LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 247

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PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION 247

WHEREAS, The Behnken Rule at times does not allow any dis-
cussion of the substituted resolution by the delegates; and

WueEREAS, This gives the floor committee undue privilege in
presenting substitute resolutions; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Behnken Rule no longer be used by the
Synod conventions beginning with the 2007 convention.

Mount Olive
Billings, MT

7-30

To Discontinue Use of Behnken Rule

WHEREAS, There is already very limited open and honest debate
and discussion in our Synod conventions; and

WuerEAs, The Behnken Rule says, “If a substitute motion is of-
fered and seconded, the presenter shall be offered two minutes to
provide the rationale..., after which the convention shall decide
...without debate whether or not to consider the substitute....”
(Today's Business 2004, p. 10, #14); and

Wuereas, The Behnken Rule allows for no debate of a substi-
tute motion until after the original motion is removed from consid-
eration; and

WHEREAS, Without debate the convention is not in an informed
position that would allow it to wisely remove the original motion
from consideration; and

WHEREAS, Without debate a convention of wise delegates would
be very unlikely to remove the original resolution, proposed by a
floor committee, from the convention floor in order to consider a
substitute resolution; and

WHEREAS, Robert’s Rules of Order says, “A primary amend-
ment to substitute...is open to debate...; and such debate may go
fully into the merits of both the original text and the substitute...”
(10th Edition, pp. 146-47); and

WHEREAS, Debate of the issues before our Synod in convention
is healthy and beneficial; therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of the Synod discontinue the use of
the Behnken Rule by failing to propose it as part of the standing rules
or special rules of the 2007 LCMS Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That LCMS discontinue the use of the Behnken Rule
at the 2007 convention.

St. John
Laurel, MT

7-31

To Amend Bylaw to Allow Presidential Candidates
to Address Convention

WHEREAS, The election of a man to be the President of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod puts him in a special relation-
ship with the people of the member congregations of the Synod;
and

Wuereas, Relationships are best developed when individuals
can meet each other face-to-face; and

WuerEAS, It is impractical for all individuals of the Synod, or
even the delegates of a Synod convention, to meet each candidate
for President face-to-face; and

Wuereas, Even a brief appearance and presentation by these
candidates would give delegates, at least, some personal acquain-
tance with the person that could be interfaced with biographical
narratives provided; and

Wuereas, A better informed electorate would contribute to an
even greater confidence in the electoral process of the Synod;
therefore be it

Resolved, That LCMS Bylaw 3.12.1.2 be designated as 3.12.1.2
(a) and that 3.12.1.2 (b) be added to read, “The agenda of each con-
vention of the Synod will allow each candidate for President up to

10 minutes to speak to the convention in assembly sometime prior
to the first ballot for President”; and be it further

Resolved, That the Montana District in convention memorial-
ize the 2007 LCMS convention to make this change.

Montana District

7-32

To Introduce Debates among Presidential
Candidates into Election Process

WHEREAS, Informed electors strengthen the integrity of the vot-
ing process; and

WHEREAS, Debates among presidential candidates allow for the
Synod’s issues to be identified and for remedies to be proposed;
and

WHEREAS, A precedent for debates has been established (e.g.,
The Altenburg Debate of 1841 between C. F. W. Walther and
Franz Marbach); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Bylaws be amended to specify that debates
among presidential candidates be scheduled at a sufficient time be-
fore the election in convention to allow for recorded copies to be
distributed to all LCMS congregations at least three months prior to
the Synod convention.

St. John, Arlington, MN; Worthington Circuit, Minnesota
South District; Redeemer, Burnsville, MN; Brainerd
Circuit 6, Minnesota North District; Zion, Crosby, MN;
Fairmont Circuit 23 Forum

7-33

To Provide for Candidate Presentations
Prior to Presidential Elections

WHEREAS, The execution of presidential duties is enhanced by
strong theological credentials, strong administrative abilities, and
statesmanlike bearing; and

WHEREAS, The objectivity of voting decisions is enhanced by
the hearing of summary position statements from the presidential
candidates, not to be of the form of campaign statements; and

WHEREAS, The goal of this election is to identify and elect the
strongest candidate, not to race against the clock at the expense of
the quality of the most important election of the entire convention;
and

Wuereas, A sitting president, if he himself be a candidate for
re-election, in performing his duties as chairman of the convention
presents himself visibly before the voters, while contending presi-
dential candidates are unseen and unheard; therefore be it

Resolved, That the agenda for the convention be structured to
allow for a presidential candidate presentation. This presentation
by each presidential candidate would enable him to present his po-
sitions and proposals to the convention prior to the presidential
election. Maximum length of the presentation would be 15 min-
utes; and be it further

Resolved, That if the action specified in the previous paragraph
requires an amendment to the Bylaws, then such an amendment to
the Bylaws be resolved to accomplish it.

St. John Arlington, MN; Worthington Circuit, Minnesota
South District; Redeemer, Burnsville, MN; Brainerd
Circuit 6, Minnesota North District; Zion, Crosby, MN;
Fairmont Circuit 23 Forum, Minnesota South District