To Simplify Circuit Elections

WHEREAS, Every electoral circuit meets to elect voting delegates to the national convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS); and

WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 3.1.2.1 (d–f) mandates a procedure of preliminary ballots and succeeding ballots; and

WHEREAS, Per the Bylaws and the ruling of the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM), the district president cannot appoint a substitute lay delegate unless both a delegate and alternate are elected at the circuit forum; and

WHEREAS, Lay representation at the Synod convention is a vital aspect of our polity; and

WHEREAS, Every congregation should be assured that elections are carried out in strict accordance with the Bylaws of the LCMS; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.2.1 be amended as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Voting Delegates

3.1.2.1 Elections of voting delegates shall take place in accordance with established policy and procedure. …

(d) Each pastor who is called and installed to a congregation of the circuit in a non-assisting capacity and not a specific ministry pastor shall be eligible for election. (1) Each voter may write in the names of two such pastors on the initial ballot. The three pastors (or more, in case of a tie vote) who receive the highest number of votes in this preliminary ballot shall be placed on the next ballot. (2) Each voter shall now vote for only one candidate. Balloting shall continue with the lowest candidate being removed from each succeeding ballot until one pastor shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he shall be declared the pastoral delegate. (3) The congregation or congregations served (in other than an assisting capacity) by the elected pastoral delegate shall be removed from consideration for supplying any other voting delegate or alternate for that particular convention.

(e) Prior to the meeting of the electoral circuit, each congregation may nominate one layperson (i.e., not a commissioned or ordained minister), either from its congregation or from the circuit. These names must be submitted to the circuit visitor prior to the day of the circuit meeting and shall constitute the slate of candidates. All congregational nominees, except those who have been eliminated through the election of the pastoral delegate, shall be eligible for election. (1) Each voter may write in the name of two of the remaining lay nominees on the initial ballot. The three laypersons (or more, in case of a tie vote) who received the highest number of votes in this preliminary ballot shall be placed on the next ballot. (2) Each voter shall now vote for only one candidate. Balloting shall continue with the lowest candidate being removed from each succeeding ballot until one layperson shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he/she shall be declared the lay delegate. (3) The congregation from which the lay delegate has been elected shall then be removed from consideration for supplying any alternates to that particular convention.

(f) All other pastors who received votes in the initial write-in ballot, except those who were eliminated through the election of the lay delegate, shall be eligible for election as the alternate. (1) Each voter shall now vote for only one candidate. (2) Balloting shall continue with the lowest candidate being removed from each succeeding ballot until one pastor shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he shall be declared the alternate pastoral delegate. (3) The congregation or congregations served by him shall be removed from consideration for supplying the remaining lay alternate.

(g) All lay nominees except those who have been disqualified through the procedures listed above shall be eligible for election as the alternate lay delegate. The election of the alternate shall follow the same procedure as in paragraph (f) above. (hd) All four persons elected shall come from four different member congregations or multi-congregation parishes of the circuit. (No lay delegate or alternate shall come from a congregation served by the pastoral delegate or alternate.)

(e) The electoral circuit shall determine whether the elections start with the lay or pastoral voting delegate. The elections shall then proceed alternating between lay and pastoral delegate elections followed by the election of the alternate delegates.

(f) For the election of the lay voting delegate: Prior to the meeting of the electoral circuit, each congregation may nominate one layperson (i.e., not a commissioned or ordained minister), either from its congregation or from the circuit. These names must be submitted to the circuit visitor prior to the day of the circuit meeting. Nominees not disqualified by other delegate elections shall constitute the slate of candidates. (1) Each voter shall vote for only one candidate. Candidates receiving zero votes and the candidate receiving the least number of votes shall be removed from each succeeding ballot until one layperson shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he/she shall be declared the lay delegate. (2) The congregation or multi-congregation parish from which the lay delegate has been elected shall then be removed from consideration for supplying candidates for the other delegate elections for that particular convention.

(g) For the election of the pastoral voting delegate: Except those who have been disqualified by other delegate elections, each pastor who is called and installed to a congregation of the circuit in a non- assisting capacity and not a specific ministry pastor shall be eligible for election and their names shall constitute the ballot. (1) Each voter shall vote for only one candidate. Candidates receiving zero votes and the candidate receiving the least number of votes shall be removed from each succeeding ballot until one pastor shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he shall be declared the pastoral delegate. (2) The congregation or congregations served (in other than an assisting capacity) by the elected pastoral delegate shall be removed from consideration for supplying candidates for the other delegate elections for that particular convention.

(h) For the election of the alternate lay delegate: All lay nominees except those who have been disqualified by other delegate elections shall be eligible for election as the alternate lay delegate. (1) Each voter shall vote for only one candidate. Candidates receiving zero votes and the candidate receiving the least number of votes shall be removed from each succeeding ballot until one candidate shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast, whereupon he/she shall be declared the alternate lay delegate. (2) The congregation or multi-congregation parish from which the alternate lay delegate has been elected shall then be removed from consideration for supplying candidates for the other delegate elections for that particular convention.

(i) For the election of the alternate pastoral delegate: All other eligible pastors, except those who were disqualified through other delegate elections, shall be eligible for election as the alternate. (1) Each voter shall vote for only one candidate. Candidates receiving zero votes and the candidate receiving the least number of votes shall be removed from each succeeding ballot until one pastor shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast whereupon he shall be declared the alternate pastoral delegate. (2) The congregation or multi-congregation parish from which the alternate pastoral delegate has been elected shall then be removed from consideration for supplying candidates for the other delegate elections for that particular convention. (ij) The visitor(s) shall report the results of the election to the secretary of the district in writing immediately after said election.

(k) If the circuit fails to elect a delegate or alternate, the circuit is permitted to meet again prior to the deadline (Bylaw 3.1.2.1 [a]) to elect the delegate or alternate in accordance with this election procedure. (jl) If after the election deadline neither the delegate nor the alternate (pastoral or lay) can serve, the district president, in consultation with the respective circuit visitor(s), shall appoint a delegate to fill the vacancy shall be filled by the district president in consultation with the respective circuit visitor(s