LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 182

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182

RESOLUTIONS

To End Parallel Structure of District
and Synod Boards and Staff
RESOLUTION 8-03
Report 8-01 (CW, pp. 111–13); Overture 8-29
(CW, pp. 111–13)
WHEREAS, District structure and related matters have
been an object of focused attention within the Synod for
about a decade. In 1992 the Synod in convention called for a
Task Force on Configuration of Districts and Regionalization of Staff, commonly known as the [Res.] “8-09 Task
Force.” This Task Force, which preceded the current TF,
was charged with proposing “a strategic plan with respect
to the configuration of Districts, the regionalization of national and District staffs, and the development of new categories or positions for staffing.” In addition, the 1992 convention established a board and a conference in the area of
Congregational Services, which closely interfaces with Districts and their service work. This board and conference became effective in 1995; and
WHEREAS, In its 1995 report (1995 Convention Workbook, pp. 17–22), the 8-09 Task Force declined to propose
plans for mandating action with respect to District configuration, staff regionalization, or new ideas for staffing.
Rather, it said each District could choose to organize in the
most appropriate manner to serve congregations. It further
recommended that “Districts take action to adopt their own
structural changes or approach the Mission and Ministry
Council or the Synod’s Board of Directors prior to the 1998
synodical convention for action” (1995 Workbook, p. 22).
Hence, at their 1997 conventions a number of Districts entertained proposals for structural change. It was necessary
for these proposed structural changes to be approved by the
Commission on Constitutional Matters before they were
adopted. The Commission concluded that there was little
room for Districts to take the sort of actions suggested by
the 8-09 Task Force, for synodical Bylaws require Districts
to have boards and staff that parallel elements of the national synodical structure. Consequently, most structure
change proposals were either rejected or placed on hold, although some were instituted by Districts on what was designated as a “trial” basis. In other cases, Districts maintained the form of boards parallel to those of the national
Synod, but actually had staff members carrying out functions supposedly assigned to the boards; and
WHEREAS, The Task Force on National/District Synod
Relations has delineated changes specified in Overture 829; therefore be it
Resolved, That the synodical Bylaws be amended as proposed:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.07 Relationships: Conventions, Officers,
Boards, Commissions, Staff
d. Each board and commission or other agency that
serves the Synod or a District in a specific area of program or ministry in accordance with the Synod’s Constitution and applicable Bylaws adopts programs in its
assigned area of responsibility; administers the programs and resources as provided or authorized by the
Constitution and applicable Bylaws, or as assigned by
the respective convention or board; agency; and pro-

200l Convention Proceedings

poses modifications thereto. It also provides program
policies, as well as directions, for its staff and shall establish, together with staff, evaluation criteria for its
programs. It shall report its activities to the respective
convention, president, and board. responsible agency.
National boards and commissions agencies obtain counsel from Districts boards in developing programs, and
Districts boards maintain communication with and provide for utilization of applicable national programs of
their national counterparts, as well as design programs
to meet their own unique needs.
e. Each staff develops procedures, recommends and
reviews programs and ministries, manages programs,
and recommends policy and program modifications. It
implements decisions of its respective board in accordance with approved policy. It is responsible to the
Synod through its respective board or commission,
which shall exercise supervision at the national or District level in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the national Synod or District, resolutions of the
respective convention, and the decisions of the respective board or commission policies of a District or any
agency to which it is responsible. Staff represents the
board or commission and is ordinarily the liaison between the board or commission and the field. Each executive officer shall report on staff activities and recommendations to his board or commission the national
Synod, District, or agency to which that officer is responsible and, as requested, to the president of the District or of the Synod. Staff ordinarily serves as the liaison between the national and District program boards.
Synod levels and Sstaffs consult with one another in developing program proposals to present to their respective boards.
4.11 Relationships: Conventions, Officers,
Boards of Directors, Boards and Commissions
Agencies and Staff
a. The delegate convention of the District is a legislative assembly which, in accordance with the Bylaws
and objectives of the Synod, establishes and evaluates
policies and provides direction on behalf of and in service to member congregations of the Synod in that District. It shall be the assembly in which the congregations of the District can counsel together to achieve
their objectives, receive reports and counsel from the
Synod, and through which the congregations and the
District can together make recommendations to the
convention, boards, and commissions of the Synod. It
shall have the authority to give direction to the officers,
boards, and commissions of the District. Relationships
on the District level are those as defined in Bylaws 1.07
and 3.951
b. The elective o Officers of the District serve in accordance with the duties assigned to them in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod as they apply to the
District and within the boundaries of the respective
District, and in accordance with the duties which may
be assigned in the Bylaws of the District. They shall
have primary responsibility for District implementation
of decisions of the national Synod as applicable they
apply to the District and within the boundaries of the
respective District and for implementation of decisions
of the District convention and District boards agencies.
They shall supervise the day-to-day activities of District
staff. They shall report their activities and recommendations to the convention, to the Board of Directors, and
to the Synod as appropriate, and maintain communication as necessary with other Districts and with jurisdictional units of other church bodies.
c. Communication between national and District
levels shall be maintained in order to carry out the
most effective and coordinated programs possible. The
Board of Directors, elected by the District, serves as the
legal representative of the District and the custodian of
all property of the District. Between conventions it shall
provide for implementation within the District of the