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 Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod (LCMS) does not allow for a third category of voting delegates at district and Synod conventions (Constitution Articles IX; XII 10 b); and

WHEREAS, The LCMS highly values ministers of religion— commissioned 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, This honors the by law and structure of the convention while allowing the nonvoting advisory delegate voice to be heard and their vote recognized; and

WHEREAS, At least one other district (Northern Illinois) utilizes the voice and guidance of their ministers of religion— commissioned in district convention through a non-counted advisory member vote; and

WHEREAS, The Southeastern District in its 2022 convention voted to forward this overture to the Synod convention for consideration; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod enable nonvoting advisory delegates to provide a preliminary non-binding vote 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 finally

Resolved, That this become effective with the next Synod convention in 2026.