LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 390

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390

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

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
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.

2023 Convention Workbook

(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.
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.

Circuits 3 and 4
Southern Illinois District
Ov. 9-36

To Conform Election of Synod President
to Longstanding Practice
WHEREAS, The President of Synod has extensive responsibility
for supervision of doctrine and the administration of the Synod
(Constitution Article XI B); and
WHEREAS, There are five candidates for President of Synod
(Bylaw 3.12.2.1); and
WHEREAS, The number of candidates was changed from three to
five at the previous Synod convention (2019 Resolution 9-07); and
WHEREAS, Current bylaws provide that “if no candidate receives
a majority of the votes cast … the candidate receiving the fewest
votes and all candidates receiving less than 15 percent of the votes
cast shall be dropped from the ballot …” (Bylaw 3.12.2.4); and
WHEREAS, This practice is contrary to historical practice for the
election of the President of Synod (2007 Handbook, Bylaw
3.12.1.4) and current practice for the election of First VicePresident (Bylaw 3.12.2.6 [b]); and
WHEREAS, This practice may promote electioneering; and
WHEREAS, Voter participation in the election of the President of
Synod is of concern (2019 Res. 9-16); therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.12.2.4 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
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.

and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of Synod, in consultation with the
Commission on Handbook, consider the possibility of
implementing the online presidential election using one ranked-