LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — November 20–21, 2014, Page 7

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referencing the Synod’s bylaws, e.g., “Reconcilers shall be chosen and function according to the
Bylaws of the Synod (Synod Bylaw section 1.10).”

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III D 2, sub-paragraph a: The second sentence of this paragraph will more accurately
include reference to approval by the Commission on Constitutional Matters prior to
presentation to a district convention. It would better read: “The Constitution Committee
shall refer all such proposals to the Synod’s Commission for Constitutional Matters for
approval prior to presentation to the convention in order to determine that they are not in
conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.”
V B, paragraph 2: As per Synod Bylaw 3.12.2.7, regional nomination processes are to be
separate from the work of the nominations committee. Given the district’s requirement for
regional board of directors members, this sentence will better read: “The Committee for
Convention Nominations shall nominate at least two candidates for each elective office on boards
or commissions, with the exception of the president, the vice-presidents, the regional members of
the board of directors, and the circuit visitors.”
V B 4, sub-paragraph b: See Synod Bylaw 4.7.1. As in Synod Bylaw 3.12.2.1, the top votegetters who consent to serve if elected are to be included on the ballot for president—in the case
of this district bylaw, that number is five. This paragraph will better read: “Candidates for the
office of president shall be the five ordained ministers receiving the highest number of votes from
the nominating ballot and who consent to serve. All others receiving nominations shall be listed
by the secretary of the district in the convention workbook together with the number of votes each
received.”
V B 4, sub-paragraph c: See again Synod Bylaw 4.7.1. As in Synod Bylaw 3.12.2.7, the ballot
for regional vice-presidents must contain the names of the top five vote-getters who have already
consented to serve. This paragraph will better read: “Candidates for the office of vice-president
shall be the ordained ministers from each region who have received the highest number of votes
from the nominating ballot and who consent to serve. They shall be listed on the ballot of the
district convention. All others receiving nominations shall be listed by the secretary of the district
in the convention workbook.”
V C 2, sub-paragraph d: See Synod Bylaws 4.7.3, 3.12.4.2 (d), and 1.5.1.2. As is the practice of
the Synod, also where convention-elected committees and commissions are concerned (e.g.,
Committee for Convention Nominations, Bylaws 3.12.3ff. Commission on Theology and Church
Relations, Bylaw 3.9.5.1.1 [a]), all elections must be by majority vote. This paragraph will better
mirror Synod Bylaw 4.7.2 with wording such as: “A majority of all votes cast by a district
convention shall be required in every election to all elective offices and board, commission, and
committee positions.”
V C 2, sub-paragraph g: This paragraph will require extensive change to mirror accurately the
content of Synod Bylaw 3.12.2.7, which does not provide for primary ballots or for nominations
from the floor of the convention. To expedite this revision, the commission offers the following
suggestion for replacement paragraphs:
(1) The names of the five ministers of religion—ordained residing within the boundaries of each
geographic region who receive the most nominating votes shall form the slate from which the
district convention shall elect by majority vote each regional vice-president. In the event of a tie
for the final position, all such names shall be listed on the ballot.
(2) No opportunity shall be provided for additional nominations from the floor of the convention.
(3) Voting delegates to the district convention shall be entitled to vote for one of the candidates from
each region. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the three candidates receiving
the highest number of votes shall be retained on the ballot. Balloting shall continue with the
candidate receiving the least number of votes eliminated until one candidate from each region has
received a majority of votes cast.

CCM Minutes – November 20–21, 2014 – Page 58