To Amend Constitution to Grant Lay Vote to Every Congregation

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the Synod Article V A deals with voting members of the Synod and states: “All organized congregations that have joined the Synod hold voting membership”; and

WHEREAS, “Multi-congregation parishes” are allowed to send a single lay delegate to the district convention (Bylaw 3.1.2.1 [c]); and

WHEREAS, Each individual congregation is a member of the Synod and should be entitled to a lay vote; and

WHEREAS, The Southeastern District in its 2022 convention voted to forward this overture to the 2023 Synod convention for consideration; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod at its 2023 convention:

• give all organized congregations that hold membership in the Synod the opportunity to be represented by a lay delegate and a pastoral delegate at district conventions;

• retain asinglevoteforapastorwho represents more than one congregation;

and be it further

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.2.1 (c) be amended as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

3.1.2.1 Elections of voting delegates shall take place in accordance with established policy and procedure. …

(c) The privilege of voting shall be exercised by one pastor and one layperson from each member congregation or multi- congregation parish of the circuit, both of whom shall have been elected in the manner prescribed by the congregation or parish. Congregations of a multi-congregation parish not contributing a lay voter may send an advisory lay representative, with voice but no vote. A pastor serving a congregation in an assisting capacity (Bylaw 2.5.6) is not eligible to cast that congregation’s pastoral vote.All organized congregations that have joined the Synod hold voting membership. At the meetings of the districts of the Synod every congregation or parish is entitled to two votes,oneof which is to be cast by the pastor and the other by the lay delegate. In the case of a single pastor representing two or more congregations, no individual shall cast more than one vote. …