LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 108

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108 SYNODICAL REPORTS

District Presidents

As noted previously, the division of the Synod into four Districts in 1854 resulted in the creation of four District presidencies. Over time
the Synod has assigned many duties to District Presidents, helping to make the office what it is today.

A complex responsibility. The current duties of a District President are many and varied. Some focus on personnel matters. He is re-
sponsible for maintaining a roster of ordained and commissioned ministers in his District, keeping current a set of files on those profes-
sional church workers, and recording all ordinations and installations within the District as well as transfers in and out of the District.
Congregations are required to seck the advice of their District President when calling ordained or commissioned ministers (Bylaw 2.45 a),
advice that usually comes in the form of “call lists” prepared by District Presidents for consideration by calling congregations. District Pres-
idents are also contacted for references with regard to calls and appointments within the Synod and District for staff or institutional posts
as well as volunteer positions on boards, committees, and commissions. A myriad of issues confronts church workers in our society, in-
cluding emotional, psychological, marital, and financial anxieties, adding to the complexity of a District President’s work. And, of course,
a District President is directly involved in disciplinary matters involving members of the Synod in his District.

It should be noted that in all their work, District Presidents serve the entire Synod by carrying out presidential responsibilities in one of
its Districts. When they ordain or install, when they encourage or discipline church workers, when they advise calling congregations,
when they lead evangelism and mission efforts or work with Circuit Counsclors—in every one of these activities and more, our District
Presidents truly serve all the congregations of our Synod, not only those of their District.

In consideration of the enormous responsibility and the numerous duties of the District President, the TF concludes that it would be ad-
vantageous for Districts to relieve their Presidents of as many administrative tasks as possible. Each District will, of course, need to de-
termine how this can best be done. Nevertheless, serious consideration should be given to this matter so that District Presidents will have
sufficient time and energy to devote to the primary responsibilities of their office in seeking to meet the objectives of the Synod (Consti-
tution, Art. Il). Such activity on their part entails not only “supervision over the doctrine, life, and administration of office of the or-
dained and commissioned ministers of their District” and acquaintance with the religious conditions of District congregations (Constitution,
Art. XII 7), but also the practice of brotherly listening, encouragement, and helping to bear others’ burdens.

Full-time or part-time? During the 1960s and 1970s the number of full-time District presidencies grew dramatically throughout the
Synod. Today only two of our Districts have a part-time President, whereas only two had a full-time President in 1962. The TF considered
input from several sources on this subject, including documents written during the 1960s warning against the then-growing trend toward
full-time District presidencies.

A man’s work as District President would certainly benefit from the day-to-day pastoral contact he would experience in serving a con-
gregation. However, one argument in favor of District Presidents serving on a full-time basis has proved overpowering: the complexity and
the volume of problems that are being brought to District Presidents. In the area of ecclesiastical supervision alone, District Presidents are
faced with church worker misconduct cases of various types that demand more attention than a part-time President could likely give to them
in a majority of cases. Ongoing care and supervision of pastors and other church professionals through teaching and brotherly encourage-
ment, even when delegated, take a great deal of time. In short, the demands placed upon a District President by changing conditions in
church and society seem to combine to make a full-time presidency incumbent upon most Districts. The TF therefore recommends no
change with respect to full-time or part-time District presidencies.

Election. Before the Synod in convention elects a President, biographical summaries on the congregationally nominated candidates and
their service to the church appear in the Convention Workbook. Their prospective approaches to the presidency and their views on key is-
sues are known through interviews reported in synodical publications. Delegates thus have an opportunity to become at least somewhat ac-
quainted with these candidates and the potential each one might bring to the presidency.

By contrast, many of our Districts elect a President on the basis of significantly less information published prior to the District con-
vention. Nomination processes differ from District to District and include opening nominations for the presidency only on the convention
floor. Therefore delegates to some District conventions operate at a decided disadvantage in comparison to their counterparts in other
Districts when the time comes to cast a ballot for District President. The TF believes it essential for convention delegates to be well-in-
formed about presidential candidates.

Further, the full scope of the office of District President—including the District President’s responsibilities in ecclesiastical supervision
and national-level responsibilities for placement and appointments exercised by the Council of Presidents—is often unknown to District
convention delegates. Therefore, in addition to a Bylaw change, the TF recommends that more information be provided to delegates on the
candidates for the office of District President and Vice-President and the nature of the office for which they are nominated. It also recom-
mends a more extensive orientation of newly elected District Presidents themselves.

Recommendations regarding District Presidents

1. Overture

8-23

To Provide More Information for District Elections
Resolved, That the synodieal Bylaws be amended as proposed:

CURRENT
4.127 Election of President and Vice-President

Each District may adopt regulations for the nomination and
election of its President, the nomination, election, and ranking of
its Vice-Presidents, and the succession in case of vacancies, as long
as these provisions do not conflict with the Bylaws of the Synod.
Nominating committees may not be employed in the election of the
President and Vice-Presidents.

2001 Convention Workbook

PROPOSED
4.127 Election of President and Vice-President

Each District may adopt regulations for the nomination and
election of its President, the nomination, election, and ranking of
its Vice-Presidents, and the succession in case of vacancies, as long
as these provisions do not conflict with the Bylaws of the Synod.
When possible, there shall be at least two candidates for District
President and each vice-presidency. To inform the delegates more
fully before the election, there shall be distributed to each voting