LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 240

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240 PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION

Resolved, That the 2007 LCMS convention reaffirm her histor-
ical and current system of representation at national conventions as
listed in Bylaw 3.1.2.

Mount Calvary, Fullerton, NE; Christ, Sioux Falls, SD;
Brainerd Circuit 6, Minnesota North District; Fairmont
Circuit 23 Forum; Immanuel, Beemer, NE; Zion, Wisner,
NE; Faith In Christ, Portales, NM

7-07

To Decline Task Force Recommendation re Synod
Legislative Representation System

WHEREAS, Our current representation of one pastoral delegate
and one lay delegate for every circuit of at least seven congrega-
tions and at least 1,500 communicant members has served this
Synod well for 160 years; and

WHEREAS, The recommendation of the Blue Ribbon Task Force
for “Funding the Mission” (TFFM) has said:

We recommend the legislative representation system that has served
us since 1847 should be examined. In 1847 congregations were more
similar in size. With the emergence of congregations in the 4,000~—7,000
member range it is obvious that two votes for each congregation is not
at all representative of the baptized membership of our Synod. (TFFM,
p. 17);

and

WHEREAS, If such greater representation were given according to
numbers of baptized membership instead of according to each con-
gregation, it is possible that the needs of the great majority of our
congregations (which do not have memberships of 4,000-7,000)
would be badly underrepresented; and

WHEREAS, Church governance has never been historically pred-
icated on the democratic ideal of one-man-one-vote, but has been
expressly and purposefully intended to represent units of the
church, that is, each congregation; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2007 Synod in convention respectfully
decline the task force recommendation to examine the legislative
representation system of the LCMS (Task Force Recommendation
#5: Structure Concerns; July 2006).

North Kansas City Circuit 11
Missouri District

7-08

To Establish New Process for Delegate Representation

WHEREAS, Over the course of many district and Synod conven-
tions, the subject of equality of circuit representation has been dis-
cussed without action; and

WHEREAS, A most severe imbalance exists within our church
body between circuits in the suburbs and those in the most thinly
populated parts of our nation or lower communicant population of
a district; and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.1.2 states that voting delegates shall consist
of one pastor and one layman from each electoral circuit. (a) An
electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent visitation
circuits, as shall be determined by each district on the basis of the

following requirements: each pair of delegates shall represent from _

7 to 20 member congregations, involving an aggregate communi-
cant membership ranging from 1,500 to 10,000 (2004 Handbook, p.
91); and

WHEREAS, The average circuit size was over 3,000 per district in
2004; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod in each convention set the delegate totals
for each succeeding national convention not to exceed 1,250 dele-
gates based on the 2,500 communicant minimum rule per electoral
Circuit; and be it further

Resolved, That a four-year average of the district communicant
size at the last district convention prior to the Synod convention be

used in the delegate totals and the totals can be audited by Synod’s
Board of Directors at any time for verification and certification
through the Secretary of Synod’s office; and be it further

Resolved, That each electoral circuit size for one lay delegate
and one pastoral delegate shall be set at 2,500 confirmed in each
district for the next Synod convention; and be it further

Resolved, That extra delegates in each district come from a
1,500 communicant average of a district population minus the elec-
toral circuit delegates and shall be assigned to congregations with
over 1,500 communicants (Table A) from highest to lowest with
no more than two electoral delegates coming from a congregation;
and be it further

Resolved, That any extra delegates resulting from the 2,500
communicant electoral circuit size rule and the congregation 1,500
size rule shall be assigned on further communicant population size
by the local district board of directors; and be it further

Resolved, That each district keep an equal number of pastoral
delegates and lay delegates; and be it finally

Resolved, That necessary changes be made in the Synod By-
laws to comply with the resolution.

Table A (Source Lutheran Annual 2006; LCMS 2004 convention proceedings)

Communicant 1 2 3 4 5 6
2004 H
Average 2004 2004 Avg. | Avg
per Circuit District Communicants | Delegates | Circuit | 2500

1 L669 Wyomung _ 11,682 14 1,669 3

2 1.839 New England 16.550 18 1,834 7

3 ARTE) Montana 11.477 12 1913 s

4 1,978 Oklahoma 17.799 18 1978 7

s 2010 Southern 28.137 28 2010 u

6 2.082 Mid-South 24,503 4 2.042 10

7 PARLE Adantic 26.139 24 2,178 10.

R 2.218 Califorma/Nes ada/Hawaii 39,929 36 2.218 16
9] 2,229 South Dakota 24.518 2 2,229 10
10 2.296 Pacific Southwest 73.486 4 2,296 29
u 2.334 Northwest 7.182 49 2.334 23
iP 2.4.6 Eastem 37.379 R 2.336 15
3 2.469 Florida-Georgia 54.321 [44 2,469 22
4 2.478 Enghsh 47.080 38 2.47% 19
15 2,083 lowa West $2.857 Ww 2043 [2h
16 2.67) Southeastern . 53.418 40 2.671 2
17 2.759 Texas _ 103.467 78 2789 4
18 2,792 lowa East 36,297 26

19 2.846
20 2.896,

Minnesota North 51235
New Jerey 13.031

Southern [Hines 33,831
North Dakota 18,460

Rocky Mountain os 44,214 12
Central bilinows $4,803 22 3425 22 37 15 37

23 3.077
24 3.158
25 3925

26 3814 Ohio __ 32.714 30 3.514 21 35 4 35
2) 3s7 South Wisconsin 96,421 S4 2571 39 64 26 | 64
28 3,782 Missouri 107.782 7 3,782 43 2 29 2
29 3814 Nebraska 83,900 44 2.814 4 56 22 $6
30! 3.836 indiana 84.381 4a 3.836 4 56 2 56
31 | 3,872 Michigan 170,348 88 1.872 & nia [as] ta
32 4.015 Minnesota South 102.375 Si 4.015 41 | 68 Fl 68
2B 4.087 Norther Ilinors 106.254 $2 4.087 43 1 28 n
34 4,208 North Wisconsin. 82,049 9 4.208 33 55 2 $5
34 4,492 SELC 13,475 6 4,492 5 9 4 9

Grand Total 1.880.213 124) 3,030 782 S08 1,253

Column 4 minus column 3 = column 5 Extra
Column 3 plus column 5 = column 6 New totals.

Columns 4 and 6 would have the same grand totals of 1253.
The difference is that the distribution of delegates would be based
on population of the district and large congregations within that
district.

Board of Directors
Central [llinois District

7-09

To Broaden Representation at Conventions

Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has a history
of seeking equal representation of clergy and laypeople when mak-
ing decisions for the church in conventions; and

Whereas, This emphasis has not only allowed participation of
most of the church, but has also given an appearance of the desire
for fairness and equal representation; and

Whereas, There is a lack of representation of workers who are
not clergy because, according to the Synod’s Bylaws, only or-
dained pastors serving congregations have a vote, and teachers,
DCEs, and other commissioned workers cannot vote in district or
Synod conventions according to the Bylaws; therefore be it