LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — January 25–26, 2013, Page 34

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Resolved, That the number of voting delegates to the Synod convention be fixed based upon ten
percent (10%) of the number of member congregations in the Synod six months prior to the first district
convention; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaws 3.1.2ff. be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.1.2

Voting delegates shall consist of one pastor and one layperson from each electoral circuit.
(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or 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.
(b) Exceptions to these requirements may be made only by the President of the Synod upon
request of a district board of directors.
The Office of the Secretary shall facilitate the election of voting delegates to the next following
national convention. These delegates shall be elected for three-year terms during the conventions
of the districts of the Synod.
(a) The total number of voting delegates shall be set at ten percent (10%) of the number of
member congregations of the Synod six (6) months prior to the start of the first district
convention. Such number shall be rounded to the higher even number to enable delegate pairs
(one layperson and one minister of religion—ordained).
(b) Two factors shall be averaged to determine the number of delegates from each district:
(1) The percentage of the district’s member congregations compared to the number of
member congregations of the Synod; and
(2) The percentage of the number of confirmed members of a district’s congregations
compared to the number of confirmed members of the member congregations of the
Synod.
(c) The most recent roster statistics available six months prior to the convention shall be used
to determine all matters related to delegate representation.
(d) One-half of the district’s total allotment of delegates shall be laity from member
congregations of the district and one-half shall be ministers of religion—ordained with
membership in the congregations of the district.

(B) To Change Process for Electing Delegates to Synod Conventions
WHEREAS, The Synod convention is the “…principal legislative assembly, which amends the
Constitution and Bylaws, considers and takes action on reports and overtures, and handles appropriate
appeals”…“and establishes general positions and policies of the Synod, provides overall program
direction and priorities, and evaluates all such positions, programs, policies, directions, and priorities in
order to provide responsible service for and on behalf of its members…” (Bylaw 3.1.1); and
WHEREAS, It is important that representatives of member congregations understand in advance of the
election of delegates for Synod conventions that an orderly process will be followed; and
WHEREAS, Such orderly process for the election of delegates to the Synod convention should include
• an apportioning of congregations in light of a district’s prescribed number of delegates;
• a selection of delegates in a manner that takes into consideration reasonable and equitable
representation;
Page 61 – 01.25 to 01.26.13 – COH Minutes