LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 194

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194

LATE REPORT AND OVERTURES

WHEREAS, Other than the university leadership, few in
Synod know of those Seward County residents qualified
and eligible for nomination and election, thus greatly if not
totally precluding the Synod’s general membership from
the nomination process for two of the three layperson regents to be elected by the Synod in convention. When making nominations, the Synod’s general membership is not informed of this Nebraska charter requirement; and
WHEREAS, The Handbook of the Synod does not place
this restriction upon the nomination and election process
of the Synod, therefore making it a violation of the Handbook; therefore be it
Resolved, That all requirements, such as this at Concordia University, Seward and similar circumstances at the
other Concordia universities, be met as a first choice
through the local regent election process and as a second
choice by the District election process, in order that those
elections specified in Synod’s Handbook and intended to be
representations of the Synod at large are not complicated
and reduced by unnecessary local requirements; and be it
further
Resolved, That the potential transition problems caused
by the timing of the three different elections, i.e., Synod,
District and regent, be handled through volunteer resignations and vacancy appointments, and/or that the Concordia
University, Seward board be required in its next election to
comply with this charter requirement, thus freeing the next
Synod convention of this unnecessary and Handbook-violating requirement.
Board of Directors
Rocky Mountain District

into the United States and that funding be provided on an
emergency basis to existing refugee resettlement programs
which will enable these resettlement agencies to survive
until the federal refugee resettlement program is revived;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Florida-Georgia District pastors
meeting in Pastoral Conference (Oct. 6–8, 2003) supports
the LSF Board’s request and urges our synodical church officials, boards, and agencies, our Districts, and our congregations to advocate for this position with the President, the
members of Congress of the United States, and appropriate federal agencies with letters of support, public testimony, and personal conversations and visits.
Pastors’ Conference
Florida-Georgia District
L7-122

To Encourage the Synod to Adopt
Commission on Structure Overtures
WHEREAS, The Board of Directors and the President of
the Synod disagree on the Board’s resolutions to call Commission on Constitutional Matters Opinions 02-2259,
02-2296, 02-2309, 02-2320, 03-2357, 03-2358, 03-2359, and
03-2365 of no effect; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors referred these matters to the Commission on Structure for review of the
Board’s concern and to incorporate changes in its (the Commission’s) overtures to the Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Board of Directors encourages the
Synod, in convention, to adopt the changes recommended
by the Commission on Structure.
LCMS Board of Directors

L6-11

To Request Renewed Refugee Resettling

L7-123

WHEREAS, Jesus calls us to love our neighbors, the hungry, and the homeless, and to disciple all nations; and
WHEREAS, Millions of refugees are in desperate need of
our Christian hospitality; and
WHEREAS, The tragic events of September 11, 2001, have
adversely affected the annual resettlement of refugees in
the United States, reducing refugee resettlement from
70,000 per year to 14,000 through May, 2003; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. annual resettlement effort of 70,000
reflects one-half of one percent of the world’s 13,000,000
refugees; and
WHEREAS, Refugees bring to America an emphasis on
hard work, family values, and academic success; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of refugees are presently being denied reunification with their families and loved ones; and
WHEREAS, Many faith-based agencies and other nonprofit organizations are losing their ability to serve
refugees by having to lay off staff who represent many
years of experience and expertise and by the dismantling
of existing programs; and
WHEREAS, The Board of Directors of Lutheran Services
Florida has petitioned our federal and state governments
and their agencies to fulfill the Presidential Directive which
stated that 70,000 refugees would be admitted annually

To Adopt Overture 7-27
As Proposed by Commission on Structure

2004 Convention Proceedings

Rationale
There currently are honest disagreements and conflicts
in the Bylaws concerning the effect of certain Commission
on Constitutional Matters’ (CCM) opinions. These conflicts
have been submitted to the Commission on Structure for
consideration and recommendation. The Commission on
Structure studied this matter and presented for consideration by the convention Overture 7-27, which recommends
modest changes that will correct the current conflict in the
Bylaws (overture with minor changes follows). In place of
Commission on Structure Overture 7-27, Committee 7 has
submitted Res. 7-02, which proposes extensive changes to
the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and Bylaws of
the Synod. These changes would dramatically change the
Synod’s structure by diffusing the authority of the Board of
Directors and transferring much of the governing authority of the Board to various other boards and commissions
of the Synod. It expands the authority of the CCM, effectively giving it the authority of a board of directors. The
Board of Directors has concerns with this new proposed
structure because it could significantly hinder the ability of