Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 516

Commission on Handbook, and the Commission on Constitutional 
Matters, to develop an overture to be submitted to the 2029 Synod 
convention that provides for the necessary changes, so that the five 
regional vice -presidents would be selected by their respecti ve 
regional delegates and ratified by the 2032 Synod convention; and 
be it further 
Resolved, That the overture developed would be disseminated to 
the district presidents and circuit visitors in sufficient time for the 
appropriate bodies (e.g., district conventions, district boards of 
directors, circuit forums, congregations, etc.) to utilize the overture 
for permissible submission to the 2029 Synod convention; and be it 
finally 
Resolved, That the COP take the lead on organizing the task force 
in sufficient time for the execution of this responsibility. 
Board of Directors 
Florida-Georgia District 
Ov. 9-25 
To Amend Bylaws to Allow Regional Delegates to 
Select Regional Vice-Presidents 
WHEREAS, The Synod utilizes entities within specific groupings 
to live out its life together as Synod in an orderly way for the benefit 
of the Body of Christ; and 
WHEREAS, Districts are “the Synod itself performing the 
functions of the Synod” (Bylaw 4.1.1.1); and 
WHEREAS, “The district president shall represent the Synod in 
his district” (Bylaw 4.4.2); and 
WHEREAS, “A president shall be elected from the clergy roster of 
the Synod by each district” (Bylaw 4.3.1); and 
WHEREAS, “A visitation circuit is a network of congregations 
that ‘walks together’ for mutual care, support, advice, study, 
ecclesiastical encouragement, service, coordination, resources, and 
counsel—all for the sake of greater congregational participation in 
God’s mission” (Bylaw 5.1.1); and 
W
HEREAS, Districts “establish visitation circuits according to 
geographical criteria” (Bylaw 5.1.2); and 
WHEREAS, “Each circuit visitor shall assist the district president 
within the circuit”  (Bylaw 5.2.3); moreover “[the circuit visitor] 
shall serve under the direction of and be accountable to the district 
president and shall serve as his spokesman when so authorized and 
directed and shall assist him in doctrinal and spiritual supervision” 
(Bylaw 5.2.3 [a]); and 
W
HEREAS, “The circuit visitor shall hold his position by virtue 
of his selection by the circuit forum and ratification by the district 
convention” (Bylaw 5.2.2); and 
W
HEREAS, “The [Synod] 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” (Bylaw 3.3.2); and 
W
HEREAS, The filling of a vacancy in a regional vice-presidency 
is only made “in consultation with the district presidents within that 
region” (Bylaw 3.3.2.4); and 
W
HEREAS, Five Synod vice -presidents are designated “regional 
vice-presidents” (Bylaw 3.3.2.3); and 
WHEREAS, Selection by regional groupings is deemed 
appropriate for circuit visitors and district presidents, each of whom 
serve under the direction of another, who is elected by a broader 
grouping; and 
WHEREAS, Circuit visitors are selected in their regional grouping 
and ratified by the district in convention; therefore be it 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.12.2.7 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
Nominations and Elections of Regional Vice-Presidents 
3.12.2.7 After the results of the first-vice-presidential election have 
been announced, the convention shall elect five regional vice -
presidents according to the following nominations and elections 
process. 
(a)  Each member congregation of a region (including any non-
geographic-district congregations in that region) shall have been 
given opportunity , through a secure and verifiable method 
provided by the Secretary of the Synod,  to nominate two 
ministers of religion — ordained from the clergy roster of the 
Synod with residence in its designated region as candidates for 
regional vice-president. 
(b) The names of the five ministers of religion — ordained 
residing within the boundaries of each geographic region who 
receive the most nominating votes shall form the slate from which 
the delegates to the Synod convention from the respective regions 
shall select by majority vote theeach regional vice-president from 
their respective region. 
(c) No opportunity shall be provided for additional nominations 
from the floor of the convention. 
(d) Voting delegates to the national convention shall be entitled 
to vote for one of the candidates from  each region the region of 
the congregation in which they hold membership. If no candidate 
receives a majority of the votes cast, the three candidates 
receiving the highest number of votes shall be retained on the 
ballot. 
(e) Balloting shall continue with the candidate receiving the least 
number of votes eliminated until one candidate from each region 
has received a majority of the votes cast. 
(f) After the selection of the regional vice- presidents, the 
selected vice-presidents shall be ratified by voting delegates to 
the Synod convention by majority vote. 
(fg) Upon the electionratification of the regional vice-presidents, 
a final election will take place ranking the vice -presidents by 
separate ballots with a simple majority of voting delegates 
determining the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth vice -
presidents in line of succession. 
Board of Directors 
Florida-Georgia District 
Ov. 9-26 
To Develop Overture for Change  
in Regional Vice-President Selection 
WHEREAS, The Synod utilizes entities within specific groupings 
to live out its life together as Synod in an orderly way for the benefit 
of the Body of Christ; and 
WHEREAS, Districts are “the Synod itself performing the 
functions of the Synod” (Bylaw 4.1.1.1); and 
WHEREAS, “The district president shall represent the Synod in 
his district” (Bylaw 4.4.2); and 
WHEREAS, “A president shall be elected from the clergy roster of 
the Synod by each district” (Bylaw 4.3.1); and 
WHEREAS, “A visitation circuit is a network of congregations 
that ‘walks together’ for mutual care, support, advice, study, 
2026 Convention Workbook
481STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION