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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 272

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

272

Structure and Ecclesiastical Matters

(f) As ecclesiastical supervisor, he shall provide leadership to all officers, agencies, and national office staff of the Synod. Through the
Chief Mission Officer, he shall
(1) coordinate the content of communications, public relations,
and news and information provided by the Synod.;
(2) oversee and coordinate (consulting with the Board of
Directors of the Synod when necessary) and supervise all
fund-raising and planned giving activity by the national
Synod and its agencies.; and
(3) serve the Synod by providing leadership, coordination, and
oversight for pre-seminary education programs, seminary
education, and post-seminary continuing education, and by
providing advocacy for pastoral education and health within
the Synod.

(F) Role of Commission on Handbook When
Bylaws Are Amended
Rationale
When the 2010 LCMS convention created the Commission on
Handbook (Bylaw 3.9.4ff.) and assigned duties to the commission
relating to proposed amendments to the Bylaws of the Synod (Bylaw
3.9.4.2 [a]), mention of those duties was not made in Bylaws 7.1.1
and 7.1.2. To eliminate confusion regarding the differing duties of the
Commission on Handbook and the Commission on Constitutional
Matters with respect to bylaw amendments, the Commission on
Handbook proposes that Bylaws 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 be amended as
follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
7.1 Amendments to the Bylaws may be made using one of two procedures, provided they are not contrary to the Constitution of the Synod.
7.1.1 Amendments may be made by conventions of the Synod.
(a) They shall be presented in writing to a convention of the Synod.
(b) They shall be specified as bylaw amendments and considered by a
convention floor committee.
(c) They shall be examined by the Commission on Constitutional Matters prior to presentation to the convention to determine that they
are not in conflict as to content with the Constitution and Bylaws
of the Synod.
(d) They shall be examined by the Commission on Handbook prior to
the convention to determine that they are in agreement in language
(terminology) with the current Handbook.
(e) They shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
delegates present and voting.
7.1.2 In exceptional circumstances and upon the express direction
of a convention of the Synod, amendments may be made by a two-thirds
majority of the Board of Directors.
(a) Such amendments to the Bylaws shall be necessary to implement
resolutions adopted by a convention of the Synod.
(b) Such amendments shall be drafted by the Secretary of the Synod and
shall be reviewed by the Commission on Constitutional Matters and
the Commission on Handbook.

Commission on Handbook
7-26

To Rescind 2010 Resolution 8-14A re Regional
Vice-Presidential Elections
Whereas, We can determine no special benefit to God’s churches
in our Synod by the establishment of regional government; and
Whereas, The extra costs of regional government cannot be justified; therefore be it
2013 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That the Indiana District of the LCMS memorialize the
2013 LCMS convention to rescind 2010 Resolution 8-14A.
Indiana District
7-27

To Amend Regional Vice-President Nominations
Process
Whereas, The 2010 LCMS convention resolved in Res. 8-14A
to create five geographic regions within the Synod; and
Whereas, The same resolution also resolved that the congregations of each region “nominate from their regions candidates for the
position of Synod vice-president”; and
Whereas, The new regions encompass wide swaths of the USA
and parts of Canada and involve numerous districts which do not meet
in any forum together outside of the Synod convention; and
Whereas, These conditions make it very difficult for congregations to nominate pastors from throughout the region, since they know
few pastors outside their district; therefore be it
Resolved, That at each district convention, two pastors from its
region be nominated by each district to serve on a nomination ballot
for the succeeding Synod convention; and be it further
Resolved, That every name that is properly qualified and selected
by the various conventions be placed on this nomination ballot; and
be it finally
Resolved, That this ballot be submitted to the Synod nomination
committee to gather the appropriate biographical information for the
delegates to the Synod convention.
Peace Lutheran Church
Hewitt, Texas
7-28

To Amend Synod Bylaws re Nominations
for District Officer and Board Positions
Whereas, The Mid-South District and many districts have previously adopted regional representation for vice-president and other
commissioned or layperson positions on their district boards of directors to foster more localized relations with the congregations; and
Whereas, The 2010 Synod convention also adopted regional representation for its vice-presidents and board of directors for similar
reasons (Bylaw 3.12.2.5); and
Whereas, In reviewing various districts’ bylaw revisions prior
to the district conventions during this district convention cycle, the
Commission on Constitutional Matters has rendered the binding opinion that Synod Bylaws 4.3.1 and 4.3.3 as currently written allow for
nominations from the entire clergy roster of the Synod and not only
from within each district or its regions for the offices of district president, vice-presidents, secretary, and circuit counselors, rather than
allowing a district to restrict nominations for those positions within
a district to those on the clergy roster within that district and its own
regions; and
Whereas, Districts might not find it as expedient for a clergyman, commissioned minister, or layperson outside of their district to
have the familiarity of their own district’s organization and local conditions when considering nominations for their localized offices such
as vice-presidents, as well as district president, secretary, circuit counselors, and commissioned or lay members of boards of directors; and