LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 270

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270 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

sion of the District President’s performance may be held or pub-
lished, therefore leaving delegates without a full and fair disclosure
of matters pertaining to a man’s job performance as a District Pres-
ident; and

WHEREAS, The Districts and the office of District President are
an extension of the Synod itself; and

WHEREAS, the Synod is the collection of congregations and pas-
tors who have agreed to walk together in the doctrines and prac-
tices of the Lutheran Confessions; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Praesidium of the Synod, along with the
Board of Directors of each District, conduct a written review and
evaluation of the District President’s job performance, which is to
be released to the congregations and delegates of each District in
regard to their respective District President in advance of each Dis-
trict’s convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod adopt the following provision under
Bylaw 3.101 (powers and duties of the synodical President):

RRESEDMF/PROPOSED WORDING

D. The synodical President, in conjunction with the synodi-
cal Praesidium, may temporarily remove a District President
from office for cause if a simple majority of the Praesidium
agrees with such action, until such time as the matter in dispute
is resolved or a special convention is held by the District to con-
sider recalling the District President from office, wherein the
Praesidium will present its case for recall to the District con-
vention;

and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod add the following provision to Bylaw
4.97 (powers of the District Board of Directors)

PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING

d. That by a two-thirds vote the Board of Directors may tem-
porarily remove the District President from office for cause,
until such time as the matter in dispule is resolved or a special
convention is held to consider the matter of recalling the Dis-
trict President from office, wherein the Board of Directors will
present its case for recall to the District convention;

and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod direct all Districts to provide in their
District constitutions for a special convention to consider the recall
of a District President, wherein the delegates of the preceding con-
vention, in accordance with good order and due process, constitute
a body to hear the case for recall and a defense against the same in
an orderly fashion; and be it finally

Resolved, That each District modify its Constitution and By-
laws to reflect the addition to Bylaw 4.97.

Immanuel
Peoria, [L

7-86

To Overturn 1998 Resolution
re Removal of District Presidents

WHEREAS, Jesus gave patterns for resolving differences among
Christians (e.g., Matthew 18); and

WHEREAS, District Presidents should be treated equally and lov-
ingly as brothers in Christ; and

WHEREAS; We do not believe in an absolute authority in the
church except God Himself; and

Wuereas, Our church has consistently rejected a hierarchical
polity for the church, including bishops with supreme authority;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we thank our District Presidents for their service
to Jesus in His church; and be it further

Resolved, That we find ways of resolving conflicts and dis-
agreements in the church in a loving and Christlike manner, not re-
sorting to resolutions or publications; and be it finally

2001 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That Res. 7-05A and 7-06A from the 1998 synodical
convention be overturned as not being in accordance with Scrip-
ture (Matthew 18).

Grace
Queens Village, NY

7-87
To Rescind 1998 Res. 7-06A and Affirm Art. VII

WHEREAS, In our last synodical convention Res. 7-06A gave the
President of the Synod supervisory powers that could cause the sus-
pension or removal of the District President or other pastors; and

WHEREAS, This changes the nature of our Synod in relationship
to its congregations from advisory to legislative because it puts
congregations in the position of jeopardizing their elected District
President’s status unless they conform to a certain synodical prac-
tice or resolution; therefore be it

Resolved, That 1998 Res. 7-06A be rescinded; and be it further

Resolved, That we affirm principles of advice, encouragement,
counsel, and convincing from the Word of God alone rather than by
authority of position or legislative power; and be it finally

Resolved, That we affirm Art. VII that in relationship to its con-
gregations the Synod is advisory only and that congregations have
the right to determine whether synodical resolutions are consistent
with the Word of God or expedient to their local circumstances.

Trinity
Simi Valley, CA

7-88

To Rescind Convention Action re Removal
of District Presidents

WuerEAS, The Synod in convention in 1998 adopted Res.
7-06A, which modified the synodical Bylaws for direct termina-
tion of District Presidents by the synodical President; and

WHEREAS, Such centralization of power does not adequately
take into account that the Synod was brought into being by con-
gregations and only those congregations organized after the forma-
tion of the Synod could in any way be thought to have been
brought into being by the Synod, yet even those function in like
manner as the founding congregations; and

WHEREAS, Res. 7-06A has a tendency to imply that congrega-
tions are here to serve the Synod and not the Synod its congrega-
tions; and

Wuereas, District Presidents are elected by the congregations
of the various Districts; and

Wuere_as, There are sufficient protocols for disciplinary action
on the books aside from those implemented by 7-06A, which can
be invoked should circumstances so dictate; therefore be it

Resolved, That Res. 7-06A be rescinded and the Bylaws revert
to the wording in place before the adoption of Res. 7-06A.

First, Willows, CA; St. Paul, Artois, CA

7-89

To Return Bylaw 2.27 to Pre-1998 Convention Form

WHEREAS, The action of the 1998 convention in passing Res.
7-06A and in amending Bylaw 2.27 with the addition of paragraph
g has led to a drastic change in the fraternal nature of relationships
among the leaders of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The history of the Synod has not demonstrated the
need for such a change; and

WHEREAS, Effective working relationships among the various
entities and levels of the Synod’s operation demand the mutual
conversation of the brethren and are not facilitated by legalistic By-
laws; therefore be it