LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 209

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9. STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
directors. Voting delegates shall serve a 2-year
term, beginning with the convention; after the
convention they shall function as resource
persons in their circuit and assist in the
dissemination and implementation of the
synodical resolutions in their area.
…
The convention adopted the proposed wording for electoral
circuits (1967 Proceedings, 121–22). The 2019 Handbook retains
essentially the same wording with a slight change in structure
and wording (Bylaw 3.1.2 [a–d]).
B. Current Trends
Due to demographic changes over the past several convention
cycles, it has become necessary for more and more visitation
circuits either to request an exemption from the President of
the Synod or to be combined in order to qualify to meet the
parameters for an electoral circuit. The result has been a
gradual decrease in the number of electoral circuits within the
Synod and the number of delegates attending conventions.
The following table is compiled on the basis of the Proceedings
from the various convention years and The Lutheran Annual.
(Note the figures for 1967, 1969, and 1986 included the three
Canadian districts and the Argentina/Brazil District*, which
have since formed their own church body.) The 1967
convention was held prior to the adoption of the current
parameters. The percentage in parenthesis for 1986, 2007,
2016, and 2019 states the percentage of visitation circuits
which were also electoral circuits. The number of exemptions
is unknown.
Year
1967
1969
1986
2007
2016
2019
2023

Electoral
Circuits
424 (441)*
478 (503)*
558 (580)*
(89%)
639 (99%)
568 (89%)
551 (86%)
532 (87%)

Delegates

Congregations

882
1,006
1,160

Visitation
Circuits
?
?
624

1,278
1,136
1,102
1,049

643
633
636
608

6,168
5,968
5,875
5,777

5,904
5,765
5,933 (6,150)*

exemptions are to be considered. This ambiguity could result
in questions being raised regarding why one visitation circuit
is granted an exception while another is not. Another
complicating factor involving circuits and voting, not covered
by the Bylaws, is the fact that there are currently 13 multicongregation parishes which cross district lines, as well as an
additional 50 multi-congregation parishes within districts
which are in different visitation circuits. This generates
confusion in these situations regarding voting for a circuit
visitor, eligibility to represent an electoral circuit, and voting
at district conventions.
All of this points to the advisability for the Synod, due to
demographic changes, to again consider the parameters for
the electoral circuits which select delegates to conventions of
the Synod to determine if they are adequate as they are or
should be changed. In addition, it would be helpful for the
Synod to clarify some of the ambiguity in the Bylaws regarding
multi-congregation parishes which cross district or circuit
lines.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention establish a task
force to consider the parameters for visitation circuits and
electoral circuits and report with an overture six months
before the 2026 Synod convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the task force consist of the Secretary of
Synod, the Commission on Constitutional Matters, the
Commission on Handbook, and three district presidents and
three district secretaries (from different districts) chosen by
the Council of Presidents.
Action: Adopted (4)

Upon the chair’s immediate proposal to close debate, a delegate
raised a point of order, questioning whether the chair can under
Standing Rule 22 put the close of debate before the assembly
when no debate has occurred. The chair instead opened debate
on the resolution. After debate, a delegate called the question.
Closure of debate was carried. The resolution was adopted by a
voice vote.

The current estimate for the 2023 convention is that
approximately 20 percent of the visitation circuits currently
do not qualify as electoral circuits, which would be about 125
of the 625 visitation circuits. This in turn would mean that if
no exemptions to the parameters were granted by the
President of the Synod, there would be about 500 electoral
circuits sending delegates to the 2023 Synod convention and
about 1,000 voting delegates.

Overture 9-38 (CW, 391)

What is unknown in the above table is the number of
exceptions granted for each convention to visitation circuits
that did not qualify as an electoral circuit and the number of
visitation circuits that were joined together to form an
electoral circuit.

WHEREAS, Various boards for The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod require candidates elected by the Synod
convention for some or all positions to be residents of
specified regions of the Synod to be eligible for election and
continued service; and

These numbers indicate that a growing number of visitation
circuits, because of demographic reasons, no longer qualify as
electoral circuits. In addition, the current Bylaws provide no
guidelines to the President of the Synod for determining
whether or not to grant an exception, or the basis on which

WHEREAS, Currently, if a board member elected to a
position from a given region relocates outside that region, the
seat held by such board member becomes vacant and must be
filled by appointment between conventions, which has

Resolutions

To Provide for Continuity of Service
in Regional Positions
RESOLUTION 9-07

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 209