To Return to Nomination and Election Process in Which Synod Convention Delegates Elect President

WHEREAS, The previous process of electing the President of the Synod at convention served the Synod well; and

WHEREAS, The current process of congregations electing the President includes emails, complicated procedures, usernames, passwords, congregation “attesting officers,” costly internet technology support, as well as letters sent out as reminders; and

WHEREAS, Not all congregations may be making use of this privilege, especially vacant congregations; and

WHEREAS, The delegates at convention are entrusted with the duty of electing the other Synod officers to fulfill their important roles; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod return to the previous process included in the2007 Handbook by amending the current Bylaws, specifically by striking Bylaws 3.12.2.3, 3.12.2.4, 3.12.2.5, and 3.12.2.6 of the

3.12.1.3, 3.12.1.4, and 3.12.1.5 of the 2007 Handbook, to read as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Elections of President and First Vice-President

3.12.2.1 The candidates for the office of President shall be the five ordained ministers who received the highest number of votes in the nominating process and who consent to serve if elected. The candidates for the office of First Vice-President shall be the 20 ordained ministers receiving the highest number of votes in the nominating process. No opportunity shall be provided for additional nominations.

(a) The Secretary of the Synod shall notify each candidate and shall secure his approval in writing within ten days after receiving the results of the ballots for the inclusion of his name on the ballot.

(b) In the event of the death, declination, or un availability of any candidate, the nominee having the next highest number of votes shall become a candidate. In the event of a tie for the final candidate position, all names involved in the tie shall be included as candidates.

3.12.2.2 The Secretary of the Synod shall publish in the Convention Workbook and post on the Synod Website brief biographies of the five candidates for President and the 20 candidates for First Vice- President. This report shall contain such pertinent information as age, residence, number of years in the Synod, present position, offices previously held in a district or the Synod, year of ordination, former pastorates, involvement in community, government, or inter church affairs, and any other specific experience and qualification for the office. Opportunity to provide a personal statement shall be offered to each candidate for publication in an official periodical, this statement also to be posted on the Synod’s Website.

3.12.2.3 The Secretary of the Synod shall compile and maintain the voters list for the election of the President of the Synod. This list and any of its parts shall not be disseminated.

(a) This voters list shall include: (1) the pastor of each member congregation or multi- congregation parish (assisting pastors are not eligible) (2) a lay person from the congregation or parish

(b) The congregation shall present to the Secretary of Synod 90 days prior to the election a proper credentials form provided by the Secretary, signed by two of the congregation’s officers. If a congregation or parish has more than one pastor eligible to vote, the congregation shall designate on the credentials form which pastor will cast a vote on behalf of the congregation.

(c) If one or both voters are unavailable, congregations shall be provided opportunity to select substitute voters up to a deadline designated by the Secretary.

(d) The registration status of congregations shall be made available to respective district presidents for the sole purpose of their encouraging registration for greater congregational participation.The registration status of congregations shall not be further disseminated.

3.12.2.4 Six weeks prior to the national convention, the Secretary of the Synod shall provide, via a secure and verifiable method, opportunity for two voting delegates from each congregation, as determined according to Bylaw 3.12.2.3, to vote for one of the candidates for President. The Secretary shall, with the approval of the Board of Directors of the Synod, obtain the assistance necessary to accomplish this task. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, a second or succeeding ballots are required for a majority; the candidate receiving the fewest votes and all candidates receiving lessthan15percentofthevotescastshallbedroppedfromtheballot, unless only one candidate receives 15 percent or more of the votes cast, in which case the three highest candidates shall constitute the ballot, and another vote shall be taken in the same manner.

3.12.2.5 Following the completion of the election and at least two weeks prior to the convention, the Secretary shall notify the candidates of the results of the ballot(s). He shall thereafter also make the results known to the public. The candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected.

3.12.2.6 Prior to all other elections, the convention shall elect the First Vice-President.

(a) The President-elect shall select from the list of 20 nominees for the Office of First Vice-President five nominees who have consented to serve if elected, at least two of whom shall be taken from the top five nominees.

(b) Balloting will proceed with the candidate receiving the smallest number of votes eliminated from consideration until one candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, who shall be declared elected.

3.12.2.3 The convention shall have the right to alter each slate at the proper time by amendment.

(a) The amendment procedure shall include merely a motion, a second, and a vote on the amendment, deliberately excluding verbal characterizations and discussion of the motion (except for the chair to ascertain that the requirements have been met as to eligibility, consent, and the filing of the biographical form).

(b) Delegates making nominations from the floor shall have secured prior written consent of the candidates they wish to nominate.

(c) Such delegates shall immediately submit to the Secretary of the Synod this document and written pertinent information concerning their nominee(s) as detailed in Bylaw 3.12.2.2.

(d) After all such amendments have been voted on, the convention shall ratify the slate of candidates prior to each election.

3.12.2.4 Each voting delegate shall be entitled to vote for one of the candidates for President. The candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected.

(a) If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the four candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be retained on the ballot, and another vote shall be taken.

(b) Thereafter, the candidate receiving the smallest number of votes shall be eliminated on each subsequent ballot until one candidate receives a majority of the votes cast.

3.12.2.5 After the results of the election of the President have been announced, the convention shall then elect the First Vice-President according to the procedures outlined for the election of President in Bylaws 3.12.2.3 and 3.12.2.4.