To Establish Term Limits for Elected Officers in the Synod and Districts

WHEREAS, The Lord gifts all people with many and diverse gifts (1 Cor. 12:28–31); and

WHEREAS, The Lord has gifted the Church with many faithful men who possess the gifts of leadership and administration; and

WHEREAS, Scripture discourages us from trusting in human princes—precisely because of their humanity—rather than in God who alone saves (Psalm 146:3); and

WHEREAS, All elected offices in the world and in the Church are often very stressful and take their toll on those who hold them; and

WHEREAS, One ofthe benefits of term limitation isthat it focuses the office holder and helps him to see what limits there are to his time and the authority of his office; and

WHEREAS, Both Synod and districts have already seen the wisdom of limiting the tenure of some elected offices (such as circuit visitors) and elected board and commission members; and

WHEREAS, More than half of the districts in Synod already have term limitations for some of their elected offices, although the specified offices vary widely as well as the precise term limits, and it is preferable for this to be standardized throughout the Synod;

therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.2.4.1 be amended as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Terms of Office …

3.2.4.1 The offices of President, the first Vice-President, regional vice-presidents, and Secretary shall be without limitation as to reelection ineligible for reelection after serving a total of four successive three-year elected terms or 12 years total (successive or non-successive terms), unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws. …

and be it further

Resolved, That this restriction take effect upon passage by the convention and is retroactive, meaning that those elected at this convention may not be elected again if the term limit has been reached at the end of this term or before the end of this term; and be it further

Resolved, That Bylaw 4.3.4 be added as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 4.3 District Officers …

4.3.4 The elected offices of President, the Vice-Presidents, and Secretary shall be ineligible for reelection after serving atotal of four successive three-year elected terms or 12 years total (successive or non-successive terms). Term limits, if any, for other elected offices and board and commission members may be determined by the individual district.

and be it further

Resolved, That this restriction take effect upon passage by the convention and is retroactive, meaning that those who currently hold these offices may not be elected again if the term limit has been reached at the end of the current term or before the end of the current term; and be it finally

Resolved, That we thank Almighty God for the faithful service of those currently in office who will be affected by these changes and that we encourage them to continue their ministry through other avenues of service, healthy in all respects.