LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 389

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STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
the Secretary, signed by two of the congregation’s officers. If a
congregation or parish has more than one pastor eligible to vote,
the congregation shall designate on the credentials form which
pastor will cast a vote on behalf of the congregation.
(c) If one or both voters are unavailable, congregations shall be
provided opportunity to select substitute voters up to a deadline
designated by the Secretary.
(d) The registration status of congregations shall be made
available to respective district presidents for the sole purpose of
their encouraging registration for greater congregational
participation. The registration status of congregations shall not be
further disseminated.
3.12.2.4
Six weeks prior to the national convention, 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. The Secretary shall, with the approval of
the Board of Directors of the Synod, obtain the assistance necessary
to accomplish this task. If no candidate receives a majority of the
votes cast, a second or succeeding ballots are required for a majority;
the candidate receiving the fewest votes and all candidates receiving
less than 15 percent of the votes cast shall be dropped from the ballot,
unless only one candidate receives 15 percent or more of the votes
cast, in which case the three highest candidates shall constitute the
ballot, and another vote shall be taken in the same manner.
3.12.2.5
Following the completion of the election and at least two
weeks prior to the convention, the Secretary shall notify the
candidates of the results of the ballot(s). He shall thereafter also
make the results known to the public. The candidate receiving a
majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected.
3.12.2.6
Prior to all other elections, the convention shall elect the
First Vice-President.
(a) The President-elect shall select from the list of 20 nominees
for the Office of First Vice-President five nominees who have
consented to serve if elected, at least two of whom shall be taken
from the top five nominees.
(b) Balloting will proceed with the candidate receiving the
smallest number of votes eliminated from consideration until one
candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, who shall be
declared elected.
3.12.2.3
The convention shall have the right to alter each slate at the
proper time by amendment.
(a) The amendment procedure shall include merely a motion, a
second, and a vote on the amendment, deliberately excluding
verbal characterizations and discussion of the motion (except for
the chair to ascertain that the requirements have been met as to
eligibility, consent, and the filing of the biographical form).
(b) Delegates making nominations from the floor shall have
secured prior written consent of the candidates they wish to
nominate.
(c) Such delegates shall immediately submit to the Secretary of
the Synod this document and written pertinent information
concerning their nominee(s) as detailed in Bylaw 3.12.2.2.
(d) After all such amendments have been voted on, the
convention shall ratify the slate of candidates prior to each
election.
3.12.2.4
Each voting delegate shall be entitled to vote for one of the
candidates for President. The candidate receiving a majority of the
votes cast shall be declared elected.
(a) If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the four
candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be retained
on the ballot, and another vote shall be taken.
(b) Thereafter, the candidate receiving the smallest number of
votes shall be eliminated on each subsequent ballot until one
candidate receives a majority of the votes cast.

389

3.12.2.5
After the results of the election of the President have been
announced, the convention shall then elect the First Vice-President
according to the procedures outlined for the election of President in
Bylaws 3.12.2.3 and 3.12.2.4.

Circuit 10 (Middle Tennessee), Mid-South District;
Circuit 9 (Nashville), Mid-South District
Ov. 9-35

To Elect Synod President at Convention
WHEREAS, Prior to 2013, the President of the Synod was elected
at the convention; and
WHEREAS, The current process of congregations electing the
President includes emails, complicated procedures, usernames,
passwords, congregation “attesting officers,” internet technology
support, as well as letters sent out as reminders; and
WHEREAS, The Synod could save on manpower hours as well as
the financial outlay of the above; and
WHEREAS, The delegates at the Synod convention are entrusted
with the duty of electing the other Synod officers; and
WHEREAS, It is beneficial to work toward the depoliticization of
the election of the President of the Synod, and strive toward greater
harmony in our Synod; 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.

2023 Convention Workbook