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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 478

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

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

478
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The 2023 presidential election saw only 6,045 registered
electors, and only 5,000 votes cast, the latter, representing
only 53.78 percent of theoretical maximum participation
(2023 Today’s Business, 2B:287);

and
WHEREAS, This limited and declining participation in the
election of the Synod President does not assure substantially
broader representation than the longstanding practice of circuit
representation at conventions, which the Synod entrusts to decide
all other elections and resolutions; and
WHEREAS, The longstanding practice of electing a president at
convention has not only served the Synod well since its inception,
but avoids the unnecessary trouble and expense associated with
digital voting, not to mention increasingly more pervasive internet
safety concerns; and
WHEREAS, 2023 Resolution 9-11, “To Elect Synod President at
Convention” (2023 Today’s Business, 1:190), proposing the
election of the Synod President at the convention was not brought
before or acted upon by the delegation; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention amend Bylaws 3.12.2.1–
3.12.2.6 and 3.12.4.2 (a) as follows, as proposed in 2023 Res. 9-11,
that the convention may again exercise the right it had since the
founding of the Synod to elect the president:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Elections of President and First Vice-President
3.12.2.1
The candidates for the office of President shall be the five
ordained ministers who received the highest number of votes in the
nominating process and who consent to serve if elected. The
candidates for the office of First Vice-President shall be the 20
ordained ministers receiving the highest number of votes in the
nominating process. No opportunity shall be provided for additional
nominations.
(a) The Secretary of the Synod shall notify each candidate and
shall secure his approval in writing within ten days after receiving
the results of the ballots for the inclusion of his name on the
ballot.
(b) In the event of the death, declination, or unavailability of any
candidate, the nominee having the next highest number of votes
shall become a candidate. In the event of a tie for the final
candidate position, all names involved in the tie shall be included
as candidates.
…
3.12.2.3
The Secretary of the Synod shall compile and maintain the
voters list for the election of the President of the Synod. This list and
any of its parts shall not be disseminated.
(a) This voters list shall include:
(1) the pastor of each member congregation or multicongregation parish (assisting pastors are not eligible)
(2) a lay person from the congregation or parish
(b) The congregation shall present to the Secretary of Synod 90
days prior to the election a proper credentials form provided by
the Secretary, signed by two of the congregation’s officers. If a
congregation or parish has more than one pastor eligible to vote,
the congregation shall designate on the credentials form which
pastor will cast a vote on behalf of the congregation.
(c) If one or both voters are unavailable, congregations shall be
provided opportunity to select substitute voters up to a deadline
designated by the Secretary.
(d) The registration status of congregations shall be made
available to respective district presidents for the sole purpose of

2026 Convention Workbook

their encouraging registration for greater congregational
participation. The registration status of congregations shall not be
further disseminated.
3.12.2.4
Six weeks prior to the national convention, the Secretary
of the Synod shall provide, via a secure and verifiable method,
opportunity for two voting delegates from each congregation, as
determined according to Bylaw 3.12.2.3, to vote for one of the
candidates for President. The Secretary shall, with the approval of
the Board of Directors of the Synod, obtain the assistance necessary
to accomplish this task. If no candidate receives a majority of the
votes cast, a second or succeeding ballots are required for a majority;
the candidate receiving the fewest votes and all candidates receiving
less than 15 percent of the votes cast shall be dropped from the ballot,
unless only one candidate receives 15 percent or more of the votes
cast, in which case the three highest candidates shall constitute the
ballot, and another vote shall be taken in the same manner.
3.12.2.5
Following the completion of the election and at least two
weeks prior to the convention, the Secretary shall notify the
candidates of the results of the ballot(s). He shall thereafter also
make the results known to the public. The candidate receiving a
majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected.
3.12.2.3
The convention shall have the right to add to the slate for
President at the proper time by amendment.
(a) The amendment procedure shall include merely a motion, a
second, and a vote on the amendment, deliberately excluding
verbal characterizations and discussion of the motion (except for
the chair to ascertain that the requirements have been met as to
eligibility, consent, and the filing of the biographical form).
(b) Delegates making nominations from the floor shall have
secured prior written consent of the candidates they wish to
nominate.
(c) Such delegates shall immediately submit to the Secretary of
the Synod this document and written pertinent information
concerning their nominee(s) as detailed in Bylaw 3.12.2.2.
(d) After all such amendments have been voted on, the
convention shall ratify the slate of candidates prior to each
election.
3.12.2.4
Each voting delegate shall be entitled to vote for one of the
candidates for President. The candidate receiving a majority of the
votes cast shall be declared elected.
(a) If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the four
candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be retained
on the ballot, and another vote shall be taken.
(b) Thereafter, the candidate receiving the smallest number of
votes shall be eliminated on each subsequent ballot until one
candidate receives a majority of the votes cast.
3.12.2.65 Prior to all other elections, the convention shall elect the
President and the First Vice-President.
(a) The newly elected President-elect shall select from the list of
20 nominees for the Office of First Vice-President five nominees
who have consented to serve if elected, at least two of whom shall
be taken from the top five nominees.
(b) Balloting will proceed with the candidate receiving the
smallest number of votes eliminated from consideration until one
candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, who shall be
declared elected.
…

Committee on Elections
…
3.12.4.2
The President shall determine and announce a period of
time during the convention for the election of the members of all
elective boards and commissions.