Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 224
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 224

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

224 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Synod shall sign the Constitution of the Synod in open
session of the District convention when they are re-
ceived into membership. If this imposes a hardship
or if they desire to become members at a convention
of the Synod, they shall file a signed statement of
subscription to the Constitution, which statement
shall read as follows: "Having read the Constitution
of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod, I hereby
subscribe to it, dated _, signed _.”' This
statement shall be filed with the Secretary of the
District prior to the convention in which they wish
to be received. The duly elected lay delegate of...

Commission on Constitutional Matters
Herbert Mueller. Secretary

To Limit Size of Conventions

WHEREAS. The size of our synodical convention has been
steadily increasing to the point where the total number at the
Anaheim convention will approximate 1,800 official delegates
and observers: and

WHEREAS. The cost of this expanding gathering is making
synodical conventions financially prohibitive: and

WHEREAS. The size of the conventions is sharply limiting the
number of cities where we might convene: and

WHEREAS. The number of those who have the right to the
floor is increasing to the point where it is nearly impossible to
achieve proper group interaction: therefore be it

Resolved. That the number of voting delegates to a synodical
convention be limited to a maximum of 300 delegates, with the
number of delegates sent by each District to be determined
proportionate to its size. except that no District shall send less
than two (2) lay delegates and two (2) pastoral delegates: and
be it further

Resolved. That the number of advisory delegates be limited
to 100, proportioned to our Districts according to how many
teachers and advisory pastors they have. except that. where
applicable, no District shall have less than one (1) advisory
pastoral delegate and one (1) advisory teacher delegate: and
be it further

Resolved. That representatives of synodical boards, com-
mittees and commissions, and of synodical institutions be scaled
down proportionately: and be it finally

Resolved. That each District President and one official
representative of the Board of Directors of each District shall
be invited to attend.

Board of Directors
Southeastern District
Ralph E. Wiechmann, Secretary

3-24A

To Reduce Size of Conventions

WHEREAS. The size of synodical conventions has increased
to the point where it makes transacting business difficult and
expensive: and

WHEREAS, It is advisable to keep visitation circuits small so
that the Circuit Counselor can adequately carry out his responsi-
bilities: therefore be it

Resolved. That electoral circuits shall consist of two or more
visitation circuits so that each pair of delegates shall represent
from 20 to 30 member congregations and from 5,000 to 20,000
communicant members.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Fort Dodge, Iowa

William Hotz, President

Gary W. Andersen. Secretary
Henry Wesenberg, Pastor

Identical or similar:

5-24B and 5-24C

Emmaus, Tripp. S. Dak.
Bethlehem, Houston. Tex.

Eugene Kruse
D. A. Robbins

To Reapportion Delegates to
Synodical Conventions

WHEREAS. The number of voting delegates to the synodical
conventions continues to increase in number: and

WHEREAS, There is quite a disparity of delegates from the
various Districts of the Synod, when the size of the Districts
is considered both as to communicant membership as well as
the number of congregations represented: and

WHEREAS. The only directive the Synod has given to Districts
in this regard involves the number of congregations and the
communicant strength of the electoral circuit: and

WHEREAS. This directive itself tends to cause Districts to
send larger numbers of delegates: therefore be it

Resolved. That Handbook Section 1.51 (Voting Delegates) be
changed to read:

a. Each District shall be represented by one voting
pastor and one voting lay delegate for each 5,000
communicant members in the District. Fractional com-
municants in excess of 3.000 shall also be represented
by one voting pastor and one voting lay delegate (i. e.,
a District with 18,500 communicants would have a
representation of four pastors and four lay delegates:
a District with 17,000 would be represented by three
pastors and three lay delegates). In no case shall a
District be represented by fewer than three voting
pastors and three lay delegates. The communicant
strength of the District shall be determined by the
latest Statistical Yearbook in hand at the time of
election of delegates.

b. Voting delegates shall be elected by each elec-
toral circuit of the District. The electoral circuit shall
be determined by each District and shall be made up
of sufficient congregations, adjacent to each other,
with a communicant membership totaling from four
to six thousand members.

c. Voting delegates shall serve a 2-year term, begin-
ning with the convention: after the convention they
shall function as resource persons for the congrega-
tions they represent and assist in the dissemination of
the synodical resolutions in these congregations.

Board of Directors
Texas District
Carl A. Heckmann, President

3-26A

To Improve Delegate Election Method

WHEREAS. A study of delegate representation at the New
Orleans convention gives evidence of disproportionate and
unequal representation of the membership of the Synod; and

WHEREAS. It is desirable to achieve as closely as possible
the ‘one person one vote” principle in its delegate election to
assure more equitable and responsive representation; therefore
be it

Resolved. That the Michigan District request the 1975 con-
vention of the Synod to develop a method of delegate election
which will represent more equitably the membership of the
Synod at future conventions of the Synod.

Michigan District
Norbert H. Mueller, Secretary