LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 265

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Structure and Ecclesiastical Matters
appoint a committee or board for stewardship to relate to the Synod’s
“Department of Stewardship” begs attention, there no longer being
such a department on the Synod level and very likely no longer such
boards or committees in some districts. At the same time, it is beneficial for the Synod and its districts to continue their interest and
cooperation in the development and promotion of stewardship programs on the district level. The Commission on Handbook proposes
the following amendments to Synod Bylaw 4.6.1 to advocate the continuance of such a presence on the district level.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
4.6 District Committees or Boards forStewardship Promotion
4.6.1 Each district shall elect or appoint a committee, board, or individual responsible for stewardship.
(a) This committee, board, or individual shall cooperate with the Synod’s Department of Stewardshipelected or appointed person/persons
responsible for stewardship and shall assist and advise local congregations in the development and promotion of an adequate stewardship program.
(b) Districts are advised to provide for the systematic supervision and
qualified guidance and promotion of stewardship education, where
possible establishing and maintaining the office of a stewardship
counselor or secretary, who shall be responsible to the district stewardship board.
(c) Each district may invite a representative of the Synod to meet for
mutual assistance in budget planning for mission and ministry.
(d) Each district shall arrange for adequate time at its convention for a
report on the mission and ministry program of the Synod, made by a
representative of the Synod assigned by the President of the Synod.

(G) Formation of Electoral Circuits
(Bylaw 3.1.2)
Rationale
Current Bylaw 3.1.2 calls upon each district to determine the composition of its electoral circuits prior to each Synod convention. The
bylaw is unclear as to how districts are to go about combining adjacent visitation circuits to create electoral circuits when necessary. It
is noted that action on this issue may not be needed, depending upon
the convention’s decision regarding the commission’s response to
2010 Res. 8-05B. The commission offers the following proposed
action to amend Bylaw 3.1.2 for consideration by the 2013 convention if needed.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.1.2 Voting delegates shall consist of one pastor and one layperson
from each electoral circuit.
(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent visitation circuits, as shall be determined by eachthe district board of
directors on the basis of the following requirements: each pair of
delegates shall represent from 7 to 20 member congregations, involving an aggregate communicant membership ranging from 1,500
to 10,000.
(b) Exceptions to these requirements may be made only by the President
of the Synod upon request of a district board of directors.

Commission on Handbook

265

7-22

To Address Handbook Issues re Synod Conventions
Background
During the triennium, concerns related to bylaws governing the
Synod’s conventions were brought to the attention of the Commission
on Handbook. This overture identifies those concerns and advocates
bylaw amendment solutions proposed by the commission for adoption
by the 2013 convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

(A) Committee for Convention Nominations
(Bylaws 3.12.3.4–3.12.3.6)
Rationale
The Secretary of the Synod plays an important role in assisting the
Committee for Convention Nominations by gathering and presenting
to the committee names and biographical information of individuals
to be considered for election to office in the Synod. Bylaw 3.12.3.4
sets forth the Secretary’s duties in the nomination process, but limits the agencies and individuals with whom he works in carrying out
his work. This limitation might inadvertently exclude qualified individuals from nominations for elected office. Greater involvement of
the agencies and members of the Synod in the nominations process
would increase confidence in it. For these reasons, the Commission
on Handbook proposes changes to Bylaw 3.12.3.4.
In addition, experience has demonstrated that the terminology and
content of Bylaws 3.12.3.4–3.12.3.6 are less than clear regarding the
expectations of and the process to be followed by the Committee for
Convention Nominations. The Commission on Handbook proposes
the following bylaw changes to clarify the important responsibilities
of this committee.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.12.3.4 The Secretary of the Synod shall handle the preliminary
work for the Committee for Convention Nominations.
(a) He shall begin to solicit names of potential nominees from officers,
boards, commissions, and agencies of the Synod and its districtsthe
agencies and officers of the Synod at least 24 months prior to the
convention.
(b) Approximately 24 months before a regular meeting of the Synod
in convention, he shall solicit from the mission boards and the synodwide corporate entity boardsthose agencies with positions to be
filled descriptions of criteria of qualified candidates to serve in those
positionson those boards.
(c) With such criteria in view, the Secretary shall issue the first call for
nominations through a publication of the Synod and on the Synod’s
Web site 18 months before the convention, soliciting names from
the agencies and officers of the Synod and the congregational and
individual members of the Synodmission boards and synodwide
corporate entity boards, as well as congregations, district presidents,
district boards of directors, circuit counselors, and other likely
sources.
(d) All incumbents eligible for reelection shall be considered to be nominees for nomination.
(e) QualificationsThe qualifications of each nominee shall be submitted
together with the names on forms made available on the Synod’s
Web site.
(f) All suggested names and information for consideration by the Committee for Convention Nominations shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Synod no later than nine months prior to the convention
of the Synod.
(g) The Secretary shall present the names and information gathered to
the Committee for Convention Nominations at its first meeting.

2013 Convention Workbook