LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 66

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13. Registered delegates and advisory representatives wishing to address the convention, once recognized by the
chair, shall state their name, the name of the district (or other entity of the Synod that they represent), and
whether they are a voting delegate, advisory delegate, or advisory representative. Delegates and representatives
shall normally address the convention from their assigned microphones.
14. A microphone queue list will be enacted for every debatable motion considered by the assembly. Each time a
debatable motion is considered by the assembly, a new microphone queue list will be created and the queue list
from any previous motion will be cleared.
15. The pro-con method of debate may be used at the discretion of the chair or by adoption of the assembly. When
a member of the floor committee speaks in favor of a resolution, it shall be recognized as a “pro” speech and will
be followed by a “con” speech.
16. Delegates and representatives wishing to enter the microphone queue for any reason (debate, make an
amendment, call the question, request information or any other action) must always identify themselves, as pro
or con speakers, by pressing either 1 (pro) or 2 (con) on their queue keypad even if the assembly is not in a procon mode. This queue identification is necessary so delegates and representatives are appropriately reflected in
the queue should the chair choose to move to a pro-con method of debate. All queue entrants will be addressed
as they appear in the queue order. When called upon by the chair delegates and representatives must identify
themselves and state the desired action. The microphone queue shall be displayed so that delegates can see their
position in the queue.
17. Ordinarily, questions of privilege (or point of personal privilege) shall be addressed in writing to the chair or his
appointee.
18. No delegate or representative may speak in debate any longer than two (2) minutes per speech. No delegate or
representative may speak more than twice on the same motion on the same day and may not speak a second
time until all delegates and representatives desiring to speak the first time have had the opportunity. The chair
shall have discretion to make exceptions to this rule. When a floor committee is called on to answer a question
or to give information, this rule shall not apply.
19. A delegate who speaks on an issue may not move to call the question at the close of his or her speech.
20. If a substitute motion is offered and seconded, the presenter shall be offered two (2) minutes to provide the
rationale for offering it and a member of the floor committee shall be offered two (2) minutes to present rationale
for why the committee believes the original motion is to be preferred. The convention shall decide by majority
vote without further debate whether or not to consider the substitute motion. If the decision is in the affirmative
and if the substitute motion is subsequently adopted, the original motion dies. If the substitute motion does not
receive favorable action either to consider or adopt, the original motion is again considered.
21. A motion to close debate (“call the question”) shall apply only to the immediately pending question.
22. While any voting delegate may move to close debate (call the question) at any time that it is his or her turn to
speak, a vote on closing debate (two-thirds vote required) on the main motion shall be put by the chair after
every twenty (20) minutes of debate (except those to which Standing Rule 5 pertains). The chair may also call
for a vote on closing debate (two-thirds vote required) when in his judgment the assembly has heard sufficient
speaking from both sides of the issue. The chair may call for a vote to close debate on less controversial
resolutions without hearing any debate.*
23. Amendments of non-contiguous words may be made to a pending question so long as the consequence of such
non-contiguous words does not constitute in effect a substitute motion.
24. During the last two days of the convention, the President shall have the privilege of calling up for action those
resolutions that in his judgment must be acted upon before adjournment.
25. No motion to reconsider or rescind shall be made or called up during the last day of the convention.
Floor Nominations
26. No floor nominations will be accepted for the First Vice-President or regional vice-presidents (Bylaws 3.12.2.1;
3.12.2.7 [d]). In the case of election of the Secretary and board and commission members, floor nominations are
allowed, to take place at the time of the report of the chairman of the Committee for Convention Nominations
(Bylaw 3.12.3.7 [a–b]). “Such floor nominations may only be made from the list of names which have previously
been offered to the Committee for Convention Nominations prior to the final deadline for the submission of
nominations, unless the convention shall otherwise order by a simple majority vote” (Bylaw 3.12.3.7 [c]). Floor
nominations are not debatable and shall be brought individually before the convention for approval, being voted
on immediately, before being added to the ballot (Bylaw 3.12.3.7 [a–b]).
66 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION

Special Standing Rules