LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 21-22, 1975, Page 2

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Klotz abstained. Prevallet, contacted by phone, indicated support for the ruling.
354. Election of Delegates, Bylaw 1.53 (Ag. 722, 733): In connection with the proposed report to the
convention, the Commission decided to recommend in an overture a revision of Bylaw 1.53 and
instructed the secretary to formulate the proposal. It is as follows:
WHEREAS, There has been considerable confusion regarding some of the wording of Bylaw 1.53
(Election of Delegates), the Commission on Constitutional Matters recommends that the wording
be clarified in the following way:
a.

Each electoral circuit shall meet at the call of the Counselor(s) to elect its delegates not
later than 9 months prior to the opening day of the convention. The election shall be by
written ballot. All pastors who are not advisory members under Article V B shall be
eligible for election. The privilege of voting shall be exercised by one pastor and one
layman from each member congregation of the circuit. Multiple parishes shall be entitled
to a lay vote from each member congregation. Each delegate may write in the name of
two pastors on the initial ballot. The three pastors (or more, in case of a tie vote) who
receive the highest number of votes in this preliminary ballot shall be placed on the next
ballot. Each voter shall now vote for only one candidate. Balloting shall continue with the
lowest candidate being removed from each succeeding ballot until one pastor shall have
received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he shall be declared the pastoral
delegate. The congregation or congregations served by the elected pastoral delegate shall
be removed from consideration for supplying any other voting delegate or alternate for
that particular convention.

b.

(remains unchanged)

c.

Balloting shall continue in the same manner on the remaining pastoral candidates (two
candidates except in case of a tie vote on the initial balloting) until another has received a
simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he shall be declared the alternate pastoral
delegate. The congregation or congregations served by the elected alternate pastoral
delegate shall be removed from consideration for supplying any other voting delegate or
alternate for that particular convention.

d.

Balloting shall continue in the same manner as in paragraph c on the remaining lay
candidates until another has received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he
shall be declared the alternate lay delegate.

e.

(remains unchanged)

355. Presidential Authority (Omnibus N.0. Res. 5-05; Ag. 786): Since this resolution incorporated the
recommendations of the Commission to the New Orleans convention regarding presidential authority, but
was referred by the Board of Directors back to the Commission for study and report to the next
convention, the Commission decided to endorse this floor committee resolution to the Anaheim
convention.
356. Official Conferences (Omnibus N.O. Res. 5-29; Ag. 786): Since the same situation prevailed here,
the Commission decided to recommend adoption of the proposed bylaws to the Anaheim convention.
Both recommendations will be incorporated in the Commission's report.