LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 121

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121

5. CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

To Appoint Task Force to Study and
ropose Revisions of Constitution,
Bylaws, and Organization

RESOLUTION 5-01A

Reports 5-02, I, 4, 17, 25, App. 3-01, I, IV, B; Over.
tures 5-06—5-09, 5-11—5-12H, 5-16, 5-17, 5-19—5-21, 5-
23—5-34, 5-36—5-49, 5-52, 5-54A—B, 5-56A—5-59, 5.
66A—E, 5-69, 5-70, 5-107 (CW, Pp. 62, 207—216, 218
233, 235, 236, 247); N.O. Res. 5-14, 5-15, 5-19 (CW, p.
442)

WuerEAas, Res. 4-43 (1973 Proceedings, P. 160), and
Res. 5-28 (1973 Proceedings, P. 172) established a com-
mittee for Reorganization and also a “Constitutional

necessary, and to “study the Bylaws for clarification, better
coordination, and simplification” and “study of the Synod’s
Organization and structure”: and

WHeEREas, “Report of Committee for Reorganization
and Constitution Review Committee” (5-02, CW, p. 207)
indicates that they have been unable to complete the
assignment in Spite of numerous meetings during the
past biennium; and

WHEREas, The above-mentioned overtures, together
with many received at past conventions of the Synod,
indicate a need for such a study of the Constitution,
Bylaws, and organizational structure of the Synod; and

WuHerEas, The Piecemeal amending of the Constitu-
tion and Bylaws without a thorough study of the polity of
our church will further confuse the entire matter of
government in the Synod; and

WuereEas, The above-mentioned overtures ask for
either constitutional amendments or major changes in
the Bylaws; and

Wuereas, The report of the Committee for Reorgani-
zation and Constitution Review Committee requests the
creation of a task force to complete the study; therefore
be it .

Resolved, That a task force to study and propose
revisions of the Constitution, Bylaws, and the entire
organizational structure of the Synod and its Districts be
created; and be it further

one District; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Synod shall place
an appropriate notice in the September 1975 issue of the
Lutheran Witness inviting each congregation of the
Synod to submit to his office by November 1, 1975, the

Resolved, That the Council of Presidents shall appoint
three persons, the Board of Directors shall appoint two

dents shall select six pastors and three teachers, the
i six laypersons, after
which the Council of Administrators shall select three
additional laypersons, all of whom shall serve on said
task force together with three members of the present
Committee for Reorganization and Constitution Review
Committee appointed by its chairman; and be it further

Resolved, That in the event a vacancy occurs on the
task force during its existence, such vacancy shall be
filled by the task force from the list of persons submitted

and be it further

Resolved, That the task force preserve the congrega-
tional polity of church government which has Served our
Synod in its history and avoid the centralization of power
within the synodica! Structure; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force seek maximal involve-
ment of the administrative units of the Synod and the
Districts of the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force be authorized to select
and secure Professional and clerical personnel and to

for the 1979 convention, with a Progress report to be
given by the task force to the 1977 convention of the
Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the Synod
appropriate sufficient funds to enable the task force to
complete its work: and be it finally

Resolved, That the final recommendations of the task
force for constitutional and bylaw revisions be sent to the