To Amend Bylaws to Allow Regional Delegates to Select Regional Vice-Presidents

WHEREAS, The Synod utilizes entities within specific groupings to live out its life together as Synod in an orderly way for the benefit of the Body of Christ; and

WHEREAS, Districts are “the Synod itself performing the functions of the Synod” (Bylaw 4.1.1.1); and

WHEREAS, “The district president shall represent the Synod in his district” (Bylaw 4.4.2); and

WHEREAS, “A president shall be elected from the clergy roster of the Synod by each district” (Bylaw 4.3.1); and

WHEREAS, “A visitation circuit is a network of congregations that ‘walks together’ for mutual care, support, advice, study, ecclesiastical encouragement, service, coordination, resources, and counsel—all for the sake of greater congregational participation in God’s mission” (Bylaw 5.1.1); and

WHEREAS, Districts “establish visitation circuits according to geographical criteria” (Bylaw 5.1.2); and

WHEREAS, “Each circuit visitor shall assist the district president within the circuit” (Bylaw 5.2.3); moreover “[the circuit visitor] shall serve under the direction of and be accountable to the district president and shall serve as his spokesman when so authorized and directed and shall assist him in doctrinal and spiritual supervision” (Bylaw 5.2.3 [a]); and

WHEREAS, “The circuit visitor shall hold his position by virtue of his selection by the circuit forum and ratification by the district convention” (Bylaw 5.2.2); and

WHEREAS, “The [Synod] vice-presidents shall be elected advisors of the President and, upon the President’s request or as provided by the Synod, shall assist him in discharging his responsibilities or represent him” (Bylaw 3.3.2); and

WHEREAS, The filling of a vacancy in a regional vice-presidency is only made “in consultation with the district presidents within that region” (Bylaw 3.3.2.4); and

WHEREAS, Five Synod vice-presidents are designated “regional vice-presidents” (Bylaw 3.3.2.3); and

WHEREAS, Selection by regional groupings is deemed appropriate for circuit visitors and district presidents, each of whom serve under the direction of another, who is elected by a broader grouping; and

WHEREAS, Circuit visitors are selected in their regional grouping and ratified by the district in convention; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.12.2.7 be amended as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Nominations and Elections of Regional Vice-Presidents 3.12.2.7 After the results of the first-vice-presidential election have been announced, the convention shall elect five regional vice- presidents according to the following nominations and elections process. (a) Each member congregation of a region (including any non- geographic-district congregations in that region) shall have been given opportunity, through a secure and verifiable method provided by the Secretary of the Synod, to nominate two ministers of religion—ordained from the clergy roster of the Synod with residence in its designated region as candidates for regional vice-president. (b) The names of the five ministers of religion—ordained residing within the boundaries of each geographic region who receive the most nominating votes shall form the slate from which the delegates to the Synod convention from the respective regions shall select by majority vote the each regional vice-president from their respective region. (c) No opportunity shall be provided for additional nominations from the floor of the convention. (d) Voting delegates to the national convention shall be entitled to vote for one of the candidates from each region the region of the congregation in which they hold membership. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the three candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be retained on the ballot. (e) Balloting shall continue with the candidate receiving the least number of votes eliminated until one candidate from each region has received a majority of the votes cast. (f) After the selection of the regional vice-presidents, the selected vice-presidents shall be ratified by voting delegates to the Synod convention by majority vote. (fg) Upon the election ratification of the regional vice-presidents, a final election will take place ranking the vice-presidents by separate ballots with a simple majority of voting delegates determining the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth vice- presidents in line of succession.