To Strengthen Nonvoting Advisory Delegate Participation at Convention

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, as in 2019 Resolution 9-17, “To Study Voting Privilege in the LCMS” (Proceedings, 201); and

WHEREAS, The Synod recognizes the voices and wisdom of our commissioned ministers as gifts from the Lord, and appreciates and gives thanks to God for the unique vocations of ordained ministers, commissioned ministers, and lay people alike; and

WHEREAS, Ministers of religion—commissioned are considered advisory delegates 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, At least one other district (Northern Illinois) utilizes the voice and guidance of their commissioned workers in district convention through a non-binding advisory member vote; and

WHEREAS, This honors the by law and structure of the convention while allowing the non-voting advisory delegate voice to be heard and their vote recognized; therefore be it

Resolved, That the SELC District enable non-voting advisory delegates to provide a preliminary, advisory vote on convention business excepting elections at the discretion of the chair during its regular convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the results of the advisory votebe published prior to the delegate vote; and be it further

Resolved, That this become effective with the next district convention in 2025; and be it finally

Resolved, That the SELC District in convention memorialize the Synod in convention to pass a like-minded resolution.