LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 208

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9. STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
WHEREAS, The number of delegates to synodical
conventions is steadily growing larger; and
WHEREAS, This causes great difficulty in
providing proper housing; and
WHEREAS, An equal reduction of delegates will
not infringe upon the representation rights of
any congregation; therefore be it
Resolved, That Art. IV, A, page 19 of the Synodical
Handbook be revised to read: “Every ten to fifteen
member congregations shall form an electoral
circuit, which shall elect one pastor and one
layman and their alternates to represent them at
the conventions of Synod”; … (1944 Proceedings,
207)
The Synodical Survey Commission Report, written by Dr.
August Suelflow in 1959, indicated that in nine of the districts,
the electoral and visitation circuits were usually identical. The
other two thirds of the districts used a system which treated
the two types of circuits independently in one degree or
another. The report concluded that it is legitimate to question
the degree to which the districts followed the encouragement
of the 1917 resolution. Note the following from the 1960
Handbook, which sets the parameters, but makes no specific
connection between electoral and visitation circuits:
1.51 Electoral
Congregations

Circuits

of

Member

An electoral circuit shall comprise from 10 to 15
member congregations. Each electoral circuit
shall be represented by one pastor and one
layman. Large congregations shall form small
circuits, and small congregations shall form
large circuits. A fractional portion remaining
after the circuits have been formed shall be
entitled to the same representation as a
complete circuit (1960 Handbook).
The 1967 convention proposed a manner of electing delegates
to conventions in a way which would ensure that there was
some kind of an ongoing relationship between the
congregations involved in the electoral circuits. It did this by
both changing the parameters of an electoral circuit and tying
visitation circuits to electoral circuits. It also proposed a
means by which an electoral circuit, which did not meet the
parameters, could request an exemption from the Office of the
President. Note the following sections from the overture
proposed in the 1967 Workbook (pp. 124–25):
To Revise Handbook Regulations Regarding
Convention Delegates
Considerable confusion and dissatisfaction exist
with reference to the election of delegates to the
convention of the Synod and their
accountability. For example:
1. Electoral Circuits (1.51). These have often been
artificially created entities, with little
cohesiveness,
hindering
effective
postconvention action in implementing
208 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION

resolutions and even in transmitting
information. We propose that representation be
on the basis of the regular, permanent visitation
circuits.
2. Number of Congregations (1.51). Present
requirement: from 10 to 15 member
congregations shall form an electoral circuit.
Some visitation circuits have fewer than 10
congregations. If two visitation circuits are
combined (we are proposing that provision be
made for that possibility), the electoral circuit
may well number more than 15 congregations.
Furthermore,
many
have
felt
that
representation should be based not on the
number of congregations but on the number of
communicant members involved. We propose a
method based on both number of congregations
and number of communicants, with a wide
enough spread between minimum and
maximum requirements in each category to take
care of most situations and with a prescribed
procedure which permits the President of the
Synod to deal with those cases which still prove
to be exceptional.
…
4. Functions of the Delegate. What does the
delegate do? Presumably he attends the
convention, studies, listens, dialogs, makes
judgments, votes. And then, according to the
present paragraph 1.55, he reports to the circuit
the action of the Synod. And this is all? This
delegate has just had the experience of a
lifetime. He has been caught up in a great cause.
He has gained fresh insights. He has grown
tremendously in the faith. A fresh love for his
Synod and for his Savior lives in his heart. And
then he goes home. To what? We are of the
opinion that the Synod should dignify this
position and therefore recommend that the
delegate be elected for a 2-year term, to serve
until the next convention of the Synod. What a
source of power this man can be for the mission
of the church!
PROPOSED WORDING
1.51 Voting Delegates
Voting delegates shall consist of one pastor and
one layman from each electoral circuit. An
electoral circuit shall consist either of one or of
two adjacent visitation circuits, as shall be
determined by each district, 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. Exceptions to these requirements and
limitations can be made only by the President of
the Synod upon the request of a district board of
Resolutions