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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 513

• The 2023 presidential election saw only 6,0 45 registered 
electors, and only 5 ,000 votes cast, the latter, representing 
only 53.78 percent of theoretical maximum participation 
(2023 Today’s Business, 2B:287); 
and 
WHEREAS, This limited and declining participation in the 
election of the Synod President does not assure substantially 
broader representation than the longstanding practice of circuit 
representation at conventions, which the Synod entrusts to decide 
all other elections and resolutions; and 
W
HEREAS, The longstanding practice of electing a president at 
convention has not only served the Synod well since its inception, 
but avoids the unnecessary trouble and expense associated with 
digital voting, not to mention increasingly more pervasive internet 
safety concerns; and 
W
HEREAS, 2023 Resolution 9-11 , “To Elect Synod President at 
Convention” (2023 Today’s Business, 1:190), proposing  the 
election of the Synod President at the convention was not brought 
before or acted upon by the delegation; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention amend Bylaws 3.12.2.1–
3.12.2.6 and 3.12.4.2 (a) as follows, as proposed in 2023 Res. 9-11, 
that the convention may again exercise the right it had since the 
founding of the Synod to elect the president: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
Elections of President and First Vice-President 
3.12.2.1 The candidates for the office of President shall be the five 
ordained ministers who received the highest number of votes in the 
nominating process and who consent to serve if elected. The 
candidates for the office of First Vice -President shall be the 20 
ordained ministers receiving the highest number of votes in the 
nominating process. No opportunity shall be provided for additional 
nominations. 
(a) The Secretary of the Synod shall notify each candidate and 
shall secure his approval in writing within ten days after receiving 
the results of the ballots for the inclusion of his name on the 
ballot. 
(b) In the event of the death, declination, or unavailability of any 
candidate, the nominee having the next highest number of votes 
shall become a candidate. In the event of a tie for the final 
candidate position, all names involved in the tie shall be included 
as candidates. 
… 
3.12.2.3 The Secretary of the Synod shall compile and maintain the 
voters list for the election of the President of the Synod. This list and 
any of its parts shall not be disseminated.  
(a) This voters list shall include: 
(1) the pastor of each member congregation or multi-
congregation parish (assisting pastors are not eligible) 
(2) a lay person from the congregation or parish 
(b) The congregation shall present to the Secretary of Synod 90 
days prior to the election a proper credentials form provided by 
the Secretary, signed by two of the congregation’s officers. If a 
congregation or parish has more than one pastor eligible to vote, 
the congregation shall designate on the credentials form which 
pastor will cast a vote on behalf of the congregation.  
(c) If one or both voters are unavailable, congregations shall be 
provided opportunity to select substitute voters up to a deadline 
designated by the Secretary. 
(d) The registration status of congregations shall be made 
available to respective district presidents for the sole purpose of 
their encouraging registration for greater congregational 
participation. The registration status of congregations shall not be 
further disseminated. 
3.12.2.4 Six weeks prior to the national convention, the Secretary 
of the Synod shall provide, via a secure and verifiable method, 
opportunity for two voting delegates from each congregation, as 
determined according to Bylaw 3.12.2.3, to vote for one of the 
candidates for President. The Secretary shall, with the approval of 
the Board of Directors of the Synod, obtain the assistance necessary 
to accomplish this task. If no candidate receives a majority of the 
votes cast, a second or succeeding ballots are required for a majority; 
the candidate receiving the fewest votes and all candidates receiving 
less than 15 percent of the votes cast shall be dropped from the ballot, 
unless only one candidate receives 15 percent or more of the votes 
cast, in which case the  three highest candidates shall constitute the 
ballot, and another vote shall be taken in the same manner. 
3.12.2.5 Following the completion of the election and at least two 
weeks prior to the convention, the Secretary shall notify the 
candidates of the results of the ballot(s). He shall thereafter also 
make the results known to the public. The candidate receiving a 
majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected. 
3.12.2.3 The convention shall have the right to add to the slate for 
President at the proper time by amendment. 
(a) The amendment procedure shall include merely a motion, a 
second, and a vote on the amendment, deliberately excluding 
verbal characterizations and discussion of the motion (except for 
the chair to ascertain that the requirements have been met as to 
eligibility, consent, and the filing of the biographical form). 
(b) Delegates making nominations from the floor shall have 
secured prior written consent of the candidates they wish to 
nominate. 
(c) Such delegates shall immediately submit to the Secretary of 
the Synod this document and written pertinent information 
concerning their nominee(s) as detailed in Bylaw 3.12.2.2. 
(d) After all such amendments have been voted on, the 
convention shall ratify the slate of candidates prior to each 
election. 
3.12.2.4 Each voting delegate shall be entitled to vote for one of the 
candidates for President. The candidate receiving a majority of the 
votes cast shall be declared elected. 
(a) If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the four 
candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be retained 
on the ballot, and another vote shall be taken. 
(b) Thereafter, the candidate receiving the smallest number of 
votes shall be eliminated on each subsequent ballot until one 
candidate receives a majority of the votes cast. 
3.12.2.65 Prior to all other elections, the convention shall elect the 
President and the First Vice-President. 
(a) The newly elected President-elect shall select from the list of 
20 nominees for the Office of First Vice-President five nominees 
who have consented to serve if elected, at least two of whom shall 
be taken from the top five nominees. 
(b) Balloting will proceed with the candidate receiving the 
smallest number of votes eliminated from consideration until one 
candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, who shall be 
declared elected.  
… 
Committee on Elections 
… 
3.12.4.2 The President shall determine and announce a period of 
time during the convention for the election of the members of all 
elective boards and commissions. 
2026 Convention Workbook
478 STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION