To Strengthen Nonvoting Advisory Delegate Participation at Conventions

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)” (Bylaw 3.1.3) 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-counted advisory member vote; 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; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Directors work with the district president to establish a procedure for the roster ed ministers of religion of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District to provide a preliminary poll on the resolutions proposed for the district convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the results of that poll be provided to the delegates at the convention prior to the convention vote; and be it further

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

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