LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 197

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(Brief summaries were provided for this and seven other resolutions which the committee wished to bundle into a single action
as “housekeeping matters.” Following explanations provided, the
chair asked the assembly whether it was ready to vote. Hearing no
objection, he called for the vote and the bundled resolution action
that included Res. 11-04B, Res. 11-08A, Res. 11-11, Res. 11-12, Res.
11-13, Res. 11-15A, Res. 11-17, and Res. 11-20 was adopted as presented [Yes: 923; No: 32].)

the Board of Directors of the Synod and the Council
of Presidents acting jointly shall designate five geographic regions.
(a) Regions shall be designated 24 months prior
to conventions of the Synod and shall take into
consideration geographical and number of congregation’s information in the interest of fair
representation.
(b) For purposes of regional elections, individuals will be considered a part of the geographical
region where their congregational membership is
held in which they reside. Canadian congregations
will be placed as a whole into the region which the
Board of Directors and the Council of Presidents
deem appropriate.
(c) This information shall be shared immediately
with all districts of the Synod.

To Revise and Enhance Nomination and
Election Process for Regional Board Members
RESOLUTION 11-05
Overtures 11-18, 11-26–27, 11-29, 11-52 (CW, pp. 392, 394–396
397–398, 407–408)
The 2010 LCMS convention adopted changes to the Bylaws that
allow for the regional election to certain vice-president, board of
directors, and mission board positions. While these regional elections have been well received, recent experience has shown that
there are a number of deficiencies and opportunities for improvement to the nomination and election processes.
Currently, the submission of nominations for regional positions is
restricted to congregations within that region. The final slates for
these positions are populated by the five nominees who receive the
highest number of nominations. In some cases, the slate includes
persons who have low, single-digit numbers of nominations. The
Board of Directors believes expanding the pool of nominators will
likely result in more nominees for consideration. Because the slate
is currently compiled based solely on the number of nominations
received, there is no opportunity for an assessment to determine
whether a candidate possesses sufficient qualifications necessary
to perform the functions of the position for which they are being
nominated. Additionally, the current process does not allow for
floor nominations, which would provide an opportunity to amend
the slate should there be a more qualified candidate in the pool of
nominees.
The proposed resolution attempts to address each of the issues
identified in the preceding paragraph. Additionally, the inclusion
of the Committee on Convention Nominations in the process of
gathering and reviewing the nominees is advocated, tasking the
committee to create a slate of the most qualified candidates using
previously established processes that are used for the election of
other LCMS positions.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That certain bylaws be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.12 Nominations and Elections
Regional Elections
3.12.1
For all elections requiring regional representation,
“11. Structure and Administration”

Nominations and Elections of Regional Vice-Presidents
3.12.2.7

After the results of the first-vice-presidential election
have been announced, the convention shall elect five
regional vice-presidents according to the following
nominations and elections process. (This shall also
be the process used for all other regional elections.)
(a) Each member congregation of a region (including any non-geographic-district congregations in
that region) shall have been given opportunity to
nominate two ministers of religion—ordained
from the clergy roster of the Synod with residence
in its designated region as candidates for regional
vice-president.
(b) The Secretary of the Synod shall receive such
nominations (signed by the president and secretary of the nominating congregation).
(c) The names of the five ministers of religion—
ordained residing within the boundaries of each
geographic region who receive the most nominating votes shall form the slate from which the
Synod convention shall select by majority vote
each regional vice-president.
(d) No opportunity shall be provided for additional nominations from the floor of the
convention.
(e) Voting delegates to the national convention
shall be entitled to vote for one of the candidates
from each region. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the three candidates receiving
the highest number of votes shall be retained on
the ballot.
(f) Balloting shall continue with the candidate
receiving the least number of votes eliminated
until one candidate from each region has received
a majority of the votes cast.
(g) Upon the election of the regional vice-presidents, a final election will take place ranking the
U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

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