LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 264

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264

Structure and Ecclesiastical Matters

forum or has been selected but is no longer available to serve, thus
resulting in no circuit counselor selection being included on the convention slate of circuit counselors for a circuit, the district president
shall make the selection, which selection shall then be included on
the convention slate of circuit counselors.
(fg)The convention shall have the right to alter the slate by amendment.
(gh) The convention shall then ratify the slate of circuit counselors,
which ratification shall constitute election.

(C) District Regional Elections
(Bylaw 4.3.1)
Rationale
For its regional elections, the national Synod has provided that
nominees for such positions must reside within the region (Bylaw
3.12.2.5 [a]). No such provision exists for regional elections on the
district level. Nominees for district offices must only be “from the
clergy roster of the Synod” (Bylaw 4.3.1) so long as, if elected, they
are members of member congregations of the district “upon assuming office and during the course of their tenure” (Bylaw 4.3.3). Such
provisions may be reasonable in the election of district presidents
(where service is often full time and change of residence is often necessary), but the Commission on Handbook with the following bylaw
changes advocates an approach for district regional positions such as
is used by the Synod.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
4.3 District Officers
4.3.1 The following officers A president shall be elected from the
clergy roster of the Synod by each district.: a president, t Two or more
vice-presidents, a secretary, and a circuit counselor for each circuit established by the district shall be elected from the clergy roster of the
district. In the case of regional elections, nominees shall be from the
clergy roster of the district with residence in the designated region. (This
shall also be the case for all other regional elections.)
4.3.2 Each district shall have a treasurer who shall be a layperson
and shall be elected or appointed as the bylaws of the district may provide.
4.3.3 All officers and members of boards shall be members of
member congregations of the district and, when appropriate, residents
of designated regions upon assuming office and during the course of
their tenure.

(D) Process for Regional District Elections
(Bylaws 4.7.1–4.7.3)
Rationale
An increase on the district level in regional representation by district vice-presidents and board of directors members has prompted the
question whether such elections, if conducted within regions, should
be ratified by district conventions in the same manner as is the case
with circuit counselor elections. While Bylaw 4.7.1 allows districts
to adopt their own nomination and election regulations, it is silent
regarding regional elections. In keeping with the principle that final
determinations in elections to all district positions rightly belong to
the district convention, the Commission on Handbook proposes the
following amendments to Bylaws 4.7.1–4.7.3.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
4.7.1 Each district may adopt regulations for the nomination and
election of its president; the nomination, selection, election, and ranking, of its vice-presidents; and the succession in case of vacancies of its

2013 Convention Workbook

vice-presidents; and the nomination or selection of any regional officers
or regional board of directors members, as long as these provisions do
not conflict with the Bylaws of the Synod.
4.7.2 A nominating committee of each district shall be elected by
the district convention. Nominating committees may not be employed
in the election of the president, and vice-presidents, and regional board
of director positions.
4.7.3 A majority of all votes cast by a district convention shall be
required in every election to all elective offices and elective board positions. …

(E) Revision of Congregations’ Constitutions
and Bylaws
(Bylaw 2.4.1)
Rationale
Confusion exists regarding the implementation of Bylaw 2.4.1 (d)
after congregations have submitted their constitutions and bylaws to
district constitution committees for review. Some congregations formally adopt new or revised documents before receiving approval by
the district board of directors, while others only do so after receiving approval. Still others adopt new or revised documents with the
understanding that they will not be effective until approval is received
from the district board of directors. The Commission on Handbook
proposes the following bylaw changes to provide clarification and
consistency of practice.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
2.4.1 A congregation desiring to retain membership in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod shall continue to have a constitution and
bylaws approved by the Synod.
(a) A member congregation which desires to revises its constitution
and/or bylaws or adopts a new constitution or bylaws shall, as a condition toof continued eligibility as a member of the Synod, submit
sucha proposed, revised or new constitution and/or revised bylaws
to the district president.
(b) The district president shall refer such to the district’s constitution
committee for review, to ascertain that the provisions are in harmony with the Holy Scripture, the Confessions, and the teachings and
practices of the Synod.
(c) Upon advice of the constitution committee and recommendation by
the district president, the district board of directors shall determine
if the changes are acceptable to the Synod.
(d) Upon favorable action by the district board of directors, the congregation shall be notified that the changes are acceptable to the Synod,
and that the congregation may proceed with formal adoption of the
revised constitution and/or bylaws, and remain is entitled to continue to function as a member of the Synod in good standing of the
Synodunder the new or changed constitution or bylaws.
(e) Upon formal adoption of the revised proposed constitution and/or
bylaws, the congregation shall provide to the district a dated copy of
the action taken accompanied by a copy of the dated revised constitution and bylaws.
(f) Until a congregation formally adopts a revised constitution and/or
bylaws using this process, the existing constitution and bylaws shall
remain in effect for all purposes.

(F) District Stewardship Board/Committee
Requirement
(Bylaw 4.6.1)
Rationale
As a result of structural changes adopted by the 2010 convention,
the Synod Bylaw 4.6 requirement that each district must elect or