LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 129

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SYNOD REPORTS
The commission, in fulfillment of this convention-assigned responsibility, is proposing the following two actions to the 2013 Synod
convention for consideration: (1) “To Establish Number of Delegates
to Synod Conventions” and (2) “To Change Process for Electing
Delegates to Synod Conventions.”
In response to Overture 8-80 referred to the commission in 2010
Omnibus Resolution A, the commission is proposing a convention
action to the 2013 LCMS convention to change Bylaws Chapter 7
amendments to bylaws requirements in order to eliminate confusion
respecting the differing duties of the Commission on Handbook and
the CCM.
Since the last convention, the Commission on Handbook has
adopted from time to time editorial changes to the Bylaws. These
nonsubstantive corrections have been applied to the electronic version of the Handbook available on the Internet.
Other bylaw amendments being proposed to the 2013 convention by the Commission on Handbook include the following subjects:
1. Handbook issues re expulsion process (Bylaw sections 2.14; 2.15;
2.16; 2.17)
2. Handbook issues re dispute resolution process (Bylaw section 1.10)
3. Handbook issues re bylaws pertaining to districts
4. Handbook issues re Synod conventions
5. Handbook issues re synodwide corporate entities
6. District membership/ecclesiastical supervision issues (Bylaw 2.12, et.
al.)
7. Bylaw issues from 2010 convention restructuring decisions

During the course of this triennium, the commission will have met
eight times (including a joint meeting in November 2012 hosted by
the CCM with representatives of the Office of the President to discuss areas and issues identified by the CCM relating to polity matters
adopted by the 2010 convention requiring attention) prior to the 2013
LCMS convention. All specific agenda items are publicly available on
the Synod’s Web site under the link to the Commission on Handbook.
Gordon D. Tresch, Chairman
R7-02

129

An overriding concern for the task force has been to solicit input
from the various constituencies that might be affected by its recommendations. To this end, the task force has submitted a number of
survey questions to the Council of Presidents and Synod Board of
Directors, soliciting their observations and suggestions. In addition,
the task force conducted two focus groups in November of 2012
with a sample of district presidents attending the fall 2012 LCEF
conference.
While the task force has the responsibility to make recommendations for improvements to district operations and the configuration
of districts, the task force has solicited input from districts on the recommendations and seeks cooperative implementation of task force
recommendations.
The task force has proceeded with its discussions seeking to keep
primary focus on the mission of the Synod. In other words, the theological commitments and objectives of the Synod enumerated in the
Preamble and Articles II and III of its Constitution need to be at the
heart of any recommendations. Within that context, the task force also
evaluated the operational and financial responsibilities of the districts
and how best to carry out all these responsibilities.
To this end, the task force adopted decision-making criteria that
recognize the importance of theology. Those criteria are
• ecclesiastical supervision;
• visitation;
• communications;
• perceived value;
• operations costs; and
• implementation costs.
The task force has concentrated initially on the responsibilities of
districts as defined in the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws. It committed significant time to discussion of the roles of both districts and
circuits in serving local congregations. Most significantly, the task
force reviewed the office of visitation in the LCMS and the roles the
districts and circuits have in fulfilling this. Districts, which are considered the Synod itself performing the functions of the Synod, together
with the circuits are component parts of the Synod.
Office of Visitation

Resolution 8-07 Task Force
The 2010 LCMS convention adopted Resolution 8-07, which
directed the President of the Synod to convene a special task force
to study future district function and configuration. The task force
worked in consultation with the Council of Presidents and the Board
of Directors to submit to the 2013 LCMS convention recommendations that include but are not limited to
• general principles of viability for a district as called for in Bylaw 4.1.1.3
(b) (3);
• the purpose and function of a district;
• recommendations to improve efficiency and coordination between the
Synod and districts and among the districts, including possible changes
in the number and configuration of districts; and
• an implementation plan for any recommended changes that will address
staff personnel and financial operations, as called for in Bylaw 4.1.1.3
(b) (5).

The task force consisted of one lay and one rostered representative from each of the five electoral regions, one district executive, one
member of the CCM, one member of the former Blue Ribbon Task
Force on Synod Structure and Governance, one district president, and
the Chief Mission Officer of the Synod.
The task force held its initial meeting in July of 2012. At that
meeting, task force members reviewed and developed a list of several
topics that are important to the process of forming recommendations
for consideration by the Synod in convention.

In an attempt to strengthen the circuits and the office of visitation in the Synod, the 2010 convention adopted Res. 8-02A, “To
Restore Circuits to Their Primary Purpose.” The resolution revised
Bylaw 5.1.1 with the provision that “a circuit is a network of congregations that ‘walks together’ for mutual care, support, advice, study,
ecclesiastical encouragement, service, coordination, resources, and
counsel—all for the sake of greater congregational participation in
God’s mission” (emphasis added).
The Preamble to 2010 Res. 8-07, “To Study Future District
Function and Configuration,” established the context and direction
for the resolution:
Districts are large ecclesial clusters (congregations and circuits)
established by the Synod for the care, support, advice, ecclesiastical
encouragement, service, coordination, and counsel that will foster the
congregation’s greater participation in God’s mission. Present district
boundaries were determined by the national Synod with the intention
of providing the most efficient and effective support and ecclesiastical
encouragement and counsel to local congregations (emphasis added).

The Res. 8-07 Task Force reviewed the office of visitation historically and theologically to determine how both evangelical visitation
and the work of the circuits within the districts can be strengthened in
the LCMS. The Rev. Dr. Wilbert Sohns prepared an essay on visitation for the task force, which is attached as an appendix to this report.
Visitation has been one of the primary focuses of the task force,
recognizing th­­­at doctrinal integrity and communication of the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod come from a system
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