LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 255

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PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION 255

7-55

To Amend Bylaws 3.9.2.2.4 and 3.3.5.3

WHEREAS, There is confusion regarding the respective roles of
the CCM and the Board of Directors regarding the review of pro-
gram boards’ and commissions’ policy manuals; and

WHEREAS, Both groups have responsibility for certain different as-
pects of these policies related to their spheres of responsibility; and

WHEREAS, The CCM is given the responsibility in the Hand-
book to examine the documents of these agencies of Synod “‘to as-
certain whether they are in harmony with the Constitution, Bylaws,
and resolutions of the Synod”; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Directors is given the responsibility in
the Handbook for the “coordination of the policies and directives of
the Synod”; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaws 3.9.2.2.4 and 3.3.5.3 be amended to read
as follows:
PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING
3.9.2.2.4 The Commission on Constitutional Matters shall examine
in advance the articles of incorporation and the bylaws or reguletions
policies of every agency of the Synod and all proposed amendments of
such documents to ascertain whether they are in harmony with the Con-
stitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod.
(a) An agency of the Synod shall make such amendments to or
changes in these documents as may be necessary to conform.

(b) The commission shall maintain a file of the articles of incorpo-
ration, and bylaws, and seguiations policies of all agencies of the Synod.

3.3.5.3 The Board of Directors shall provide for the review and co-
ordination of the policies and directives of the Synod authorized by the
Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod, evaluating plans
and policies and communicating to the appropriate boards and commis-
sions suggestions for improvement_and, i e

_and, in the case of program boards
and commissions, require changes for compliance with Board of Direc-
tors’ policies within the sphere of i ibili

Commission on Structure

7-56

To Determine Full-Time District Presidencies
by District Remittances to Synod

WuereAS, The total number of those holding membership in
LCMS congregations has been consistently declining over the
years; and

WHEREAS, The number of staff, executives, administrators, and
employees in Synod’s district offices has steadily increased; and

WHEREAS, The church has been continuously cautioned con-
cerning the prospective shortage of pastors; and

WHEREAS, There is an egregious disparity in the amount of
funds forwarded to Synod by each District for Synod’s work-at-
large (see 2007 The Lutheran Annual, p. 737, with the Mid-South
District forwarding $21.50 per confirmed member per year, while
another District forwarded $1.69); therefore be it

Resolved, To obtain a fair average and using the Synod statistics
for the Summary of Contributions from the districts for the years
2007 and 2008, beginning with the district conventions in 2009, all
districts which, for the two-year average, have submitted an aver-
age offering per confirmed member of $10.00 or more shall be
served by a full-time district president, and all other districts shall
be served by a part-time president.

First
Blytheville, AR

7-57

To Give Thanks for the Work
of Our Circuit Counselors

Wuerea§, Each district of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod is divided into circuits, with each circuit having an ordained

minister in each circuit serving as circuit counselor; and

WHEREAS, In most circuits, the circuit counselor is also serving
as a parish pastor; and

WHEREAS, The circuit counselor is a great help to both congre-
gations, schools, and ordained and commissioned ministers through
his presence, his advice, his counsel; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2007 LCMS convention thank those serving
as circuit counselors and pray for God’s continued blessing upon
their service to the church.

Our Savior
Pratt, KS

7-58

To Amend Bylaw re Circuit Counselor Nominations

WHEREAS, The nominee for circuit counselor is chosen not by
election but by number of nominations received (Bylaw 5.2.2); and

WHEREAS, The circuit counselor shall assist the district presi-
dent, as assigned, in the ecclesiastical supervision of the other
members of the Synod in the circuit (Bylaw 5.2.3.3), potentially
affecting each member of the Synod in the circuit; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 5.2.2 (a) and (b) be amended as follows:

PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING
(a) Every voting congregation of each circuit shall be enti-
tled to nominate as a candidate for the office of circuit counselor
either one or two individual pastors of the member congrega-
tions of the circuit or from among the emeriti who hold mem-
bership in one of the member congregations of that circuit.

(4) The nominations shall be made at least four months prior
to the eleetions district convention and shall be submitted to the
nominating committee through the secretary of the district.

(b) $-ne-eandidate-has-received-e-majerity-tThe district sec-

retary shall forward to each congregation in that circuit an addi-
tional ballot with the names of the nominees #ve-men-ermere

(1) The congregations shall then mark their ballot with one
name and return it to the district secretary by the date specified
by him.

(2) The pastor who receives the majority of votes cast shall
be the nominee.

Bethany
Fort Wayne, IN

7-59

To Rethink Synod Conventions

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has traditionally been a leg-
islative experience, provoking dissension, politicking, and hard
feelings; therefore be it

Resolved, That we rethink Synod conventions, seeing these
times together as primarily a time to rejoice over what God is doing
through our Synod; to pray for our missions, missionaries, and con-
gregations; to share methods that congregations have found helpful
in outreach, stewardship, youth, education, and worship; and to
hear Christ-centered, biblical presentations.

Hosanna
Mankato, MN

7-60

To Amend Bylaw 5.3.2 re Convening of Circuit Forum

WHEREAS, The circuit forum is encouraged to meet at least
twice a year (Bylaw 5.3.1); and