RESOLUTION 11-08
Overtures 11-12, 11-24, 11-38−39, 11-51 (CW, pp. 389, 393, 400, 405)
A. To Strengthen Bylaw Requirements for Submission of Statistical Information
Rationale
With the active cooperation of the Council of Presidents, progress has been made by the Office of the Secretary and the Department of Rosters, Statistics, and Research toward obtaining 100 percent response in congregations’ submission of annual statistical information. While this information has always been valuable, increased abilities to use such information for the general good of the Synod and its agencies has increased interest in a unanimous response.
The Commission on Handbook has approved the following bylaw changes proposed by the Secretary of the Synod for submission to the 2016 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) convention.
Proposed Action
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaws 1.3.4–1.3.4.1; 3.3.3.2; 4.4.7–4.4.8; and 5.2.3 be amended to strengthen requirements for congregations’ submission of annual statistical information, as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
See resolution for proposed wording
B. To Restore Requirement for Submission of Circuit Visitor Nominee Names
Preamble
A bylaw provision requiring the submission of names of circuit visitor nominees prior to the day of the circuit forum to elect the circuit visitor was inadvertently omitted when the current process was adopted by the 2010 LCMS convention. Such a provision does currently exist in the circuit forum election process for national convention voting delegates.
The Commission on Handbook proposes restoring this day-prior requirement for submission of names of circuit visitor nominees, thereby mirroring the language of Bylaw 3.1.2.1 (e) by amending Bylaw paragraphs 5.2.2 (b) and (d).
Proposed Action
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 5.2.2 paragraphs (b) and (d) be amended to restore the day-prior requirement for submission of names of circuit visitor nominees, as follows:
PROPOSED WORDING
See resolution for proposed wording
C. To Clarify Bylaws re Circuit Forums and Electoral Circuit Forums Rationale
Current Bylaw section 5.3, which defines and details the responsibilities of visitation circuit 2 forums, includes information regarding electoral circuit meetings (as anticipated by Bylaw 3.1.2). Removing those references from Bylaw section 5.3 and inserting them into Bylaw 3.1.2 will provide clarity for distinguishing between visitation circuits and electoral circuits. The Commission on Handbook therefore proposes the following bylaw changes.
Proposed Action
Therefore be it
Resolved, That new wording be introduced into Bylaw 3.1.2 that retains and relocates the content of current Bylaw 5.3.3 regarding electoral circuit meetings, as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
See resolution for proposed wording
and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 5.3.3 be amended to read as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
See resolution for proposed wording