LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — January 25–26, 2013, Page 21

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During the triennium, concerns related to bylaws governing the Synod’s conventions were brought to the
attention of the Commission on Handbook. This overture identifies those concerns and advocates bylaw
amendment solutions proposed by the commission for adoption by the 2013 convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod.
(A) Solicitation of Names for Committee for Convention Nominations
(Bylaw 3.12.3.4)
Rationale
The Secretary of the Synod plays an important role in assisting the Committee for Convention
Nominations by gathering and presenting to the committee names and biographical information of
individuals to be considered for election to office in the Synod. Bylaw 3.12.3.4 sets forth the Secretary’s
duties in the nomination process, but limits the agencies and individuals with whom he works in carrying
out his work. This limitation might inadvertently exclude qualified individuals from nominations for
elected office. Greater involvement of the agencies and members of the Synod in the nominations process
would increase confidence in it. For these reasons, the Commission on Handbook proposes the following
changes to Bylaw 3.12.3.4.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.12.3.4 The Secretary of the Synod shall handle the preliminary work for the Committee for
Convention Nominations.
(a) He shall begin to solicit names of potential nominees from officers, boards,
commissions, and agencies of the Synod and its districtsthe agencies and officers of the
Synod at least 24 months prior to the convention.
(b) Approximately 24 months before a regular meeting of the Synod in convention, he shall
solicit from the mission boards and the synodwide corporate entity boardsthose agencies
with positions to be filled descriptions of criteria of qualified candidates to serve in those
positionson those boards.
(c) With such criteria in view, the Secretary shall issue the first call for nominations
through a publication of the Synod and on the Synod Web site 18 months before the
convention, soliciting names from the agencies and officers of the Synod and the
congregational and individual members of the Synodmission boards and synodwide
corporate entity boards, as well as congregations, district presidents, district boards of
directors, circuit counselors, and other likely sources.
(d) All incumbents eligible for reelection shall be considered for nomination.
(e) QualificationsThe qualifications of each nominee shall be submitted together with the
names on forms made available on the Synod’s Web site.
(f) All suggested names and information for consideration by the Committee for
Convention Nominations shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Synod no later than nine
months prior to the convention of the Synod.
(g) The Secretary shall present the names and information gathered to the Committee for
Convention Nominations at its first meeting.

(B) Staggered Terms for Members of Certain Boards and Commissions
(Bylaws 3.8.2.2; 3.8.3.2; 3.9.4.1–3.9.4.2)
Rationale
Page 48 – 01.25 to 01.26.13 – COH Minutes