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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 111

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

SEMINARY ISSUES 111

mittee for Boards of Control of the Synod's colleges and
seminaries and we further propose that the Boards of Direc-
tors of the synodical Districts be directed to submit names
of suitable candidates for positions on the various Boards of
Control to the Board for Higher Education. While under
the present Bylaws, the Boards of Directors of the synodical
Districts have this right they are not mandated to provide
such nominees.

We wish to express to you our appreciation for the
very fine cooperation which we received from your office,

and also wish to express our appreciation for the equally
fine cooperation which we have received from those with
whom we have consulted. We have asked the Lord’s bless-
ing upon our deliberations, and we are confident that He
has answered our prayers. We ask His continued blessing on
the Synod, which has been so singularly blessed for 125
years, and we ask for a particular measure of blessing upon
its educational institutions.

Edmund H. Happel, Chairman

John W. Klotz, Secretary

Proposed Handbook Changes

PRESENT WORDING

1.09 Relation of the Synod to its Members

a. The Constitutions, Bylaws, and all other rules
and regulations of the Synod apply to all members
of the Synod, i.e., to all congregations, pastors,
professors, and teachers. The Synod expects such
congregations as have not yet been received into
membership, but are served by the Synod, and
whose pastors and teachers hold membership in
the Synod to honor its rules and regulations.

b. The Synod expects every member congrega-
tion to respect its resolutions and to consider them
of binding force if they are in accordance with the
Word of God, and if they appear expedient as far
as the condition of the congregation is concerned.
The Synod, being an advisory body, recognizes the
right of the congregation to be the judge of the
expediency of the resolution as applied to its local
condition. However, in exercising such judgment,
a congregation must not act arbitrarily but in ac-
cordance with the principles of Christian love and
charity.

c. Membership of a congregation in the Synod
gives the Synod no equity in the property of that
congregation.

6.23 Personnel of Boards of Control
Each Board of Control shall include:

a. The President of the District in which the
synodical institution is located. He may designate
a District Vice-President as his standing represen-
tative.

b. At least five and no more than nine members,
as specified by the charter or corporate articles of
the institution, who shall be elected at the conven-
tions of the Synod for terms of 4 years in such
manner that about one half of the members shall
be elected at each convention of the Synod. The
elective members shall include:

1. one to three pastors;

2. one or two teachers;

3. three to five laymen.

PROPOSED WORDING

a. STET

b. STET

c. STET

d. Clergy and teacher members of the Synod
shall hold their synodical membership in that Dis-
trict in which the congregation they serve holds
membership or in which they are serving as Dis-
trict executives. Clergy and teacher members of
the Synod who are serving an educational institu-
tion of the Synod shall be under the ecclesiastical
supervision of the President of the geographical
district in which the institution is located.

e. While retaining the right of brotherly dis-
sent, members of the Synod are expected as part
of the life together within the synodical fellowship
to honor and to uphold the resolutions of the
Synod. If such resolutions are of a doctrinal nature,
dissent is to be expressed first within the fellowship
of peers, then brought to the attention of the Com-
mission on Theology and Church Relations before
finding expression as an overture to the convention
calling for revision or recision. While the con-
science of the dissenter shall be respected, the
consciences of others, as well as the collective will
of the Synod, shall also be respected.

6.23 Personnel of Boards of Control

a. Except for the two theological seminaries each
Board of Control shall include the following voting
members:

1. The President of the geographical District in
which the synodical institution is located. He may
designate a District Vice-President as his standing
representative.

2. At least five and no more than nine members,
as specified by the charter or corporate articles of
the institution, who shall be elected at the con-
ventions of the Synod for terms of 4 years in such
manner that about one half of the members shall
be elected at each convention of the Synod. The
elective members shall include one to three pastors,
one or two teachers, and three to five laymen.