2/3 of Congregations Need to Approve Amendment A: 
Deadline is February 16

In August, each congregation of the Lutheran Church––Missouri Synod received an official ballot from the Secretary of Synod.  Each  is invited and authorized to cast a positive or negative vote on a constitutional amendment adopted at Synod’s July convention.

This is important.  Be sure to submit your congregation’s vote.  The deadline is February 16, 2005.

The controversial vote is on Amendment A to Synod’s Constitution concerning Article XI F 2.

The proposed wording reads as follows:  “(The Board of Directors) shall exercise supervision over all the property and business affairs of the Synod except to the extent management authority and duties have been delegated by the Constitution, Bylaws, or resolutions of the Synod to other officers and agencies of the Synod or where . . .”   The old wording left ambiguity in the words “except in those areas where it has delegated such authority to an agency of the Synod or where. . .”

The proposed change clarifies the historic understanding that final authority for assignment of authority and duties among synodical entities rests with the Synod meeting in convention and adopting resolutions.  That has always been the understanding in the Synod’s 157 years of organization.

      The controversy arose, among other  things, with the Board of Director’s effort last year to override a vote of the properly constituted Commission on Constitutional Matters when it removed Rev. David Benke from suspension over participation in the Yankee Stadium event following the September 11 tragedy in New York.

     The convention accepted Amendment A through a two thirds vote.  It must now be affirmed by two-thirds of all votes cast by congregations.  The deadline for your vote is February 16, 2005.

     The ballot was sent by bulk mail.  It is pictured on this page.

     If you did not receive one or lost this ballot, you can request a replacement from the Office of  the Secretary of the LCMS.  The phone number is 314-965-9917, x 1417.  Or address your email to raymond.hartwig@lcms.org.

Support the action of the 2004 convention.  Amendment A clarifies historic understandings.  Cast your vote.