Ad Crucem NewsLCMS 2023 ConventionCommittee 9Structure and Administration
To Strengthen Nonvoting Advisory Delegate Participation at Convention
- Committee
- 9. Structure and Administration
- Submitted by(2)
- other districts to do the same, and implementing this practice at thedistrictPacific Southwest Districtdistrict
- Workbook page
- 381
WHEREAS, Currently there are 12,010 ministers of religion— commissioned (Church Worker Update System, March 2021) who serve the mission and ministry of congregations, schools, child development centers, camps, compassion centers, and mission work throughout the national and global mission fields; and
WHEREAS, The current structure of the Synod does not allow for a third category of voting delegates at district and Synod conventions (Constitution Articles IX; XII 10 b); and
WHEREAS, The Synod highly values commissioned ministers for their eagerness to serve the Lord and His Church (2019 Resolution 9-17,“To Study Voting Privilege in the LCMS,”Proceedings,201); and
WHEREAS, Ministers of religion—commissioned are considered advisory members with representation, voice, but no vote at conventions of districts and Synod, along with “those ordained ministers not eligible for election as a voting delegate under Bylaw
3.1.2.1 (d) …” (Bylaw3.1.3)with representation, voice, but no vote at conventions of districts and Synod; and
WHEREAS, Four districts—Northern Illinois, Nebraska, Mid- South, and Pacific Southwest—utilize the voice and guidance of their commissioned worker in district convention through a non- counted advisory member vote; and
WHEREAS, This honors the bylaws and structure of convention while allowing the nonvoting advisory delegate voice to be heard and their vote recognized; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Pacific Southwest District affirm the trial practice of the 2022 district convention—supported by the district board of directors—to enable nonvoting advisory commissioned minister delegatestoprovideapreliminaryadvisoryvoteon allnon- election, convention actions; and be it further
Resolved, That a pre-vote model of commissioned ministers become a regular practice of the district starting with the next district convention in 2025; and be it further
Resolved, That each congregation will have the right to send one commissioned minister, non-voting advisory delegate to the district convention; and be it finally
Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize the 2023 Synod convention to pass a like-minded resolution, encouraging