OVERTURE: To Establish a Four-Year Convention Cycle (#2)

WHEREAS significant time, energy and resources are required to plan and implement a convention;

and

WHEREAS Lutheran Church—Canada currently operates on a three-year convention cycle; and

WHEREAS in a 12-year period, with the current three-year cycle, congregations must fund four district and four Synod conventions; and

WHEREAS a four-year convention cycle, besides financial savings to the Synod, districts and congregations, would provide greater stability for the service of electedofficers, boards and committees; therefore be it

RESOLVED that Article IX of the STATUTORY BYLAWS be amended as follows:

Article IX Conventions

9.01 A Convention shall be called and held trienniallyevery four years in the manner and at a time and place as provided for in the Constitution and Synodical Bylaws.

9.02 The delegates in attendance at a triennial regular Convention shall receive a report from the president and from the Board; shall appoint auditors; and shall elect officers, directors, and members of such commissions as may be established and prescribed from time to time in the Synodical Bylaws; and shall transact such other business as may properly come before the Convention.

and be it further

RESOLVED that Article VIII of the Constitution be amended as follows:

Article VIII Conventions

A. TIME AND LEGALITY OF CONVENTIONS

1.Lutheran Church-Canada convenes every threefour years for its regular Convention.

and be it further

RESOLVED that, provided such Constitutional amendment is approved by the congregations of the Synod in accordance with Article XIV 4. of the Constitution, a four-year convention cycle would begin with the next Synod Convention in 2021; and be it further

RESOLVED that, provided such Constitutional amendment is approved by the congregations of the Synod in accordance with Article XIV 4. of the Constitution, the terms of office shall be changed to reflect the four year cycle as follows:

STATUTORY BYLAWS

Article X Officers of LCC

10.03 The president and the vice-presidents shall be elected at a Convention in accordance with the procedures set out in the Synodical Bylaws. The term of office of such officers shall be three (3)four (4) years until their successor takes office, commencing on the first day of September after such election. An incumbent whose term of office is about to expire is eligible for re-election.

Article XIBoard of Directors

11.03 The term of office of directors who are not officers of LCC shall be six (6) eight (8) years until their successor takes office, commencing on the first day of September after such election. The terms of such directors shall be staggered so that approximately 50% of such directors are elected at each Convention. Directors who are not officers of LCC shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive six (6) eight (8) year terms as directors.

SYNODICAL BYLAWS

2.03 Voting Delegates

….. Voting delegates shall serve a three four-year term, beginning with the Convention;….

2.07 Responsibilities of Delegates

…. Voting delegates shall serve a three four -year term beginning with the Convention;….

2.61 Term of Office

  1. The term of office of members of boards and commissions shall be six eight years commencing on September 1 following the Convention.
  2. The term of office of members of a Board of Regents shall be six eight years, commencing in accordance with the provisions of the bylaws governing the educational institution.
  3. All sixeight year terms of office shall be staggered, with approximately 50% of the members of each board or commission being elected at or appointed following each Convention.

2.63 Successive Terms

  1. All members of all synodical boards and commissions shall be ineligible for reelection or reappointment to the same board or commission after serving a total of two successive six eight-year elected terms or three successive appointed threefour-year terms, unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws. They may become eligible again for election or appointment to the same board or commission after an interval of threefour or more years. One-half or more of a term shall be regarded as a full term under limited tenure rules.

2.101 Membership

The Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure shall consist of five voting members. The Board of Directors shall appoint two rostered workers, at least one of whom must be a pastor, and two laypersons, for six- eight-year terms, renewable once. The Commission shall include a lawyer as a member. The secretary of the Synod shall serve as the fifth member and secretary of the Commission.

2.231 Board of Managers

The term of office shall be three (3) four (4)years. A member, with the exception of the treasurer, cannot serve

beyond three (3) successive three- four-year terms. Appointments shall be staggered, at the determination of the Board of Directors.

3.125 Term and Tenure

a.Terms of office shall be as follows:

  1. elected officers - three four years;
  2. elected board and commission members -threefouryears; however, districts may adopt bylaws setting such terms at six eight years instead of threefouryears;
  3. appointed boards and commissions - three fouryears.

7.53 Budget Adoption Procedure

a.By November 30 of each year every commission of the Synod shall submit to the Board of Directorsits proposed spending budget for the next fiscal year together with its proposed work program for the following threefouryears. The request shall be submitted on a current dollar basis in the format and under the timetable prescribed by the Board of Directors. All programs shall show total costs and each agency's total financial support, including local, synodical, and any other support.

  1. By February 15 of each year each district president or his designated representative shall confirm to the Board of Directors the adjusted district commitment to the Synod for the next district fiscal year. He will also report the estimated total income from congregations and other sources to be available for district and synodical ministry for each of the next three fouryears. At the same time each district will also inform the Board of Directors of the amount and percent designated for ministry within the district and that which will be available for ministry at the synodical level for the same three four-year period. A report in which the district forecasts continuous and new work for the three four-year period is to be shared with the Board of Directors in order that the Board of Directors may coordinate and plan for a more effective program of ministry.

8.21 Reconciliation Committees

b. Appointment and Term of Office

The term of office for each district reconciliation committee shall be six eight years. For the first term three members shall be appointed for the six eight-year term, and two for threefouryears. Thereafter all appointments shall be made for sixeightyears, so that the terms are staggered. Appointments are to be made following each convention of the district.

8.37 Membership

b.Terms of Office

Terms of office shall be six eightyears in length and shall otherwise be in accordance with Bylaws 2.61 and 2.63.

10.05 Personnel and Appointment

b.Reviewers shall be appointed for renewable threefour-year terms. An appointment may be terminated prior to the completion of the appointed term if the reviewer is unable or unwilling to carry out the reviewing tasks assigned. In the event of such termination, the president shall appoint another reviewer to complete the unexpired term.

and be it finally

RESOLVED that, provided such is approved by the congregations of the Synod in accordance with Article XIV 4. of the Constitution, that the three districts of Synod be directed to amend their Handbook (constitution, bylaws, regulations, etc.)at their conventions in 2018 to reflect a four-yearconvention cycle.