wfn.org | LCMS Adopts Synod / District Relations Measures

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services
1333 S. Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122-7295

61st Regular Convention St. Louis, Mo. July 14-20, 2001

Synod/district relations measures

ST. LOUIS -- Delegates to the 61st Regular Convention of The Lutheran 
Church Missouri Synod have adopted several resolutions that address the 
relationship between the national church body and the denomination s 35 
districts nationwide.

The actions, taken on July 16 and 17 as the denomination met for its 
triennial convention at the America s Center in St. Louis, were:
Resolution 8-01 defines the role of the district president in his official 
visits to each congregation of his district as he encourages them to tell 
the Good News about Jesus. It also describes the role of the circuit 
counselor in relation to member congregations, the district president, 
pastors and other called workers.

Resolution 8-02 was introduced because, as it says, "the current process of 
nominating synodical vice presidents two through five makes it impossible 
to publish sufficient accurate information to the delegates, hampering 
their ability to make informed selections." The resolution requires that 
Synod vice presidents two through five be nominated by congregations, 
starting in 2004. They are currently nominated from the convention floor. 
Delegates amended the resolution to stipulate that if a candidate for vice 
presidential office two through five is elected Synod president or first 
vice president, his name is to be removed from the ballot without requiring 
that other names be added to the ballot.

Resolution 8-03 ends the parallel structure of district and Synod boards 
and staff, and allows districts to "organize in the most appropriate manner 
to serve congregations" in accordance with the Synod s Constitution and 
applicable Bylaws.

Resolution 8-04 changes the responsibility for convention-site selection 
from the Council of Presidents to the Synod s Board of Directors, with 
input from the district president for the area in which the site is located.

Resolution 8-06 directs the Synod s Council of Presidents to elect a 
district president to serve on a seminary s Board of Regents regardless of 
whether or not he serves as president in the district in which the seminary 
is located.

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