RESOLUTION 11-05
Overtures 11-18, 11-26–27, 11-29, 11-52 (CW, pp. 392, 394–95, 397, 407)
The 2010 LCMS convention adopted changes to the Bylaws that allow for the regional election to certain vice55 president, Board of Directors, and mission board positions. While these regional elections have been well received, recent experience has shown that there are a number of deficiencies and opportunities for improvement to the nomination 1 and election processes.
Currently, the submission of nominations for regional positions is restricted to congregations within that region. The final slates for these positions are populated by the five nominees who receive the highest number of nominations. In some cases, the slate includes persons who have low, single-digit numbers of nominations. The Board of Directors believes expanding the pool of nominators will likely result in more nominees for consideration. Because the slate is currently compiled based solely on the number of nominations received, there is no opportunity for an assessment to determine whether a candidate possesses sufficient qualifications necessary to perform the functions of the position for which they are being nominated. Additionally, the current process does not allow for floor nominations, which would provide an opportunity to amend the slate should there be a more qualified candidate in the pool of nominees.
The proposed overture attempts to address each of the issues identified in the preceding paragraph. Additionally, we advocate for the inclusion of the Committee on Convention Nominations in the process of gathering and reviewing the nominees, tasking them to create a slate of the most qualified candidates using previously established processes that are used for the election of other LCMS positions.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That certain bylaws be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
See resolution for proposed wording