Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 116
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 116.
This page reproduces text from the 2023 LCMS Handbook for study and navigation. Readers should verify procedural, legal, parliamentary, or governance questions against the official LCMS Handbook and appropriate LCMS authorities.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Synod shall determine when the President is unable to serve in that capacity because of prolonged illness or disability.
(b) The First Vice-President shall remain as the acting president until that board determines that such illness or disability has been removed.
Vice-Presidents
3.3.2 The 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.
3.3.2.1 The vice -presidents shall, in the order in which they have been ranked,
assume the presidency if the office is vacated or perform the duties of the President if he becomes incapacitated.
3.3.2.2 The First Vice -President shall be a full- time executive and a nonvoting
member of the Board of Directors.
(a) He shall be responsible to the President at all times for the performance of his duties.
(b) He shall serve as the chairman of the Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry.
(c) He shall serve as the chairman of the Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry.
3.3.2.3 Five regional vice-presidents shall also be elected in the manner prescribed
in these Bylaws. They shall serve the Synod in a part -time capacity and shall be responsible to the President for the performance of their duties.
3.3.2.4 A vacancy in the office of First Vice -President shall be filled by advancing
the lower-ranking vice-presidents. The resulting vacancy or any vacancy in a regional vice -presidency shall be filled by appointment of the President in consultation with the district presidents within that region.
Secretary
3.3.3 The Secretary shall perform all the customary duties of a corporate
secretary and shall serve as a voting member and the secretary of the Board of Directors of the Synod.
3.3.3.1 The Secretary shall carry out all required responsibilities relating to
conventions of the Synod.
(a) He shall carry out responsibilities with reference to the nomination and election of the President and vice -presidents as detailed in Bylaw section 3.12.
(b) He shall serve as consultant to the local convention committee.
(c) He shall publish the names of the members of the Committee for Convention Nominations in an official periodical of the Synod as soon as possible after they have been elected.
(d) He shall carry out responsibilities with reference to the Committee for Convention Nominations as determined in the Bylaws.
(e) He shall provide the Committee on Elections with copies of a manual of suggested election procedures.
(f) He shall record the proceedings when the Synod meets in convention.
