Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 260
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 260

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

260 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

candidates for various full-time positions, as pastors, teachers,
lay workers, deaconesses, and determining their qualifications:
and

WHEREAS, In recent years the concept has arisen among
some of our members that the Council of Presidents is similar to
a senate or legislative body, with powers inherent in itself to
define and set policy within the church: and

WHEREAS, The Synod functions with a Board of Directors
for continuing operation and has invested the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations with certain specific duties: and

WHEREAS, The District Presidents by nature of their office
are to carry out the policies and decisions of the Synod itself:
therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention clearly state that the
Council of Presidents is only an advisory body and does not
possess legislative powers, nor does it have the power to re-
Strict or veto the actions of the President of the Synod or the
presidium: and be it further

Resolved. That the District Presidents be restricted to their
function to carry out the directives of the Synod in their respec-
tive Districts: and be it finally

Resolved. That District Presidents who fail to carry out these
directions be asked to resign their position (office),

St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Hartley, Iowa

Duane Kolpin, Chairman
Virgil Treimer, Secretary

3-146A

To Clearly Define the Council of
Presidents and Its Duties

WHEREAS. District Presidents are the arms of the synodical
President and responsible to him | Handbook 3.41): and

WHEREAS. The role of the Council of Presidents. as his-
torically carried out in the LCMS. would be one in which the
council exists in an advisory capacity to the synodical President.
that it would have the prerogative to offer suggestions to the
President. would assist him in carrying out his duties. and would
perform such duties as the Synod would at times prescribe and
allocate to it: and

WHEREAS. The concept has arisen in recent years that the
Council of Presidents has or ought to have administrative and
legislative powers to define and set policy within the Synod: and

WHEREAS. The Handbook of the Synod does not clearly de-
fine the Council of Presidents and its duties: therefore be it

Resolved. That we petition the LCMS in convention in 1975
to change the Bylaws of the Synod by deleting the last sentence
of Bylaw 3.41, which says: “The District Presidents. together
with the President and Vice-Presidents of the Synod. shall form
the Council of Presidents’: and be it also

Resolved. That a new Bylaw (suggested as 3.42) be adopted
as follows:

3.42 Council of Presidents

The Council shall consist of the President. the Vice-
Presidents of the Synod. and the District Presidents.
The council shall convene:

a. To enable the President to advise and counsel
his representatives in the Districts:

b. to enable the District Presidents in turn to give
counsel to the President:

c. to counsel with one another on matters regard-
ing the doctrine and administration of the Synod and
its Districts:

d. to edifv and support one another in the work
which they share:

e. to carry out such assignments as the Synod
may give to the council from time to time.

South Wisconsin District
Robert A. Schmidt. Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-146B

Immanuel, Grand Forks, N. Dak. Neil Schmidt

3-147

To Provide for Synodical Convention
to Elect All District Presidents

WHEREAS. The Synod establishes Districts in order to achieve

its objectives and to carry out its activities more effectively
(Bylaw 3.01): and

WHEREAS. Every District President. according to Bylaw 3.41,
is to be a responsible subordinate to the President of the Synod:
and

WHEREAS. It is desirable that the Districts have as wide a
choice as possible of candidates for the office of District Presi-
dent from a slate of proven men in the Synod who have effec-
tively served in other assignments or calls of the Synod: there-
fore be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention at Anaheim. Calif..
declare the office of District President a synodical office. pro-
vide for the election of District Presidents by the Synod in
convention on the basis of Synodwide nominations by congre-
gations. and regulate the office of District President to conform
with the intention of the Constitution of the Synod.

Our Savior Lutheran Church
Carmi, II.

Adolph W. Kirsch, President
Betty Reid. Secretary
Herbert G. Halter, Pastor

3-148

To Disband Council of Presidents

WHEREAS, By tradition and definition a District of Synod is
the Synod itself at work in a given geographical area: and

WHEREAS. Therefore. the office of District President exists
to serve as an extension of the office of the President of the
Synod: and

WHEREAS. In recent years the Council of Presidents has
assumed for itself powers and prerogatives beyond its assigned
Jurisdiction, thus becoming a divisive factor in the life of our
church body: and

WHEREAS. The tendency to meddle in matters not belonging
to the office of the District President has shown itself in a partic-
ularly disturbing manner in connection with the work given to
the theological faculties of the Synod (for example, certification
and assignment of vicars and graduates): therefore be it

Resolved. That Immanuel Lutheran Church, Olivette. Mo.,
petition The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in convention
assembled to disband the Council of Presidents as an operating
necessity within the Synod: and be it further

Resolred. That the District presidents be directed to meet
only on an ad-hoc basis as needed and desired by the President
of the Synod in terms of consultation and advice: and be it
further

Resolred. That those responsibilities and activities carried
on by the Council of Presidents in connection with the assign-
ment of vicars. pastoral graduates, and teacher graduates be
transferred to the jurisdiction of a newly created Board of
Theological Education: and be it further

Resolved. That the executive secretary of this new BTE be
given the responsibility of working with the presidents and
assignment officers of each of the terminal schools in developing
the usual lists of assignments in terms of congregational needs
and the individual qualifications of the graduates: and be it
further

Resolved. That the actual assignment to parishes and schools
be made the responsibility of the respective faculties working