LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — July 10–11, 2015, Page 9

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congregation or parish (a parish being two or more congregations served by the same pastor) shall
be represented by one (1) pastor and one (1) lay delegate duly elected by the congregation or
parish at least one hundred and fifty (150) days prior to the convention and accredited by the
district secretary as required by the Synod.
Article V, section 1, paragraph a: Other advisory representatives may also attend the district
convention from groups such as listed by Synod Bylaw 3.1.4. Other groups may also be
represented, such representatives to attend as guests, as in the case of youth representatives
(Synod Bylaw 3.1.4.6). The final sentence of paragraph a will therefore better read: “Other
advisory representatives may be selected from representative groups such as are listed by Synod
Bylaw 3.1.4. Other groups, such as youth, contract teachers, etc., may and be invited to attend the
convention as guests.
Appendix E, “At the Time of the Convention,” fifth paragraph: In keeping with the terminology
of the Synod Handbook, this sentence should read: “The convention delegates ratify the slate of
circuit visitors selected elected by the circuits of the district.”

119. Synod Convention Nominations Processes (15-2768)
The Secretary of Synod presented the Commission on Constitutional Matters with questions concerning
the nominations processes for Synod conventions, questions related to preparation for the meeting of the
Committee for Convention Nominations scheduled for January 7–9, 2016, and related to the preparation
of ballots for regional elections scheduled to be mailed to all congregations later in 2015.
A. The first series of questions dealt with the adoption of 2013 Res. 5-05B, wherein the Synod convention
adopted a new paragraph (f) for Bylaw 3.12.3.5:
(f) The committee for convention nominations shall establish and maintain a procedure to generate
and publish in advance of the convention a list of names from all who have been nominated for
Synod boards and commissions who meet the qualifications (Bylaws 3.10.5.2 7 and 3.6.6.3) to
serve on a Concordia University System board of regents or the Concordia University System
Board of Directors.

Question 1: Will it be appropriate for the Secretary of the Synod to devise, as part of his duties to obtain
names and information for presentation to the Committee for Convention Nominations at its
first meeting (Bylaw 3.12.3.4 [f]−[g]), a procedure to present to the committee at its January
meeting for carrying out the requirements of Bylaw 3.12.3.5 (f)?
Opinion: The pertinent provisions of the Synod’s Bylaws concerning the work of the Committee for
Convention Nominations not only anticipate the Secretary of Synod handling a substantial amount of the
preliminary work of the Committee for Convention Nominations (Bylaw 3.12.3.4); they also provide that
although the Secretary is not a member of the committee, he shall convene the initial meeting of the
committee and shall also “be available, upon call, for consultation” (Bylaw 3.12.3.5). The committee is
responsible for informing itself of its duties and the requirements of each position for which it must select
candidates. It also elects its own chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary and is required to organize its
work “in whatever way it deems necessary” (Bylaw 3.12.3.5 [b] and [c]). Given the short time frame from
the committee’s meeting in January and the convention slightly more than 6 months later, it is
understandable that the Secretary of Synod would be on call for consultation, for there is much to be done
during that relatively short period of time. There is nothing that precludes the Secretary of Synod
developing a procedure for presentation to the committee at it first meeting for whatever use the
committee may determine appropriate.
Question 2: If it is appropriate to devise a procedure, will it be appropriate for the Secretary of the Synod,
as part of his duties to facilitate the work of the Committee for Convention Nominations, to
contact those persons who have been nominated for Synod boards and commissions to obtain
the information that will be necessary to determine if they meet the qualifications
CCM Minutes – July 10–11, 2015 – Page 93