regulations concerning the size of
electoral circuits (Bylaw 3.1.2 [a]) have made it challenging for
some circuits and districts to achieve the minimum numerical
requirements; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the last several Synod conventions, the
Missouri District Board of Directors has requested exemptions for
two electoral circuits each time that do not meet the minimum
aggregate communicant membership; and