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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 512

communities in which they carry out ministry, and all congregations 
are valued for said ministry, but the discrepancy in size between the 
largest and smallest congregations has expanded since the 1970s, 
such that more members of congregations of the Synod have fewer 
representatives at a Synod convention; and 
W
HEREAS, The member congregations of the Synod, as Synod, 
are “walking together” in ministry and, accordingly, representation 
with regard to the affairs of the Synod should take into account the 
varying sizes of the member congregations of the Synod; therefore 
be it 
Resolved, That Constitution Article IX 1 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
Article IX Representation 
The synodical meetings are composed of regularly elected and 
delegated representatives and of certain individual persons, as specified 
in the Bylaws, to wit: 
1. Representatives of congregations, entitled to vote. A number of  
congregation or congregations shall form a group which shall be 
represented by two voting delegates, one a pastor and one a lay 
delegate. 
… 
and be it further 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.2 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
Voting Delegates 
3.1.2 Electoral circuits shall meet as required by the Bylaws of 
the Synod to elect circuit voting delegates to the Synod’s national 
conventions. 
(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent 
visitation circuits, as shall be determined by the district board of 
directors on the basis of the following requirements: each pair of 
delegates shall represent from 7 to 20 member congr egations, 
involving an aggregate confirmed membership ranging from 
1,5002,500 to 10,0007,500; provided, however, that a member 
congregation that is represented by voting delegates pursuant to 
Bylaw 3.1.2.3 shall be excluded from said representation and not 
included in said aggregation. 
… 
and be it finally 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.1.2.3 be adopted as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
3.1.2.3  A member congregation of the LCMS that  has an 
aggregate confirmed membership of 1,500 or more members shall 
elect one pastor and one layperson as its voting delegates. The voting 
delegates and their alternates shall be elected pursuant to the election 
procedures of the congregation set forth i n its constitution and 
bylaws. 
(a) Delegates are responsible to the congregation they represent 
and shall attempt to discover the sentiment of the members 
thereof. 
(b) The congregation shall not require its delegates to vote in 
accordance with specific instructions, but each delegate shall be 
permitted to vote according to his or her own conviction. 
(c) Delegates are expected to be faithful in attendance at all 
sessions of the convention. All duly elected voting delegates shall 
attend all sessions regularly until the close of the convention. 
Delegates who arrive late or leave early or who do not attend at  
all shall present a written excuse. 
(d) Delegates shall report the actions of the Synod to their 
congregation after each convention. 
St. John 
Seward, NE 
Ov. 9-20 
To Amend Bylaw 3.1.2 (a) to Change Size 
Requirements for Electoral Circuits 
WHEREAS, In light of the declining number of congregations as 
well as communicant members throughout the Synod; and 
WHEREAS, Current requirements for an electoral circuit are 
difficult to achieve as is evidenced by the growing number of 
circuits asking for exceptions to the current rules for valid electoral 
circuits; and 
WHEREAS, Recent years have seen a decrease in worship 
attendance and membership in many congregations of the Synod; 
therefore be it 
Resolved, That the 2026 Synod convention amend Bylaw 3.1.2 
(a) to change the minimum requirements for a valid electoral circuit 
from seven congregations and 1 ,500 communicant members  
(Bylaw 3.1.2 [a]) to five  congregations and 500 communicant 
members, as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
Voting Delegates 
3.1.2 Electoral circuits shall meet as required by the Bylaws of 
the Synod to elect circuit voting delegates to the Synod’s national 
conventions. 
(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent 
visitation circuits, as shall be determined by the district board of 
directors on the basis of the following requirements: each pair of 
delegates shall represent from 7 5 to 20 member congregations, 
involving an aggregate confirmed membership ranging from 
1,500 500 to 10,000. 
 
Board of Directors 
Eastern District 
Ov. 9-21 
To Amend Bylaw Subsection 3.12.2  
to Restore Presidential Election to Convention 
WHEREAS, The 2010 Synod convention changed the 
longstanding practice of electing the Synod President at the 
convention and conferred that right to congregations using 
electronic voting; and 
WHEREAS, The move to direct representation has seen decreased 
participation in every election since this process was adopted, to 
wit: 
• The 2013 presidential election saw only 8,201 registered 
electors, and only 6,432 votes cast, the latter, re presenting 
only 62.16 percent of theoretical maximum participation; 
• The 2016 presidential election saw only 7,348 registered 
electors, and only 6,157 votes cast, the latter, re presenting 
only 60.76 percent of theoretical maximum participation; 
• The 2019 presidential election saw only 6,449 registered 
electors, and only 5,823 votes cast, the latter, re presenting 
only 58.97 percent of theoretical maximum participation; 
2026 Convention Workbook
477STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION