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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 480

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

480

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

(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.
(a) After the election of the President and the First VicePresident and the other vice-presidents in that order, the election
by ballot of the Secretary shall next be conducted.
…

and be it further
Resolved, That this restoration of the presidential election be
implemented in time for the 2029 Synod convention.
South Lake
League City, TX
Ov. 9-23

To Affirm Regional Selection of Board Members
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a
nationwide church body with diverse regional, cultural, and
missional contexts; and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s Board of Directors (BOD), Board for
National Mission (BNM), and Board for International Mission
(BIM) exercise governance and mission oversight that affect
congregations and districts across all regions of the Synod; and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s Bylaws establish regional representation
in the composition of the BOD (Bylaw 3.3.4.1), the BNM (Bylaw
3.8.2.3), and the BIM (Bylaw 3.8.3.3); and
WHEREAS, Regional representation in board membership helps
ensure that decisions are informed by the lived realities, mission
opportunities, and challenges present throughout the Synod; and
WHEREAS, The Synod has historically valued broad participation
and shared responsibility in its governance and mission structures;
therefore be it
2026 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm the principle of
regional selection and representation in the nomination and election
of members to the Synod’s BOD, BNM, and BIM; and be it further
Resolved, That the appropriate Synod entities be encouraged to
continue or strengthen processes that provide for balanced regional
representation on these boards, so that the governance and mission
leadership of the Synod reflects the breadth of its districts and
ministries.
Board of Directors
Southeastern District
Ov. 9-24

To Create Task Force to Develop Overture for
Change in Regional Vice-President Selection
WHEREAS, The Synod utilizes entities within specific groupings
to live out its life together as Synod in an orderly way for the benefit
of the Body of Christ; and
WHEREAS, Districts are “the Synod itself performing the
functions of the Synod” (Bylaw 4.1.1.1); and
WHEREAS, “The district president shall represent the Synod in
his district” (Bylaw 4.4.2); and
WHEREAS, “A president shall be elected from the clergy roster of
the Synod by each district” (Bylaw 4.3.1); and
WHEREAS, “A visitation circuit is a network of congregations
that ‘walks together’ for mutual care, support, advice, study,
ecclesiastical encouragement, service, coordination, resources, and
counsel—all for the sake of greater congregational participation in
God’s mission” (Bylaw 5.1.1); and
WHEREAS, Districts “establish visitation circuits according to
geographical criteria” (Bylaw 5.1.2); and
WHEREAS, “Each circuit visitor shall assist the district president
within the circuit” (Bylaw 5.2.3); moreover, “[the circuit visitor]
shall serve under the direction of and be accountable to the district
president and shall serve as his spokesman when so authorized and
directed and shall assist him in doctrinal and spiritual supervision”
(Bylaw 5.2.3 [a]); and
WHEREAS, “The circuit visitor shall hold his position by virtue
of his selection by the circuit forum and ratification by the district
convention” (Bylaw 5.2.2); and
WHEREAS, “The [Synod] vice-presidents shall be elected
advisors of the President and, upon the President’s request or as
provided by the Synod, shall assist him in discharging his
responsibilities or represent him” (Bylaw 3.3.2); and
WHEREAS, The filling of a vacancy in a regional vice-presidency
is only made “in consultation with the district presidents within that
region” (Bylaw 3.3.2.4); and
WHEREAS, Five Synod vice-presidents are designated “regional
vice-presidents” (Bylaw 3.3.2.3); and
WHEREAS, Selection by regional groupings is deemed
appropriate for circuit visitors and district presidents, each of whom
serve under the direction of another, who is elected by a broader
grouping; and
WHEREAS, Circuit visitors are selected in their regional grouping
and ratified by the district in convention; therefore be it
Resolved, That a task force be established consisting of
representatives from the Council of Presidents (COP), the