To Amend Bylaw 3.2.4.1 to Limit Terms of Office for President, First Vice-President, Regional Vice-Presidents, and Secretary

Official Workbook overture source text

9-28 
To Amend Bylaw 3.2.4.1 to Limit Terms of Office 
for President, First Vice-President,  
Regional Vice-Presidents, and Secretary 
WHEREAS, The Lord gifts all people with many and diverse gifts; 
and 
WHEREAS, Paul acknowledges this truth in 1 Corinthians 12:28–
31 with reference specifically to the Office of the Holy Ministry, 
where it is written, “ And God has appointed in the church first 
apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts 
of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work 
miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with 
tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts”; and 
W
HEREAS, The Lord has gifted the c hurch with many faithful 
men who possess the gifts of leadership and administration; and 
WHEREAS, We are discouraged from trusting in human princes—
precisely because of their humanity—rather than in God who alone 
saves and endows all pastors with these various gifts, as it is written 
in Psalm 146:3, “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in 
whom there is no salvation”; and 
WHEREAS, All elected offices in the world and in the c hurch, 
including the elected offices of The Lutheran Church —Missouri 
Synod, are often very stressful and take their toll on any and all who 
hold them; and 
W
HEREAS, We should always be concerned for the physical, 
emotional, and spiritual welfare of all who hold office in our Synod, 
that they not become negatively impacted by their work and are 
encouraged to return to their lives after service, healthy at all levels; 
and 
W
HEREAS, One of the benefits of term limitation is that it focuses 
the office holder by helping him to see what limits there are to his 
time and the authority of his office; and 
W
HEREAS, The Synod has already seen the wisdom of limiting 
the tenure of board and commission members; therefore be it 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.2.4.1 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
Terms of Office 
3.2.4.1 As to reelection, theThe offices of President, the first Vice-
President, regional vice -presidents, and Secretary shall be without 
limitation as to reelectionlimited to four consecutive terms or a 
maximum of 15 years lifetime in one particular office. 
… 
and be it further 
Resolved, That this amendment take immediate effect, meaning 
that the count of consecutive terms begin with the convention at 
which the amendment is adopted. 
Circuit 21 (Oconomowoc) 
South Wisconsin District 
Ov.