LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 17–18, 2018, Page 9

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conventions and election of the Synod president, and to provide a means for dealing with these unique
situations so that congregations having their own pastors are not deprived of the privilege of voting at the
conventions of a District and for the President of the Synod.
The following bylaw revision is possible under the Constitution of the Synod because the definition adopted
falls within the originally adopted meaning of Pfarrgemeinde or congregation-or-parish, as the 1866
resolution demonstrates. If adopted, it would replace and supersede the understanding derived from the
former 1963 Bylaw (removed without replacement in 1981), namely, that any congregations served by any
pastor in common are one parish.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaws 2.5.5–6 be added to Bylaw Section 2.5, “Calling Ministers of Religion by
Congregations,” under the new heading as indicated:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Calls and multi-congregation parishes
2.5.5

The total number of congregations regularly cared for (served) by a pastor or pastors constitutes a
parish as used in Const. Art. V A and as it applies to bylaws dealing with representation at circuit
forums (Bylaws 3.1.2.1 [c]; 5.3.2) and district conventions (Bylaw 4.2.2; Const. Art. V A), and in
voting for the Synod President (Bylaw 3.12.2.3). However, the called service of a pastor in a
designated assisting capacity (Bylaw 2.5.6) does not render the congregations that he assists part
of a parish with any other congregations he serves, whether in an assisting or non-assisting
capacity.

2.5.6

The call of an ordained minister to a congregation may be designated as in an assisting capacity
if the call entails service under the supervision of another called pastor of that congregation. A
pastor serving in an assisting capacity is not in charge of that congregation (Const. Art. V B 2, XII
10 B b) and is a pastor but not “the pastor” of that congregation (Const. Art. V A, XII 10 A). An
assisting capacity call does not, therefore, confer that congregation’s pastoral vote or eligibility to
serve as circuit pastoral delegate, or cause the congregation assisted to constitute a parish with
other congregations served by the assisting pastor. Those rendering assisting service on a regular
basis shall be called, installed, and rostered as such. One serving a congregation in an assisting
capacity is, with regard to that congregation, an assisting pastor.

and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaws 3.1.2.1 (c) and (d), regarding the election of circuit delegates, and 3.12.2.3 (a),
regarding the election of the Synod President, be amended as follows, to indicate that calls to a congregation
in an assisting capacity do not confer the congregation’s pastoral vote or eligibility to serve as pastoral
delegate:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.1.2.1 Elections of voting delegates shall take place in accordance with established policy and procedure.
(c) The privilege of voting shall be exercised by one pastor and one layperson from each
member congregation of the circuit, both of whom shall have been elected in the manner
prescribed by the congregation. Multi-congregation parishes shall be entitled to a lay vote from
each member congregation. A pastor serving a congregation in an assisting capacity (Bylaw
2.5.6) is not eligible to cast that congregation’s pastoral vote.
(d) All pastors who are not advisory members under Article V B of the Constitution Each
pastor who is serving a congregation of the circuit in a non-assisting capacity and not a specific
ministry pastors shall be eligible for election.
CCM Minutes – August 17–18, 2018 – Page 130