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Resolution 4-02A

To Amend Bylaws to Refine Process for Creating Triennial Mission and Ministry Emphases

Current verified published text from Today's Business, Issue 2B. Proposed business, not final Synod action unless adopted.

Current published version

Resolution 4-02A

Today's Business, Issue 2B
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Printed pp. 284-287
Proposed business unless official action indicates otherwise

Supersedes the immediately prior published version of Resolution 4-02.

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Official Action Source

Convention Minutes, Opening Worship and Sessions 1 and 2

Saturday-Sunday, July 18-19, 2026

Use these published minutes for the controlling record of actions, votes, elections, and parliamentary dispositions. Today's Business remains the source for exact published proposal wording.

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Previous published version

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Version History

Current published version

Today's Business, Issue 2B. pp. 284-287. Revised published proposal.

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Official Resolution Source Text

Resolution: 4-02

Canonical number: 4-02

Committee: Life Together

Source: Today's Business, Issue 1

Printed pages: pp. 82-85

PDF pages: 82-85

Version: original, superseded

Source reference: Issue 1, pp. 82-85

Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 1, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.

Page 82

  1. To Amend Bylaws to Refine Process for Creating Triennial Mission and Ministry Emphases
  2. RESOLUTION 4-02
  3. Overture 4-12 (CW, 307–9)
  4. WHEREAS, The Synod in convention (2023 Res. 4-02, “To Affirm and Continue Making Disciples for Life as Mission
  5. and Ministry Emphasis for 2023–26 Triennium”) instructed the Board for National Mission and the Board for International
  6. Mission to offer a recommendation to the 2026 Synod convention for refining the process for adopting triennial mission
  7. and ministry emphases; and
  8. WHEREAS, The Bylaws require the Synod in convention to approve triennial mission and ministry emphases with a
  9. process that requires input from every circuit and district of the Synod (Bylaws 3.8.2.2, 3.8.3.2; 4.2.1 [b, d]; 5.2.3 [g], 5.3.1
  10. [a][5]); and
  11. WHEREAS, The mission boards of the Synod conducted extensive fraternal discussions with every district of the Synod
  12. over the past triennium about the work of the Synod and the triennial mission and ministry emphasis, including the
  13. procedure for developing triennial mission and ministry emphases; and
  14. WHEREAS, These fraternal discussions with the districts concluded that the current procedure for developing triennial
  15. mission and ministry emphases has proven to be cumbersome and unworkable; and
  16. WHEREAS, The Synod’s mission boards and the Council of Presidents are to assist the President of the Synod in
  17. establishing the goals for mission and ministry of the Synod (Bylaws 3.3.1.1.1 [a], 3.8.2, 3.8.3); therefore be it
  18. Resolved, That the two mission boards, in collaboration with the President of the Synod, and in continued fraternal
  19. dialogue with the districts, be charged with recommending to the Synod in convention triennial mission and ministry
  20. emphases for adoption; and be it further

Page 83

  1. Resolved, That Bylaw 3.3.1.3 be amended as follows:
  2. PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
  3. Powers and Duties – Ecclesiastical and Administrative
  4. 3.3.1.3 The President shall have responsibilities and duties that are both ecclesiastical and administrative.
  5. …
  6. (q) He shall collaborate with the Board for National Mission and the Board for International Mission in
  7. assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of the Synod’s triennial mission and ministry emphases.
  8. and be it further
  9. Resolved, That Bylaws 3.8.2 and 3.8.2.2 be amended as follows:
  10. PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
  11. Board for National Mission
  12. 3.8.2 The Board for National Mission is charged with developing and determining policies for the coordination of
  13. and in support of district ministries which support congregations and schools (Bylaw 1.2.1 [n]). These
  14. policies shall embrace and apply the mission and ministry emphases adopted by the national convention.
  15. Under the leadership of the President of the Synod, pursuant to Bylaw 3.3.1.1.1, the board shall assist in
  16. identifying the specific goals for the Office of National Mission. Policies determined by the board
  17. (implemented by staff) may include but not be limited to:
  18. …
  19. 3.8.2.2 The Board for National Mission shall, during the course of each triennium between national conventions of
  20. the Synod, work with the Board for International Mission to gather pertinent and sufficient information from
  21. the Synod’s members that will facilitate the boards’ assessment and evaluation of the effectiveness of the
  22. Synod’s triennial mission and ministry emphases, and shall, in collaboration with the President of the Synod,
  23. after fraternal dialogue with the districts, develop accordingly a joint overture to the national convention for
  24. beneficial amendments thereto. The boards shall also provide a joint report in advance of the Synod’s district
  25. conventions, offering ideas and guidance for proposing triennial mission and ministry emphases to the
  26. national convention.
  27. and be it further
  28. Resolved, That Bylaw 3.8.3 and 3.8.3.2 be amended as follows:
  29. PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
  30. Board for International Mission
  31. 3.8.3 The Board for International Mission is charged with developing and determining policies in support of
  32. mission and ministry in foreign countries for the Office of International Mission (Bylaw 1.2.1 [n]). These
  33. policies shall embrace and apply the mission and ministry emphases adopted by the national convention.
  34. Under the leadership of the President of the Synod, pursuant to Bylaw 3.3.1.1.1, the board shall assist in
  35. identifying the specific goals for the Office of International Mission. Policies determined by the board
  36. (implemented by staff) may include but not be limited to:
  37. …
  38. 3.8.3.2 The Board for International Mission shall, during the course of each triennium between national conventions
  39. of the Synod, work with the Board for National Mission to gather pertinent and sufficient information from
  40. the Synod’s members that will facilitate the boards’ assessment and evaluation of the effectiveness of the
  41. Synod’s triennial mission and ministry emphases, and shall, in collaboration with the President of the Synod,
  42. after fraternal dialogue with the districts, develop accordingly a joint overture to the national convention for
  43. beneficial amendments thereto. The boards shall also provide a joint report in advance of the Synod’s district
  44. conventions, offering ideas and guidance for proposing triennial mission and ministry emphases to the
  45. national convention.
  46. and be it further
  47. Resolved, That Bylaw 4.2.1 be amended as follows:

Page 84

  1. PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
  2. 4.2 District Conventions
  3. 4.2.1 Conventions of the districts shall afford opportunities for worship, nurture, inspiration, fellowship, and the
  4. communication of vital information. They are the principal legislative assemblies, which amend the district’s
  5. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, consider and take action on reports and overtures, and handle
  6. appropriate appeals.
  7. (a) The conventions of the districts shall be governed by the bylaws adopted by the Synod for its
  8. conventions, insofar as these may be applicable.
  9. (b) The district convention is the instrument to receive overtures (Bylaw 3.1.6.2), including overtures
  10. and recommendations for synodwide mission and ministry emphases submitted by member
  11. congregations and adopted by a circuit forum.
  12. (cb) Following in-depth study and discussion, the district convention shall act on the overtures and may,
  13. as determined by the convention, submit overtures to the national convention.
  14. (d) The district convention shall, through delegate vote, forward to the national convention a list of two
  15. or three triennial mission and ministry emphases for consideration by the national convention.
  16. (ec) Each district may adopt other regulations, provided these are not contrary to the Constitution and
  17. Bylaws of the Synod.
  18. …
  19. and be it further
  20. Resolved, That Bylaw 5.2.3 be amended as follows:
  21. PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
  22. 5.2 Circuit Visitors
  23. …
  24. 5.2.3 Each circuit visitor shall assist the district president within the circuit.
  25. …
  26. (f) He shall seek to strengthen the spirit of cooperation among pastors, commissioned ministers, and
  27. congregations.
  28. (g) He shall assist in the development and attainment of Synod-wide mission and ministry emphases.
  29. (hg) He shall assist the district president, as requested, in promoting and obtaining unanimous
  30. participation by congregations in the submission of annual statistical reports.
  31. …
  32. and be it finally
  33. Resolved, That Bylaw section 5.3 be amended as follows:
  34. PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
  35. 5.3 Circuit Forums
  36. 5.3.1 The circuit forum is the group which aids the process of keeping congregations, particularly the lay leaders,
  37. commissioned ministers, and pastors, supportive of one another in their common confession and mutually
  38. active in developing programs for the good of member congregations, in considering and recommending new
  39. work, and in suggesting improvements for services and programming at the national and district levels and
  40. is encouraged to meet at least twice a year.
  41. (a) The circuit visitor shall endeavor to provide resources, opportunities, and assistance so God’s people
  42. can grow in their faith.
  43. (b) Among the functions which the circuit forum may perform are the following:
  44. (1) To study the Scriptures and the Confessions in order to promote an evangelical spirit in our
  45. walking together.
  46. …
  47. (5) To serve as a setting to review and evaluate programs, plans, and long-range directions of the
  48. district and the Synod and thus participate in the triennial process of suggesting, developing, and
  49. attaining the Synod’s priorities and goals.
  50. …

Page 85

  1. 5.3.4 The circuit forum may also participate in the triennial process of suggesting, developing, and attaining the
  2. Synod’s priorities and goals.
  3. 5.3.54 The circuit forum shall be qualified to submit overtures to national and district conventions.

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