LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 272

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272 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

7-104

To Place Parish Assistants on Roster

WHEREAS, We have a number of parish assistants listed in the
1997 Lutheran Annual, p. 286; and

WHEREAS, These parish assistants are graduates of a four-year
synodical program and each has a theology minor, plus an intern-
ship under synodical auspices; therefore be it

Resolved, That the parish assistants be placed on the roster of
the Synod as Ministers of Religion, Commissioned, or whatever
terminology the Synod adopts for the roster category.

Faith
Ypsilanti, MI

7-105

To Delay Elections

WHEREAS, There are many first-time delegates who have not
had an opportunity to become personally familiar with potential
candidates for synodical offices; and

Wuereas, Due to electronic balloting, there is no longer a need
to provide time for counting votes; and

WHEREAS, Several days at the convention will help all delegates
to become more helpfully informed in regard to the qualifications
of candidates; therefore be it

Resolved, That the synodical elections begin no sooner than the
third day of the convention.

St. Luke
Mesa, Arizona

7-106
To Change Procedure for Election of Officers

Rationale

The current practice for electing officers of the Synod calls for
the election of synodical President on the first day of the conven-
tion, followed by the election of other officers. The procedure was
adopted to allow time for the laborious task of counting written bal-
lots. With today’s electronic voting, the entire election process is
completed in less than two days. Since the election of synodical of-
ficers is so important and since many delegates are first-time atten-
dees to the convention, it would be helpful to delay the election
procedure and allow the delegates an opportunity to adjust and to
be more informed before asking them to vote.

WHEREAS, It has been the policy of the convention of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to begin the election process
on the first day of the convention to accommodate the slow process
of counting written ballots; and

WHEREAS, The election procedure of the synodical convention
has been greatly expedited by electronic voting; and

Wuereas, Each convention is blessed by the presence of many
first-time delegates; and

WHEREAS, The first days of a synodical convention can be over-
whelming to first-time delegates; therefore be it

Resolved, That the election of synodical President and other
synodical officers begin not earlier than the third day of the con-
vention; and be it further

Resolved, That the church continue to pray for God to raise up
faithful and dedicated leaders for the Synod.

Board of Directors
Pacific Southwest District

7-107

To Revise Election Procedure
for Commission on Constitutional Matters

WHEREAS, The membership of the present Commission on Con-
stitutional Matters (CCM) is appointed by the Council of (District)
Presidents (Bylaw 3.903 a 2); and

WHEREAS, Decisions of the Commission on Constitutional Mat-
ters often involve actions taken by the District Presidents; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Commission of Constitutional Matters will
henceforth be elected by the Synod at convention, from a slate pre-
pared by the regular Nominations Committee; and be it further

Resolved, That if time remains in the 1998 synodical conven-
tion for the Nominations Committee to prepare such a slate after
the passage of this resolution, then the CCM shall be elected at this
convention and its new members will be inducted into office at the
normal time (Bylaw 3.65 a).

St. Paul
Brookfield, IL

7-108

To Revise Election Procedure
for Commission on Constitutional Matters

WHEREAS, The membership of the present Commission on Con-
stitutional Matters (CCM) is appointed by the Council of (District)
Presidents (Bylaw 3.903 a 2); and

WHEREAS, This appointment means that the CCM is predis-
posed to favor the District Presidents; and

Wuereas, In their capacity as the constitutional review com-
mittee of the Synod (Bylaw 3.905 a), this means that the CCM is
predisposed to overlook amendments which enhance the powers of
District Presidents contrary to the Synod’s Constitution and the
Lutheran Confessions; and

Wuereas, In their capacity as the supreme court of appeals (By-
laws 3.905 d and 8.21 i), this means that the CCM is predisposed to
rule in favor of complainants in the “dispute resolution” process
who are District Presidents or their associates; and

WHEREAS, This adjudicatory predisposition means that most
cases that reach the synodical appeal level will be decided in a prej-
udicial manner; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Commission on Constitutional Matters will
henceforth be elected by the Synod at convention, from a slate pre-
pared by the regular Nominations Committee; and be it further

Resolved, That if time remains in the 1998 synodical conven-
tion for the Nominations Committee to prepare such a slate after
the passage of this resolution, then the CCM shall be elected at this
convention and its new members will be inducted into office at the
normal time (Bylaw 3.65 a).

Trinity, Iuka, IL; Messiah, Middletown, OH; Bethany, Fort
Wayne, IN; Grace, Paris, TX

7-109

To Change Election Process
of Commission on Constitutional Matters

WHEREAS, Members of the Commission on Constitutional Mat-
ters (CCM) are appointed by the Council of (District) Presidents
from a list of nominations from District Boards of Directors (Bylaw
3.903 a); and

Wuereas, A function of the Commission on Constitutional
Matters is to interpret the Synod’s Constitutions, Bylaws, and res-
olutions upon request and render binding opinions unless over-
turned by the Synod in convention (Bylaw 3.905 d); and