LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 23, 2013, Page 28

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8-05B. The commission offers the following proposed action to amend Bylaw 3.1.2 for consideration by
the 2013 convention if needed.
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 eachthe district board of directors 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.
Commission on Handbook

82. Overture to the 2013 LCMS Convention (Bylaws re Synod Conventions) – Omnibus IV
Overture to the 2013 LCMS Convention
To Address Handbook Issues re Synod Conventions
Background
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) Committee for Convention Nominations
(Bylaws 3.12.3.4–3.12.3.6)
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 changes to
Bylaw 3.12.3.4.
In addition, experience has demonstrated that the terminology and content of Bylaws 3.12.3.4–
3.12.3.6 are less than clear regarding the expectations of and the process to be followed by the Committee
for Convention Nominations. The Commission on Handbook proposes the following bylaw changes to
clarify the important responsibilities of this committee.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Page 98 – 02.23.13 – COH Minutes