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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 379

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

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
WHEREAS, It is the Synod’s prerogative to set the requirements
of electoral circuits in light of changing demographic and
membership trends; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Missouri District in convention memorialize
the Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters and the
Commission on Handbook to study the requirements of electoral
circuits and provide a report to the Synod in advance of the 2026
Synod convention.
Missouri District
Ov. 9-14

To Amend Bylaw 3.1.2 to Reduce Electoral Circuit
Confirmed Membership Requirement
WHEREAS, The declining membership of congregations has led
to increased number of electoral circuits that fail to meet the
minimum number of aggregate confirmed membership; and
WHEREAS, There has been an increase in electoral circuit
exceptions requested prior to the 2023 Synod convention; and
WHEREAS, A significant number of the exceptions would not be
necessary if the minimum number of aggregate confirmed
membership were reduced slightly; therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.2 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Voting Delegates
3.1.2
Electoral circuits shall meet as required by the Bylaws of
the Synod to elect circuit voting delegates to the Synod’s national
conventions.
(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent
visitation circuits, as shall be determined by the district board of
directors on the basis of the following requirements: each pair of
delegates shall represent from 7 to 20 member congregations,
involving an aggregate confirmed membership ranging from
1,5001,250 to 10,000.
…

Board of Directors
Missouri District
Ov. 9-15

To Change Electoral Circuit Requirement
WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 3.1.2 (a) states: “An electoral circuit
shall consist either of one or two adjacent visitation circuits, as
determined by the district board of directors on the basis of the
following requirements: each pair of delegates shall represent from
7 to 20 member congregations, involving an aggregate confirmed
membership ranging from 1,500 to 10,000”; and
WHEREAS, The confirmed membership of many congregations
in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has been declining, thus
also reducing the aggregate confirmed membership in circuits; and
WHEREAS, There is often change in the number of
congregations within visitation circuits due to mergers or closures;
and
WHEREAS, The necessity of making fewer electoral circuits
due to visitation circuits barely missing the current minimum
requirements of size to be an electoral circuit on their own creates
fewer opportunities for these congregations and circuits to have
direct representation at a Synod convention to both participate as

379

delegates in the convention and to bring back initiatives and
resolutions of the Synod to the congregations of the circuit(s); and
WHEREAS, Districts from time to time realign visitation
circuits in order to avoid the necessity of combining visitation
circuits into electoral circuits; and
WHEREAS, Such realignment is sometimes necessary each
triennium, despite the fact that, in the following triennium,
aggregate confirmed membership may increase and additional
member congregations may join circuits that are too small to be
electoral circuits on their own currently; and
WHEREAS, Such realignment can adversely affect long-term
relationships, which provide an important geographic connection
for sister congregations and pastors to work collaboratively to more
effectively carry out the Great Commission to make disciples of all
people; therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.2 (a) be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Voting Delegates
3.1.2
Electoral circuits shall meet as required by the Bylaws of
the Synod to elect circuit voting delegates to the Synod’s national
conventions.
(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent
visitation circuits, as shall be determined by the district board of
directors for the first Synod convention of each decade on the
basis of the following requirements: each pair of delegates shall
represent from 75 to 20 member congregations, involving an
aggregate confirmed membership ranging from 1,5001,000 to
10,000. Such electoral circuits shall remain valid for that decade,
even if electoral circuit criteria is no longer met.
…

Michigan District
Ov. 9-16

To Change Size Requirements
for Electoral Circuits
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) had
a 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 for valid electoral circuits; and
WHEREAS, The recent COVID-19 pandemic has decreased
attendance and membership in many congregations of the LCMS;
and
WHEREAS, Many districts have experienced the increased need
for exemptions; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention lower the requirement
for an electoral circuit to five churches and 750 communicants; and
be it further
Resolved, That the required number of communicant members
reflect the change in our LCMS membership.
Southeastern District

2023 Convention Workbook