LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 23, 2013, Page 25

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shall make the selection, which selection shall then be included on the convention slate of
circuit counselors.
(fg) The convention shall have the right to alter the slate by amendment.
(gh) The convention shall then ratify the slate of circuit counselors, which ratification shall
constitute election.

(C) District Regional Elections
(Bylaw 4.3.1)
Rationale
For its regional elections, the national Synod has provided that nominees for such positions must
reside within the region (Bylaw 3.12.2.5 [a]). No such provision exists for regional elections on the
district level. Nominees for district offices must only be “from the clergy roster of the Synod” (Bylaw
4.3.1) so long as, if elected, they are members of member congregations of the district “upon assuming
office and during the course of their tenure” (Bylaw 4.3.3). Such provisions may be reasonable in the
election of district presidents (where service is often full time and change of residence is often necessary),
but the Commission on Handbook with the following bylaw changes advocates an approach for district
regional positions such as is used by the Synod.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
4.3 District Officers
4.3.1

The following officers A president shall be elected from the clergy roster of the Synod by each
district.: a president, t Two or more vice-presidents, a secretary, and a circuit counselor for each
circuit established by the district shall be elected from the clergy roster of the district. In the case
of regional elections, nominees shall be from the clergy roster of the district with residence in the
designated region. (This shall also be the case for all other regional elections.)

4.3.2

Each district shall have a treasurer who shall be a layperson and shall be elected or appointed as
the bylaws of the district may provide.

4.3.3

All officers and members of boards shall be members of member congregations of the district
and, when appropriate, residents of designated regions upon assuming office and during the
course of their tenure.

(D) Process for Regional District Elections
(Bylaws 4.7.1–4.7.3)
Rationale
An increase on the district level in regional representation by district vice-presidents and board of
directors members has prompted the question whether such elections, if conducted within regions, should
be ratified by district conventions in the same manner as is the case with circuit counselor elections.
While Bylaw 4.7.1 allows districts to adopt their own nomination and election regulations, it is silent
regarding regional elections. In keeping with the principle that final determinations in elections to all
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