LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 256

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256 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

WHEREAS, This has forced the Synod to cut back on its financial
assistance to such important areas as our Synod’s seminaries and
foreign missions; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has seen a decrease in its total number of
members; and

WuerEAS, The number of vacant churches continues to in-
crease; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in its
1998 convention instruct the synodical President to appoint a com-
mittee of an equal number of qualified pastors and laymen to study
and examine the number of individuals employed by each District,
and suggest to the synodical President a reduction in the number
of those who are employed by each District (Bylaw 1.07 a; Bylaw
4.07 b, e); and be it further

Resolved, That the synodical President then present these rec-

ommendations to each District President and its elected board; and
be it further

Resolved, That each District President be instructed that he must
immediately implement the reduction of paid employees (Bylaw
4.71 b); and be it further

Resolved, That those employees who are ordained ministers be
extended calls to those congregations which are in need of a pastor
to serve God’s people; and be it finally

Resolved, That at the next synodical convention each District
President give a report on how the reduction of the number of em-
ployees was carried out.

Salem
Taylorsville, NC

7-53

To Propose Redefinition and Realignment
of Districts

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was founded
upon agreement in doctrine and a desire for cooperation in its func-
tions, especially education and missions; and

WHEREAS, The Synod, through the Lord’s rich blessings, grew
to such a size that its functions and theological oversight of its
members was considered difficult to be done by the President of
the Synod alone, thus leading to the formation of Districts (cf.,
Bylaw 4.01); and

WHEREAS, The Synod decides when and whether a District shall
be formed, divided, realigned, or merged with other Districts, de-
termines boundaries of Districts, and approves the names of Dis-
tricts (cf., Bylaw 4.03 a); and

WHEREAS, Said Districts were intended to be the “Synod in a
particular place,” carrying forth the will of the Synod in accord
with Scripture and Lutheran Confessions, thus continuing harmo-
nious relationships throughout the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Districts were especially empowered to aid and
counsel the congregations of the Synod and to provide oversight
for the pastors of the Synod, especially through regular and faithful
visitation of congregations by the Presidents of the Districts; and

WHEREAS, Due to many factors, the size and relative influence
of the Districts varies widely; and

WHEREAS, So-called nongeographic Districts were admitted into
the Synod, with member congregations scattered widely; and

WHEREAS, Many parts of the United States, especially large
metropolitan areas, currently house congregations belonging to
three or four different Districts; and

WHEREAS, Communication and transportation have been greatly
improved in terms of speed and cost-effectiveness; and

Wuereas, Many of the Districts have established programs and
services which duplicate those of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The vast proportion of offerings contributed by
member congregations of the Synod do not first flow to the Synod
for use in education and outreach; and

WHEREAS, Many Districts have programs and services which
duplicate those of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, Districts have often developed and encouraged pro-
grams contrary to the desires of the Synod expressed in conven-
tion; and

WHEREAS, Districts are often perceived as being unresponsive to
the needs of the members of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The theological oversight and discipline of the offi-
cers of said Districts currently does not extend to the removal from
office by the President of Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod in convention assembled institute a pro-
posal in accordance with Bylaw 4.03 b for the realignment of the
Synod, including incorporation of the congregations of nongeo-
graphic Districts into geographic Districts; and be it further

Resolved, That this proposal include plans to increase the num-
ber of Districts while striving for a numerical balance of congre-
gants and members of the Synod among the Districts; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That the new, smaller Districts assume those respon-
sibilities now held by the Circuits and the current three-tiered bu-
reaucracy of Synod be replaced by this two-tiered structure; and be
it further

Resolved, That the vast financial resources controlled by the
current Districts through such entities as Church. Extension Funds
and Lutheran foundations would be brought under the control and
direction of their respective synodical organizations and agencies
as specified by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod; and be it
further

Resolved, That the institutions of higher education within Synod
no longer be directly affiliated with any Districts, but be held in
common by the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the office of District President and the other of-
ficers of the Districts shall be made part-time and the Presidents
shall be pastors of member congregations of their respective Dis-
tricts; and be it further

Resolved, That the headquarters and other real holdings of the
current Districts be turned over to the Synod for its use or sold at
fair market value, these funds then being remitted to the Synod in
order to bear the cost of realignment, with excess funds then being
held in trust for the education of pastors, teachers, and other church
workers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Districts shall have no permanent offices,
but shall be overseen from the congregations and offices of their
elected Presidents; and be it further

Resolved, That the direct supervision of the Presidents and other
officers and staff of these newly aligned and defined Districts shall
be performed by the President of the Synod working with the
elected Praesidium, who shall have final doctrinal oversight, in-
cluding right of removal from office of those who willingly repu-
diate the doctrinal statements of the Synod or work counter to or
in noncompliance with the directives of the Synod in convention
assembled; and be it further

Resolved, That a new plan of visitation and theological over-
sight through these Districts be designed, with the primary task of
the Presidents of the respective Districts being that of visitor and
theological overseer of the pastors and congregations of their Dis-
tricts; and be it further

Resolved, That enabling resolutions dealing with other matters
of polity be prepared where this realignment and redefinition of the
Districts brings the new District structure into variance with the
current synodical Bylaws; and be it further

Resolved, That an implementing committee for this proposal be
appointed by the President of the Synod at the earliest possible mo-
ment; and be it further

Resolved, That this implementing committee shall work within
the confines of this overture and in accordance with synodical
Bylaw 4.03; and be it finally

Resolved, That the proposal of the implementing committee
shall be returned to the President of Synod at least 12 months prior