ST. LOUIS — Delegates today (July 15) amended the Synod’s bylaw procedure for filling vacancies on synodically elected boards and commissions. The list of candidates for such positions will now be prepared by the chairman and two members of the Synod’s Committee for Convention Nominations, in consultation with the director of Human Resources.
Formerly, lists of nominees to fill vacancies were prepared by the Synod secretary, the Human Resources director and the nominations committee chairman. The change gives sole responsibility for determining candidates to the nominations committee, whose members are elected at district conventions and who are charged with researching candidates’ qualifications.
As a member of the Synod’s Board of Directors, which actually fills the vacancies, the Synod secretary has been involved in making appointments as well as preparing the list of nominees.
In other resolutions from the floor committee on structure, planning and administration, delegates voted to:
• amend the Synod Constitution to clarify officer and Board of Directors responsibilities in relation to Res. 7-02A, which was adopted by delegates July 13. That resolution limits the “management authority and duties” of the Board and clarifies the role of the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM).
• request the chairmen of the Commission on Structure, CCM and nominations committee to “consider ways in which the process of nominating and electing leaders might be improved” and to “report their findings, suggested procedural changes and possible bylaw changes to the 2007 convention.” That resolution notes that the “goal of synodical elections is to select the most qualified leaders” and that “floor nominations do not always allow adequate opportunity for determining a nominee’s qualifications for a specific office.”
Posted July 15, 2004
