To Change Electoral Circuit Requirement

WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 3.1.2 (a) states: “An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent visitation circuits, as determined by the district board of directors on the basis of the following requirements: each pair of delegates shall represent from 7 to 20 member congregations, involving an aggregate confirmed membership ranging from 1,500 to 10,000”; and

WHEREAS, The confirmed membership of many congregations in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has been declining, thus also reducing the aggregate confirmed membership in circuits; and

WHEREAS, There is often change in the number of congregations within visitation circuits due to mergers or closures; and

WHEREAS, The necessity of making fewer electoral circuits due to visitation circuits barely missing the current minimum requirements of size to be an electoral circuit on their own creates fewer opportunities for these congregations and circuits to have direct representation at a Synod convention to both participate as delegates in the convention and to bring back initiatives and resolutions of the Synod to the congregations of the circuit(s); and

WHEREAS, Districts from time to time realign visitation circuits in order to avoid the necessity of combining visitation circuits into electoral circuits; and

WHEREAS, Such realignment is sometimes necessary each triennium, despite the fact that, in the following triennium, aggregate confirmed membership may increase and additional member congregations may join circuits that are too small to be electoral circuits on their own currently; and

WHEREAS, Such realignment can adversely affect long-term relationships, which provide an important geographic connection for sister congregations and pastors to work collaborative ly to more effectively carry out the Great Commission to make disciples of all people; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.2 (a) be amended as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Voting Delegates

3.1.2 Electoral circuits shall meet as required by the Bylaws of the Synod to elect circuit voting delegates to the Synod’s national conventions.

(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent visitation circuits, as shall be determined by the district board of directors for the first Synod convention of each decade on the basis of the following requirements: each pair of delegates shall represent from 75 to 20 member congregations, involving an aggregate confirmed membership ranging from 1,5001,000 to 10,000. Such electoral circuits shall remain valid for that decade, even if electoral circuit criteria is no longer met. …