Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 229
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 229

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

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 229

WHEREAS, All pastors duly ordained and serving in member
congregations of the Synod should be judged capable of respon-
sible participation in the decision-making processes of the
church: therefore be it

Resolved. That the synodical Bylaws governing the selection
of pastoral delegates to synodical conventions be set aside:
and be it further

Resolved. That pastoral delegates of electoral circuits shall
be selected on an alphabetical rotation of cities represented in
the Circuit, and of congregations when a city is represented by
more than one congregation: and be it further

Resolved. That where a pastor is serving in a multiple parish
the prime listing shall be alphabetical; and be it further

Resolved. That where congregations are served by more than
one pastor, those congregations shall determine which pastor
shall serve as delegate; and be it further

Resolved. That in order to be eligible to represent a given
Circuit, the pastor must have begun his service in that Circuit
at least 9 months prior to the opening of the convention, and be
in service in that Circuit at the time of the convention, and
shall not have served as delegate to a synodical convention for
at least 10 years: and be it finally

Resolved. That the selection of the alternate pastoral dele-
gates be chosen in the same manner from the next eligible
congregation in the rotation.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Pasco, Wash.

K. Larry Sannes, President
Ronald Hess, Secretary
Donald Frerichs, Pastor

Identical or similar:

5-41B to 5-41D

Bethlehem, Yakima, Wash.
Redeemer, Richland, Wash.
Hope, Wapato, Wash.

E. L. Bauer
M. Kellerman
T. Schoenborn

3-42A

To Change Selection of Lay Delegates

WHEREAS. The present system of selecting lay delegates
requires, for responsible voting, that the qualifications and atti-
tudes of candidates on current issues be known by those voting,
if the election is to be more than a choosing of a person whose
name is known for one reason or another not necessarily
related to the work of the church; and

WHEREAS, This system has and will continue to invite maneu-
vering by various groups with special concerns to accomplish
the election or defeat of certain candidates: and

WHEREAS, This has the effect of politically silencing the voice
of others by majority power: and

WHEREAS, This all but eliminates a truly representative
convention; and

WHEREAS, This makes efforts at reconciliation and coopera-
tion more difficult: therefore be it

Resolved. That the present system for selecting lay delegates
for synodical conventions be set aside: and be it further

Resolved. That lay delegates of electoral circuits shall be
selected on an alphabetical rotation of cities represented in the
circuit, and of congregations when a city is represented by
more than one congregation: and be it further

Resolved. That congregations sending the lay delegate select
that delegate in the manner used by such congregation in their
local elections; and be it further

Resolved. That in order to be eligible to represent a given
circuit, the layman must have been a communicant member of
a member congregation of the circuit at least 9 months prior to
the opening of the convention, and be a member of a congre-
gation of the circuit at the time the convention convenes, and
must not have served as a lay delegate to a synodical convention
for at least 10 years, nor shall he be from the congregation send-
ing the pastoral delegate; and be it further

Resolved. That the selection of the alternate lay delegate
be done in the same manner from the next eligible congregation
in the rotation.

Redeemer Lutheran Church
Richland, Wash.
Wm. Watson Jr.. Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-42B and 5-42C

Trinity, Pasco, Wash.
Bethlehem, Yakima, Wash.

Donald Frerichs
E. L. Bauer

5-43

To Permit Only Laymen to Elect
Lay Delegate

WHEREAS. The visible church is composed of both clergy and
laity: and

WHEREAS. Both clergy and laity are priests before God
(1 Peter 2:9): and

WHEREAS. Both have the duty to maintain doctrinal purity
and unity and the proper administration of the sacraments:
therefore be it

Resolved. That the historic balance of one pastoral and one
lay vote be maintained (Constitution, Art. V A) in synodical
and District conventions: and be it further

Resolved. That the Committee on Constitutional Matters
reconsider Resolution 5-27 of the New Orleans convention.
which deals with Bylaw 1.53. to permit only the laity to vote
for the lay delegate and that he be selected by the voters’
assembly of a congregation on a rotational basis within a Circuit.

Calvary Lutheran Church
Buffalo, N. Y.
Henry T. Schmidt. President

To Provide Franchise for All
Called Personnel

WHEREAS. The Synod has as one of its objects the training
of ministers and teachers (Constitution, Art. III 3: “The training

of ministers and teachers for service in the Evangelical Lutheran
Church”’): and

WHEREAS. God has bestowed His blessings on the Missouri
Synod through capable, dedicated, ‘called’ Christians (Bylaw
4.01 a: ‘Congregations which are members of the Synod, in
conformity with Article III, 3 of the Constitution of the Synod.
shall call and be served only by pastors and called teachers
who have been admitted to these respective ministries in ac-
cordance with the rules and regulations set forth in the synodical
HANDBOOK and have thereby become members of the Synod”):
and

WHEREAS. Those called by God and serving the church
have not all been granted franchise (Constitution, Art. V B:
“Advisory members only are the following: 1. Pastors whose
congregations do not hold membership in the Synod: 2. Assis-
tant pastors; 3. Ministers not in charge of congregations: 4. Pro-
fessors at the Synod’s educational institutions: 5. Teachers of
parochial schools; 6. Candidates for the office of the ministry
or for that of a teacher in the parochial schools:" therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention assembled in Ana-
heim grant franchise to all called personnel (Bylaw 4.01: see
above): and be it finally

Resolved. That the Synod amend Article V A of the Consti-
tution to read as follows:

All organized congregations that have joined the
Synod hold voting membership.

At meetings of the Districts of the Synod every
congregation or parish has the right to discharge its
franchise in the prescribed manner: