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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 245

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
6-28

To Revise Selection of CCM Members
Whereas, “The Commission on Constitutional Matters [CCM]
exists to interpret the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the
Synod and ensure that the governing instruments of the Synod and
its agencies are in accord with the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod” (Bylaw 3.9.2); and
Whereas, All five voting members of the CCM currently are
appointed by “[t]he President of the Synod, in consultation with the
vice-presidents of the Synod” from the list of candidates presented
by the Council of Presidents (Bylaw 3.9.2.1.1); and
Whereas, “An opinion rendered by the commission shall be
binding on the question decided unless and until it is overruled by a
convention of the Synod” (Bylaw 3.9.2.2 [c]); and
Whereas, The President of the Synod also appoints the convention floor committees (Bylaw 3.1.7) and is responsible for the overall
organization and operations of the conventions of the Synod (Bylaw
3.1.9); and
Whereas, The same man who currently appoints all CCM members also appoints and organizes the floor committees, the mechanism
provided through which resolutions must be passed within the LCMS
for overruling CCM decisions; and
Whereas, This structure creates a potential conflict of interest
which may cause an unbiased observer to wonder if unbiased opinions
can be obtained through the CCM and/or the review of a questioned
opinion can be reasonably obtained through our present highest court
structure, thereby creating doubt about our Synod’s system of adjudication; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod return to
electing the five voting members of the Commission on Constitutional
Matters at Synod conventions, with the Committee for Convention
Nominations soliciting names and nominating the candidates per
Bylaws 3.12.3.1–8, with terms per Bylaw 3.9.2.1.
Circuit 3 Forum
North Wisconsin District
6-29

To Encourage Use of Electronic Media for Synod
Meetings
Whereas, The LCMS has a concern for good stewardship of
finances; and
Whereas, In the September 2012 issue of The Lutheran Witness,
“The State of the Synod,” President Harrison urged the Synod, saying, “It’s time to get our financial house in order for the sake of the
Gospel, starting with the national church. And we’ve taken huge steps
in that direction” (p. 1); and
Whereas, The same issue of The Lutheran Witness indicates that
the Synod has had to, for at least four years (2009–2012), practice
“internal borrowing” (i.e., borrowing from restricted revenues to compensate for a lack in unrestricted funds, p. 19); and
Whereas, There are many meetings conducted by the Synod’s
officers and agencies, such as the Council of Presidents, Board of
Directors, Commission on Handbook, and many more; and
Whereas, Meetings that are held in person require extensive costs
for travel, lodging, location (if it is at a site not associated with the
LCMS), and other costs; and
Whereas, Electronic media is cheaper, already used by many,
and much more convenient; therefore be it

245

Resolved, That the LCMS explore using electronic media for more
Synod-level meetings instead of meeting in person; and be it further
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents and Board of Directors
especially look into this for their meetings; and be it further
Resolved, That a year after this convention, a report be made to
the Synod, published on the Synod’s Web site and in the monthly
Reporter newspaper, that includes full financial disclosure about the
costs of such meetings as well as the feasibility of using electronic
media for more meetings and conferences instead of meeting in person; and be it further
Resolved, That if it is feasible and will save money, the Synod
and its districts begin using electronic media for the purpose of holding board and council meetings by July of 2014, instead of requiring
meetings in person.
Immanuel
Beemer, Nebraska
6-30

To Encourage Paperless Communication
Whereas, Our Synod has made significant and well-received
strides in adopting paperless communication methods, including electronic submission of congregation statistics reports, electronic voting,
and online access to the church worker database; and
Whereas, Increased use of paperless communication could
reduce the amount of paper and plastic generated by mass mailings
of our Synod, its publisher, and districts; and
Whereas, Many pastors, congregations, and parishioners are
inundated with paper mail; and
Whereas, Additional opportunities exist for efficient, effective
paperless communication; and
Whereas, Increasing the fraction of communications sent electronically instead of on paper would in many cases improve our
stewardship of finances, natural resources, and filing space; and
Whereas, Electing to receive paperless communications could
be optional; therefore be it
Resolved, That our Synod, its publisher, and districts strive to
enable pastors, congregations, and other recipients of unsolicited mass
mailings to receive them in paperless (e.g., electronic) format and opt
out of receiving them in paper format; and be it further
Resolved, That our Synod, its publisher, and districts conspicuously publicize paperless communication options among recipients
of mass mailings; and be it finally
Resolved, That our Synod, its publisher, and districts need not
provide paperless options for communications sent by request (e.g.,
subscriptions, ordered items, individual correspondence).
Circuit 1
English District
6-31

To Change Location of Next Available LCMS
Convention
Whereas, It is a blessing of almighty God for a convention of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to be held in any city of the
United States because of the Christian witness that such an assembly
provides in and to that city; and

2013 Convention Workbook