To Direct Revision of Council of Presidents Policy regarding Placement

WHEREAS, Bylaw 2.9.1 states: The Council of Presidents, acting as the Board of Assignments, shall regularly assign to qualified graduates of educational institutions of the Synod and workers available from colloquy programs as “first calls” those calls that have been duly extended to fill active member positions as identified in Bylaw 2.11.1 for ordained and commissioned ministers if positions for which candidates are qualified are available.

(a) The placement officers of the respective institutions shall be consulted before assignments are made.

(b) The president of the district in which a candidate is to be placed shall be consulted, and his concurrence shall be an essential part of the final recommendation to the Board of Assignments. and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.10.1.3 states: The Council of Presidents shall serve as the Board of Assignments of the Synod. It shall assign first calls to candidates for the offices of ordained and commissioned ministers. The Council of Presidents may in its policies delegate authority for interim placement (between its regular meetings) to a committee of its own members or the chairman of that committee. and

WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents (COP), acting as the Board of Assignments of the Synod, has a crucial role in the initial placement of candidates in our Synod, and such role should be carried out with the prayerful deliberation and discussion of the entire body; and

WHEREAS, Bylaw

3.10.1.3 currently allows the responsibility of interim placement of candidates to rest in the hands of one man alone, or to the placement committee of the COP; and

WHEREAS, It is desirable that whenever possible the plenary COP approve assignments; therefore be it

Resolved, That the COP revise its policy so that placement between regularly scheduled COP meetings can be handled in a way more fully representative of the whole COP (for example, using electronic means) in recognition of the charge given in Bylaw 2.9.1