LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 23, 2013, Page 42

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WHEREAS, Conventions of the Synod “afford an opportunity for worship, nurture, inspiration,
fellowship, and communication….” (Bylaw 3.1.1); and
WHEREAS, Voting membership in the Synod is held by all member congregations of the Synod and
exercised through their elected representatives to Synod and district conventions; and
WHEREAS, The current system for determining the number of delegates to the national convention is
based upon a process that includes variables which result in electoral circuits that vary widely in their size
(Bylaw 3.1.2), including the number of congregations (7 to 20) and the number of communicant members
(1,500 to 10,000); and
WHEREAS, A process to determine district representation at the national convention ideally should be
based upon objective criteria designed to promote fairness and equity across the Synod, eliminating the
need to grant approval for exceptional circuits (Bylaw 3.1.2 [b]); and
WHEREAS, The number of delegates to a Synod convention should
• enable greater engagement of the delegates in the discussion and the proceedings of mission
and business;
• facilitate opportunity for deep and continuing discourse among delegates as they discuss,
debate, worship with, and inspire one another;
• ensure equity in the number of delegates each district is apportioned; and
• allow for greater stewardship of the gifts of God’s people for the work of mission and
ministry by opening up less expensive venues; and
• enable districts to select delegates and not be restricted to the configuration of visitation
circuits, fairly representing the district; therefore be it
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).
Page 112 – 02.23.13 – COH Minutes