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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 477

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
communities in which they carry out ministry, and all congregations
are valued for said ministry, but the discrepancy in size between the
largest and smallest congregations has expanded since the 1970s,
such that more members of congregations of the Synod have fewer
representatives at a Synod convention; and
WHEREAS, The member congregations of the Synod, as Synod,
are “walking together” in ministry and, accordingly, representation
with regard to the affairs of the Synod should take into account the
varying sizes of the member congregations of the Synod; therefore
be it
Resolved, That Constitution Article IX 1 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

Article IX Representation
The synodical meetings are composed of regularly elected and
delegated representatives and of certain individual persons, as specified
in the Bylaws, to wit:
1. Representatives of congregations, entitled to vote. A number of
congregation or congregations shall form a group which shall be
represented by two voting delegates, one a pastor and one a lay
delegate.
…

and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.2 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Voting Delegates
3.1.2
Electoral circuits shall meet as required by the Bylaws of
the Synod to elect circuit voting delegates to the Synod’s national
conventions.
(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent
visitation circuits, as shall be determined by the district board of
directors on the basis of the following requirements: each pair of
delegates shall represent from 7 to 20 member congregations,
involving an aggregate confirmed membership ranging from
1,5002,500 to 10,0007,500; provided, however, that a member
congregation that is represented by voting delegates pursuant to
Bylaw 3.1.2.3 shall be excluded from said representation and not
included in said aggregation.
…

and be it finally
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.2.3 be adopted as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.1.2.3
A member congregation of the LCMS that has an
aggregate confirmed membership of 1,500 or more members shall
elect one pastor and one layperson as its voting delegates. The voting
delegates and their alternates shall be elected pursuant to the election
procedures of the congregation set forth in its constitution and
bylaws.
(a) Delegates are responsible to the congregation they represent
and shall attempt to discover the sentiment of the members
thereof.
(b) The congregation shall not require its delegates to vote in
accordance with specific instructions, but each delegate shall be
permitted to vote according to his or her own conviction.
(c) Delegates are expected to be faithful in attendance at all
sessions of the convention. All duly elected voting delegates shall
attend all sessions regularly until the close of the convention.
Delegates who arrive late or leave early or who do not attend at
all shall present a written excuse.

477

(d) Delegates shall report the actions of the Synod to their
congregation after each convention.

St. John
Seward, NE
Ov. 9-20

To Amend Bylaw 3.1.2 (a) to Change Size
Requirements for Electoral Circuits
WHEREAS, In light of the declining number of congregations as
well as communicant members throughout the Synod; and
WHEREAS, Current requirements for an electoral circuit are
difficult to achieve as is evidenced by the growing number of
circuits asking for exceptions to the current rules for valid electoral
circuits; and
WHEREAS, Recent years have seen a decrease in worship
attendance and membership in many congregations of the Synod;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2026 Synod convention amend Bylaw 3.1.2
(a) to change the minimum requirements for a valid electoral circuit
from seven congregations and 1,500 communicant members
(Bylaw 3.1.2 [a]) to five congregations and 500 communicant
members, as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Voting Delegates
3.1.2
Electoral circuits shall meet as required by the Bylaws of
the Synod to elect circuit voting delegates to the Synod’s national
conventions.
(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent
visitation circuits, as shall be determined by the district board of
directors on the basis of the following requirements: each pair of
delegates shall represent from 7 5 to 20 member congregations,
involving an aggregate confirmed membership ranging from
1,500 500 to 10,000.

Board of Directors
Eastern District
Ov. 9-21

To Amend Bylaw Subsection 3.12.2
to Restore Presidential Election to Convention
WHEREAS, The 2010 Synod convention changed the
longstanding practice of electing the Synod President at the
convention and conferred that right to congregations using
electronic voting; and
WHEREAS, The move to direct representation has seen decreased
participation in every election since this process was adopted, to
wit:
• The 2013 presidential election saw only 8,201 registered
electors, and only 6,432 votes cast, the latter, representing
only 62.16 percent of theoretical maximum participation;
• The 2016 presidential election saw only 7,348 registered
electors, and only 6,157 votes cast, the latter, representing
only 60.76 percent of theoretical maximum participation;
• The 2019 presidential election saw only 6,449 registered
electors, and only 5,823 votes cast, the latter, representing
only 58.97 percent of theoretical maximum participation;

2026 Convention Workbook