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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 484

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

484

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
St. John
Seward, NE

Ov. 9-30

To Amend Bylaw 3.2.4 to Establish Term Limits
for Synod President and Vice-Presidents
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod treasures
faithful leadership rooted in God’s Word and the Lutheran
Confessions; and
WHEREAS, Scripture teaches that leadership in Christ’s Church
is a stewardship, not personal possession (1 Cor. 3:5–9), and the
Church flourishes when many servants exercise their gifts (Rom.
12:3–8; Eph. 4:11–12); and
WHEREAS, The history of the Church shows both the blessings
of continuity and the dangers of undue concentration of authority,
which term limits can help prevent; and
WHEREAS, Term limits encourage wider participation in
leadership, raising up new servants for the sake of the Gospel’s
advance; and
WHEREAS, Healthy turnover of leadership guards against
stagnation, fosters humility, and reminds the Church that no one
individual is indispensable, but Christ alone is head of His Church
(Col. 1:18); and
WHEREAS, Term limits are a common practice in both civil
society and the wider church, recognized as a way to ensure
accountability and vitality in institutions; and
WHEREAS, Constitution Article XII governs districts and their
presidents, and this overture does not propose to alter those
provisions—thus district presidents may remain without term
limits; therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.2.4 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Terms of Office
3.2.4
The term of office of all elected officers of the Synod
(Bylaw 3.2.1) shall be three years; of the elected members of the
Board of Directors and all other boards and commissions of the
Synod six years; of all members of college and university boards of
regents three years; and of all appointed members of boards,
commissions, and standing committees three years, unless these
Bylaws specifically provide otherwise.
(a) The President, First Vice-President, regional vice-presidents,
Secretary, and members of all boards and commissions of the
Synod who are elected by the Synod convention shall assume
office on September 1 following the convention and shall be
inducted into office on a date subsequent to September 1
following the convention. Members of college and university
boards of regents elected by district conventions shall assume
office upon the close of the convention at which they are elected.
(b) In the interim, the newly elected President shall meet with
the reelected and newly elected vice-presidents to assess the state
of the Synod, to plan for the communication and carrying out of
the resolutions adopted at the convention, to assign areas of
responsibility to the vice-presidents, and to gather names and
obtain information helpful for making wise appointments; he
shall meet with the chairman and the staff supporting the boards
and commissions to discuss their convention reports, to assess
with them the financial support they will need; and he shall meet
with the financial and administrative officers to assess the
financial status of the Synod and the estimate of the financial
resources available for the coming year.

2026 Convention Workbook

(c) The President of the Synod shall be limited to a maximum of
five consecutive elected terms in that office.
(d) The First Vice-President and each regional vice-president of
the Synod shall be limited to a maximum of five consecutive
elected terms in that office.
(e) After reaching the maximum number of terms in office, an
individual shall not be eligible for reelection to the same office.
(cf) …

and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for all past and
present officers of Synod who have faithfully served Christ’s
Church, and pray that these term limits will serve the Gospel’s
advance by encouraging renewal, accountability, and the raising up
of future leaders.
Circuit 18
Texas District
Ov. 9-31

To Give Commissioned Ministers the Franchise
and To Study Equal Lay and Clergy
Representation on Boards and Other Bodies
WHEREAS, Commissioned ministers are laity and not clergy;
therefore be it
Resolved, That Synod Bylaw changes be prepared for
consideration at the next Synod convention by a task force
appointed for the purpose of making commissioned ministers
eligible to represent the congregations which hold their membership
as lay delegates to circuit forums, district conventions, and Synod
conventions, in such instances where the congregations and/or
circuits in question deem the individual commissioned minister
capable of representing the congregation and/or circuit fully in its
interests due to their congregational involvement apart from their
official commissioned church work; and be it further
Resolved, That the same task force study and make proposals at
the next Synod convention concerning bringing the balance of all
Synod and district boards and other bodies to 50 percent laity and
50 percent clergy.
Circuit 14 (Austin)
Minnesota South District
Ov. 9-32

To Amend Constitution Article XII 10 a
to Provide Option of Appointing Ordained
or Commissioned Minister as District
Convention Rostered Voting Delegate
Preamble
The Synod’s ministers of religion—commissioned, such as
deaconesses, teachers, directors of Christian education (DCEs), and
other ministers, fulfill critical leadership and ministerial roles
within the church. While not ordained, their service and experience
is unique and vital to the schools, congregations, recognized service
organizations (RSOs), and communities that the Synod serves. This
overture proposes that all rostered workers be eligible to serve as
the non-laity voting delegate to district convention under
Constitution Article XII 10 a. The proposed constitutional
amendment does not cause an imbalance between rostered church
worker delegates and lay delegates.