LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 178

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Resolved, That the Commission on Handbook be instructed to
make the necessary bylaw changes to allow for the selection of circuit counselor and election of convention delegates; and be it finally
Resolved, That for the sake of our life together as the Church,
whenever and wherever feasible, these meetings be held face-toface.
Action: Adopted (5)
(When introduced by the committee, the words “in those manners” were deleted from the end of the second resolve paragraph.
During discussion, an amendment was proposed to change the
first resolve paragraph to read: “Resolved, That circuits, districts,
the Synod, and Synod agencies be allowed only on a very limited
basis and with the approval of the district president to use e-meeting technologies.” After the amendment failed [Yes: 154; No: 766]
and discussion continued, the convention determined not to consider a substitute resolution “To Allow E-Meetings and E-Voting”
by voice vote. When debate was ended on the resolution, Res. 7-05
was adopted as changed by the committee [Yes: 874; No: 96].)

To Respond to 2010 Res 8-05B
To Change Process for Electing Delegates
to Synod Conventions
RESOLUTION 7-07A
Overtures 7-14, 7-24B (CW, pp. 253–254, 268–270)
Whereas, The Synod convention is the “principal legislative
assembly, which amends the Constitution and Bylaws, considers
and takes action on reports and overtures, and handles appropriate
appeals. It establishes general positions and policies of the Synod,
provides overall program direction and priorities, and evaluates
all such positions, programs, policies, directions, and priorities in
order to provide responsible service for and on behalf of its members” (Bylaw 3.1.1); and
Whereas, It is important that representatives of member congregations understand in advance of the election of delegates for
Synod conventions that an orderly process will be followed; and
Whereas, Such orderly process for the election of delegates to
the Synod convention should include
• every effort to promote peace and harmony in our life
together;
• an apportioning of congregations in light of a district’s prescribed number of delegates;
• a selection of delegates in a manner that takes into consideration reasonable and equitable representation;
• a process for creating electoral caucuses; and
• an election by those electoral caucuses at a district convention; therefore be it
Resolved, That the delegates to the 65th Regular Convention of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod determine the formula
for calculating the number of voting delegates for the 66th Reg178

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2 0 1 3 C o n v e n t io n P r o c e e d i n g s

ular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and
be it further
Resolved, That voting delegates for Synod conventions be elected
by electoral caucuses at district conventions; and be it further
Resolved, That the district office staff shall be responsible for
communicating this change to all congregations of the district
through the pastor and congregational president; and be it further
Resolved, That each district shall select advisory delegates
(ministers of religion—ordained and ministers of religion—commissioned) retaining the proportionate representation to voting
delegates; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaws 3.1.2.1–3.1.3.1 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.1.2.1 	Elections of voting delegates to the national convention shall take place in accordance with established
policy and proceduresas follows:.
(a) Each electoral circuit shall meet at the call of the
counselor(s) to elect its delegates not later than nine
months prior to the opening day of the convention.
The district board of directors shall determine how
its electoral caucuses will be configured in light of its
prescribed number of delegates to the next national
convention. Such groupings shall be based upon geographical factors.
(b) Elections shall be by written ballot. Candidates
for election as delegates to the national convention
shall be voting delegates attending the district convention, except for those unwilling or unable to serve.
(c) The privilege of voting shall be exercised by one
pastor and one layperson from each member congregation of the circuit, both of whom shall have been
selected in the manner prescribed by the congregation. Multiple parishes shall be entitled to a lay vote
from each member congregation.Time shall be allotted on the district convention agenda to allow the
delegates from each electoral caucus to select its delegates to the following national convention.
(d) All pastors who are not advisory members
under Article V B of the Constitution shall be eligible for election.A circuit counselor appointed by the
president of the district shall chair the caucus. Nominations shall be received and delegates elected in the
following order: (1) minister of religion—ordained
delegate; (2) lay delegate; (3) alternate minister of
religion—ordained delegate; and (4) alternate lay
delegate.
(1)Each voter may write in the names of two pastors on the initial ballot. The three pastors (or
more, in case of a tie vote) who receive the highest number of votes in this preliminary ballot shall
be placed on the next ballot.
(2)Each voter shall now vote for only one candidate. Balloting shall continue with the lowest
R e s olu t i on s