LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 388

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388

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
decided beyond the next Synod convention unless and until it is
overruled ratified by a convention of the Synod. Overtures to a
convention that seek to overrule an opinion of the commission
shall support the proposed action with substantive rationale from
the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod. All such
overtures shall be considered by the floor committee to which
they have been assigned and shall be included in a specific report
to the convention with recommendations for appropriate action.
…

and be it finally
Resolved, That the Texas District in convention memorialize the
Synod in convention with this resolution.
Texas District
Ov. 9-33

To Provide Additional Information
about Nominees for Elected Positions
of the Synod and Districts
WHEREAS, Synod and district conventions of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod afford the opportunity for the election of
qualified individuals to positions within the Synod and her districts;
and
WHEREAS, It is the duty of voting delegates at these conventions,
after prayerful reflection, to vote for the candidates that they judge
will best fulfill the positions for which they have been nominated,
understanding that such positions can carry great influence within
the Church; and
WHEREAS, It is often difficult for voting delegates to make such
judgments with confidence based solely on the biographical
information normally provided, leaving many either to guess
blindly or to follow the recommendations of different interest
groups; and
WHEREAS, The Synod has a longstanding practice of providing
additional information to congregations about ordained and
commissioned ministers (e.g., Pastor Information Form, SelfEvaluation Tool, and Commissioned Minister Information Form),
and this information has proved helpful to congregations in their
decision-making; and
WHEREAS, Caution should also be taken that candidates do not
seem to be campaigning for elected positions within the Synod and
her districts; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents craft a common
questionnaire to be used for all elected positions (ordained,
commissioned, and lay) within the Synod and her districts which
will allow nominees to address briefly their theological positions as
well as their personal qualifications; and be it further
Resolved, That care should be taken so that this questionnaire
doesn’t appear to promote campaigning for elected positions; and
be it finally
Resolved, That this questionnaire be submitted to all nominees
for elected positions of the Synod and her districts, and their
answers (if received) be made available in writing to the appropriate
voting bodies at least three weeks prior to voting, beginning with
the 2025 district conventions.
Circuit 26 (Kensington)
Michigan District

2023 Convention Workbook

Ov. 9-34

To Return to Nomination and Election Process
in Which Synod Convention Delegates
Elect President
WHEREAS, The previous process of electing the President of the
Synod at convention served the Synod well; and
WHEREAS, The current process of congregations electing the
President includes emails, complicated procedures, usernames,
passwords, congregation “attesting officers,” costly internet
technology support, as well as letters sent out as reminders; and
WHEREAS, Not all congregations may be making use of this
privilege, especially vacant congregations; and
WHEREAS, The delegates at convention are entrusted with the
duty of electing the other Synod officers to fulfill their important
roles; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod return to the previous process included
in the 2007 Handbook by amending the current Bylaws, specifically
by striking Bylaws 3.12.2.3, 3.12.2.4, 3.12.2.5, and 3.12.2.6 of the
2019 Handbook and replacing them with the content of Bylaws
3.12.1.3, 3.12.1.4, and 3.12.1.5 of the 2007 Handbook, to read as
follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Elections of President and First Vice-President
3.12.2.1
The candidates for the office of President shall be the five
ordained ministers who received the highest number of votes in the
nominating process and who consent to serve if elected. The
candidates for the office of First Vice-President shall be the 20
ordained ministers receiving the highest number of votes in the
nominating process. No opportunity shall be provided for additional
nominations.
(a) The Secretary of the Synod shall notify each candidate and
shall secure his approval in writing within ten days after receiving
the results of the ballots for the inclusion of his name on the
ballot.
(b) In the event of the death, declination, or unavailability of any
candidate, the nominee having the next highest number of votes
shall become a candidate. In the event of a tie for the final
candidate position, all names involved in the tie shall be included
as candidates.
3.12.2.2
The Secretary of the Synod shall publish in the Convention
Workbook and post on the Synod Website brief biographies of the
five candidates for President and the 20 candidates for First VicePresident. This report shall contain such pertinent information as
age, residence, number of years in the Synod, present position,
offices previously held in a district or the Synod, year of ordination,
former pastorates, involvement in community, government, or
interchurch affairs, and any other specific experience and
qualification for the office. Opportunity to provide a personal
statement shall be offered to each candidate for publication in an
official periodical, this statement also to be posted on the Synod’s
Website.
3.12.2.3
The Secretary of the Synod shall compile and maintain the
voters list for the election of the President of the Synod. This list and
any of its parts shall not be disseminated.
(a) This voters list shall include:
(1) the pastor of each member congregation or multicongregation parish (assisting pastors are not eligible)
(2) a lay person from the congregation or parish
(b) The congregation shall present to the Secretary of Synod 90
days prior to the election a proper credentials form provided by