LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 274

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274

Structure and Ecclesiastical Matters

congregations have in matters of the Synod is at best at a disconnect
with our theological understanding of a congregation’s embodiment
of the catholicity of the Church.
• In some matters of the Synod that are dealt with on a congregational
level, every congregation is allowed to speak for herself. For example,
ballots for the ratification of amendments to the Synod’s constitution
are sent to every congregation. However, in other matters, multiple
congregations served jointly by one or more pastors are required to
come together and speak with one voice thereby reducing the value
of each congregation’s voice, such as in the election of the Synod
President as described in Bylaw 3.12.2.3.
• In regard to voting at district conventions, the term parish has come
to mean a “dual or multiple congregation arrangement served by the
same pastor,” but the majority of times it is used in the Handbook it
is used synonymously with the term congregation, for example in the
following titles: “director of parish music” and “parish assistant.” Such
servants of the church are certainly not limited to settings where two
or more congregations have come together to call a pastor.
• Furthermore, if the term parish is used consistently, we must also reevaluate whom we elect to the CTCR, seeing as Bylaw 3.9.5.1 requires
“Two ordained ministers who are parish pastors” (emphasis added).
Likewise, Bylaw 3.7.1.3 directs the Board of Directors of the Synod
to appoint “Two parish pastors” to serve on the board of directors of
Concordia Plan Services.

The problems created by such a situation are only intensified when
the congregations making up a multiple congregation parish lie in different circuits or even districts.
Whereas, The basic meaning of parish is more geographical than
the basic meaning of congregation, (congregation membership is not
limited by geography, and a parish would, strictly speaking, include
many people [even members of other denominations, as well as unbelievers] who are not members of an LCMS congregation); and
Whereas, The presence of a pastor is not what determines the
presence of a congregation. According to C. F. W. Walther’s Church
and Ministry (tr. J. T. Mueller) concerning the Church, Article VII,
“As visible congregations that still have the Word and the sacraments
essentially according to God’s Word bear the name ‘church’ because
of the true invisible church of sincere believers that is found in them,
so also they possess the authority that Christ has given to His whole
church, on account of the true visible church hidden in them, even
if there were only two or three [believers]” (emphasis added); and
Whereas, The polity of the LCMS is based on congregations and
not on parishes; and
Whereas, The emphasis of our polity on the representation
of congregations is intrinsically connected to the scriptural and
confessional understanding of a congregation bearing all of the characteristics of the church; and
Whereas, The restructuring of the LCMS passed by the delegates
at the 2010 convention included the provision that the congregations
of the Synod would directly vote for the Synod President; and
Whereas, Requiring that a congregation’s two votes for the
Synod President be cast by those individuals who represented the
congregation at the previous district convention disenfranchises most
congregations in so-called multiple parishes who are forced to share
representation at district conventions; and
Whereas, The idea of congregations electing the Synod President
enhances the representative nature of this election; and
Whereas, The use of the term parish has led to confusion and
the denial of voting rights to certain congregations; therefore be it
Resolved, That all organized congregations that hold membership
in the Synod be granted the opportunity to be represented by a lay delegate and a pastoral delegate at district conventions, circuit forums,
and regional caucuses; and be it further
2013 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That one pastor may represent more than one congregation with a single vote; and be it finally
Resolved, That Article V A of the Synod Constitution be amended
as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
All organized congregations that have joined the Synod hold voting
membership. At the meetings of the districts of the Synod, every congregation or parish is entitled to two votes, one of which is to be cast by
the pastor and the other by the lay delegate. In the case of a single pastor
representing two or more congregations, no individual shall cast more
than one vote. At the meetings of the Synod, a number of congregations
shall form a group which shall be represented by two voting delegates,
one a pastor and one a lay delegate.

Oklahoma District
7-31

To Amend Art. VIII (“Synod Meetings”)
and Bylaw 3.2.4 (“Terms of Office”)
Whereas, A four-year cycle that begins with the grassroots of
the Synod will encourage a convention culture characterized by an
intentional focus on the church’s common mission and confession,
on contemporary issues faced by the church, and on theology, nurture, edification, inspiration, and worship; and
Whereas, A change to a four-year cycle allows for the central
role of congregations in all four years of the cycle; and
Whereas, It is desirable to be the best stewards of both the time
and the money of the members of the congregations of the Synod; and
Whereas, Significant economic savings will be realized by the
congregations of the Synod being assessed for a district and a national
convention every four years rather than every three years; and
Whereas, The importance of matters coming from a congregation, a circuit forum, or a district convention to a convention of the
Synod is well served by a four-year cycle; and
Whereas, The terminology of Constitution Art. VIII A and B
needs to be updated; therefore be it
Resolved, That in the four-year cycle, circuits may hold theological
convocations in year one; districts shall hold theological convocations
in year two; district conventions shall be held in year three; and the
Synod convention shall be held in year four; and be it further
Resolved, That Constitution Art. VIII A and B be amended
accordingly:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Article VIII Synodical MeetingsConventions of the Synod
A. Time and Legality of Meetings
1. The Synod convenes every threefour years for its regular
meetingconvention.
2. For a legal convention a constitutional convocationcalling
of the meetingconvention and the presence of at least
one-fourth of the constitutionally elected voting
representativesdelegates are necessary.
B. Special SessionsConventions of the Synod
1. The Synod may under circumstances call a special
s e s s i o n c o nve n t i o n i f t wo - t h i r d s o f t h e vo t i n g
representativesdelegates present so decide.