LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 275

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STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 275

the Bylaws. They may become eligible again for election or ap-
pointment to the same office, board, or commission after an in-
terval of three or more years. One-half or more of a term shall be
regarded as a full term under limited tenure rules.

b. Any member of an office, board, or commission who is
ineligible for re-election or reappointment may be elected or ap-
pointed to another position.

c. If the President, the First Vice-President, the Secretary, or
the Vice-President—-Finance—Treasurer of the Synod is not re-
elected to his office or does not stand for reelection, he shail
continue to receive his full salary for a period of six months
while rendering transitional service with the understanding that
such service and salary will cease at the time such person ac-
cepts another full-time position.

(NOTE: If the proposed Commission on Structure changes are
accepted, the change would replace Bylaw 3.2.8. Bylaw 3.2.7
would be deleted.)

Trinity, New Haven, MO; Immanuel, San Antonio, TX;
Redeemer, John Day, OR

7-104

To Limit Terms for All Elected Offices

WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.61 b limits the terms of office for synodi-
cal boards and commissions; and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.61 a contains no such limitations with re-
spect to the office of President, the office of the First Vice-Presi-
dent, the office of the Secretary, and the office of the Vice-Presi-
dent—Finance-Treasurer; and

WHEREAS, There is no compelling reason for such a distinction
between the terms of offices in Bylaw 3.61 a and the members in
3.61 b; therefore be it

Resolved, That all elected offices of the Synod and all members
of al] synodica] boards and commissions be limited in duration and
succession as provided in existing Bylaws 3.61 a through e.

Good Shepherd
Greenville, SC

7-105

To Exclude Praesidium from Termination
of Membership Process

WHEREAS, Bylaw 2.27, Commencing an Action to Terminate
Congregational and Individual Membership, describes the process
by which steps may be taken that could lead to termination of con-
gregational or individual membership in the Synod; and

WHEREAS, Paragraph b of Bylaw 2.27 states: “If the District
President declines to suspend the member or fails to act within 90
days after receipt of the written complaint, the complainant may
present the written complaint to the Praesidium of the Synod,
which consists of the President and the Vice-Presidents of the
Synod. If after investigation the Praesidium concludes that the facts
form a basis for expulsion of the member under Article XIII of the
Constitution, the Praesidium shall proceed in the same fashion as
hereafter required of the District President. If the Praesidium de-
termines not to proceed, it shall in writing so inform the com-
plainant and the involved member, which shall terminate the mat-
ter”; and

Wuereas, Such provision allows the complainant opportunity
to present his complaint against the defendant on one occasion to
the District President and on a subsequent occasion to the synodical
Praesidium, thereby placing the synodical Praesidium in the posi-
tion of a virtua] court of appeals; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Texas District of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod respectfully request the 2001 convention of the
Synod to amend Bylaw 2.27 b to read: “If the District President de-
clines to suspend the member or fails to act within 90 days after
receipt of the written complaint, the complainant may present the
written complaint to the Secretary of the Synod, who shall consti-

tute a Dispute Resolution Panel to review the action or nonaction of
the District President. The decision of the panel shall be subject to
the same process of appeal and review stipulated in Bylaw 8.09 d
and e.”

Texas District

7-106

To Make Vice-Presidents Advisory Members of COP

WHEREAS, There is an ambiguity in the Bylaws dealing with re-
instatement into membership in the Synod; and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 2.31 gives the responsibility to accept or deny
a request for membership to the Council of Presidents; and

Wuereas, Bylaw 2.33 specifically requires an affirmative vote
of at least 75% of the District Presidents present and voting to ap-
prove such a request; and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.930 constitutes the membership of the COP
as the President, the Vice-Presidents in the order of succession, and
the District Presidents: and

WHEREAS, The expressed purpose of the COP is for (1) the Pres-
ident to advise and counsel his representatives in the Districts, and
(2) to enable the District Presidents in turn to give counsel to the
President (Bylaw 3.939 a b); and

Wuereas, The President always has the opportunity to consult
with the First Vice-President and the other Vice-Presidents at his
call; and

WHEREAS, It would be desirable that the lines of communica-
tion between the President and the District Presidents be as direct
as possible; and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 2.3.3 expressly calls for a 75% affirmative
vote by the District Presidents; therefore be it

Resolved, That the voting members of the COP be the District
Presidents and the President of the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Vice-Presidents serve as advisory members
of the COP; and be it finally

Resolved, That the exact wording of Bylaw 2.33 be observed in
all cases of reinstatement into membership in the Synod.

Our Redeemer
Dearborn, MI

7-107

To Restructure Bylaw 2.27
re Termination of Membership

Wuereas, Bylaw 2.27 (1998 Handbook, pp. 29-30) deals with
two different, but related, actions touching on membership in the
Synod, to wit, (1) the commencement of an action that could lead
to the termination of congregational or individual membership in
the Synod as well as (2) the appeals process available to a congre-
gation or an individual whose membership has been terminated
under the authority of Bylaw 2.27; and

WHEREAS, The two different purposes of Bylaw 2.27 can cre-
ate confusion on the part of those responsible for administering the
provisions of Bylaw 2.27 and those who face the possibility of los-
ing their membership in the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That current Bylaw 2.27 be divided into two different
Bylaws separating the commencement of an action that could lead
to the termination of congregational or individual membership in
the Synod from the appeal process available to a congregation or an
individual whose membership has been terminated; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That sections a, b, c, e, and g of present Bylaw 2.27
be incorporated into a restructured Bylaw 2.27, and that sections d
and f of present Bylaw 2.27 be incorporated into a new Bylaw (ten-
tatively identified for the purposes of this overture as Bylaw 2.28):

[Restructured Bylaw] 2.27 Commencing an Action to
Terminate Congregational or Individual Membership

2001 Convention Workbook