Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 220
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 220

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

220 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Resolved, That the Synod appoint a committee or com-
mission, the majority of whom shall be women, to investigate
and evaluate steps towards equality and to inform the Synod
of them; and be it finally

Resolved, That Synodical and District officials be directed
to counsel with congregations and schools of the Synod that
need help in removing differences on the basis of sex in
calling procedures, tenure, salary, retirement programs, con-
ference attendance and other responsibilities and privileges
of the office of teacher.

LutHer MemorraL CHuRcH
Richmond Heights. Mo.
Victor Saeger, President
Karen Lindberg, Secretary
Robert Trautmann, Pastor

5-21A

To Grant Voting Rights to All Professional
Church Workers

Wuereas, Voting procedures within the LCMS at both
District and synodical conventions are based on congrega-
tional ministries; and

Wuereas, The church's ministry to the world increasingly
involves expressions of witness and service beyond congre-
gational structures; and

Wuergas, All professional church workers should be
members of the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
authorize a special committee to study the granting of voting
representation to all professional church workers regardless
of the ministry in which they serve, at District and synodical
conventions; and be it further

Resolved, That this committee submit its recommenda-
tions to all professional church workers of the Synod and
to all the congregations for their study and reaction and to
the 1975 convention of the Synod for action,

CALIFORNIA AND Nevapa District
Theo. A. Iverson, Secretary
Similar:

3-21B

Area I Pastor-Teacher Conference, Texas District, R. G.
Friedrichs, President: Donald Hinz, Secretary.

5-21C
Teachers Conference, California and Nevada District,
Janice Alexander, Secretary.

3-22

To Grant Right to Vote to Retired Pastors
Actively Serving as Interim Pastors

Wuereas, Our active retired pastors have a rich experi-
ence which the Lord of the church would want Synod to
use since they represent a large percentage of our communi-
cants; and

WHEREAS, The appointment of active retired pastors to
boards would relieve some pastors who attend excessive
board meetings and are unable to perform their pastoral
duties as they should: and

Wuereas, Active retired pastors contribute regularly, and
as well as any, to the support of their local congregation and
Synod, and since many are pensioned and would be willing
to serve without pay; therefore be it

Resolved, That we earnestly recommend that a percentage
of active retired pastors, equal to the percentage of regular
pastors, be granted a vote at synodical conventions: and be
it further

Resolved, That the praesidium seriously consider appoint-
ing active retired pastors to the vital boards of Synod, in-
cluding at least one active retired pastor to Synod’s Board of
Control,

Curist Divine LuTHERAN CHURCH
Sarnia, Ontario
George Sebele, President

5-23

To Permit Installed Lay Ministers to Serve
as Voting Delegates

Wuereas, Voting privileges are restricted to (ordained)
pastors and representing laymen of member congregations;
and

Wuereas, There are a goodly number of congregations
being served by lay ministers who are assuming the role of a
fully ordained pastor: and

WHEREAS, The member congregations involved respect
such a servant of God as their pastor and minister of the
Gospel; therefore be it

Resolved, That such lay ministers who are installed into
the pastoral ministry be included understandably as eligible
voting delegates representing their parish along with the
representing lay delegate.

REDEEMER CHURCH
Prince Albert, Sask.
Neal Brackhan
Roland Poier

To Grant Wider Enfranchisement
in the Synod

Wuereas, By tradition and practice, and not by direct
apostolic or dominical command, the franchise in Synod has
belonged to the member congregations; and

Wuereas, Even the pastoral vote has been dependent
upon his relationship to a member congregation of the
Synod; and

Wuereas, This system of franchisement served the Synod
well in the past when the most common and usual expression
of the church's life and ministry was the organized in-
corporated congregation, but this system is woefully inade-
quate in light of the varied ministries and forms of church
life the Spirit has created in our time: and

Wuereas, The present system of franchisement disen-
franchises many Spirit-created ministries of our Synod
simply because they do not exist in the form of the tra-
ditionally incorporated congregation; and

Wuereas, This system violates the fraternal nature of the
Synod by discriminating against all ministries of people and
pastors that are not confined to the incorporated congrega-
tional structure, and is thereby insensitive to the Holy
Spirit’s effective working beyond the confines of the tradi-
tional incorporated congregation; and

Wuereas, The word “synod™ emphasizes the unity of all
its members and thereby implies that all who are a part of
its purposes and activities are “walking together” instead of
being categorized in decreasing ranks of representation and
importance: and

Wuereas, It is most desirable to allow the full diversity
of the Synod to participate as equals in the governance and
policy-making activity of the Synod: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod with joy enfranchise all its
varied ministries and forms of mission, even though they
be not organized in the traditional congregational structure:
and be it further

Resolved, That all professional workers of the Synod who
belong to congregations be enfranchised without distinction.

Grace LUTHERAN CHURCH
Jacksonville, Fla.
Herbert Schert, Chairman

Similar:
5-24B

South and East Michigan Lutheran Teachers Conference,
Rochester, Mich.. Arlene Kolb, Secretary.