LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — August 23-24, 1971, Page 4

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commission decided upon two rulings and two suggestions which are to be communicated by the
Secretary in behalf of the commission to the various boards and commissions of the Synod.
The commission ruled:
1.

No present staff officer should be subject to re-appointment until he has served in his present
position for at least four years.

2.

The anniversary date of the assumption of his responsibilities in his present position should
be the date of possible re-appointment of the staff member.

The two suggestions which the commission decided to transmit to the boards and commissions are the
following:
a.

The commission suggests to the individual boards and commissions that no re-appointments
be made until after January 1, 1972; among other advantages this procedure will give
opportunity for the 90 day notice device to be applied if necessary;

b.

The commission also suggests to boards and commissions that any staff member who by
January 1, 1972 has served more than four years in his present position will not be subject to
reappointment and prior review until he has served 8 years, 12 years, etc. (four year
multiples).

The commission will make it clear that the first two are rulings of the commission but that boards and
commissions will be free either to accept or reject the two suggestions. It was also agreed that the
Secretary would present the matter to the Board of Directors to see whether that board would wish to take
some initiative under Bylaw 2.83c.
24. Vice Presidential Tally (Res. 4-27): The convention resolved. that the tally of votes cast for Vice
Presidents in the final ballot be announced at the close of each convention (see Bylaw 2.136). The
commission decided to keep on its agenda the question of submitting an overture calling for the
publication of the number of votes received in all elections of the convention.
25. Election of President and Vice-Presidents (Res. 5-46): In line with the requirements of Resolution 546 the commission decided to add, as required, the following paragraphs to the bylaws:
2.39 1(present 1 becomes m). Mail to each voting congregation of the Synod ballots for nominating
the President and First Vice President and together with the chairman of the Committee on Elections
tabulate the nominations and report to the convention by means of the convention Workbook the
names of all clergymen who have received at least five nominating votes for the office of President
or First Vice President.
2.127e. Groups and individuals within and without the Synod are urged to refrain from circularizing
the Synod or areas thereof relative to favoritism in nominations for President and First Vice
President.
26. Lay Ministers (Res. 6-10): Since the Council of Presidents,in consultation with the CCM, is to
develop a set of bylaws for presentation to the New Orleans convention to supplant present Bylaws 4.101
and 4.103, the commission resolved to omit from the Handbook these two paragraphs but to retain the
general heading "G. Lay Ministers" with an asterisk and a footnote explaining the action of the
Milwaukee convention (Ag. 276).