Amendments to Governing Documents Adopted

Amendments to the Bylaws of the West Virginia—Western Maryland Synod

Amendments were adopted en bloc by action SA22.06.11.

Amendment #1

That B9.02, which reads,

B9.02. Ninety days prior to the Synod Assembly, the Nominating Committee shall post on the synod website, shall post on The Bishop’s Roadshow, and shall send to the pastors of the Synod a list of the offices and positions to be filled by election and shall invite nominations for these offices and positions.

be amended by substitution of “Ninety” with “One hundred and twenty (120),” striking of “ and shall invite nominations for these officers and positions,” appending of “under the purview of the Nominating Committee,” and renumbering as “B9.01,” such that the provision shall read,

B9.01. One hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the Synod Assembly, the Nominating Committee shall post on the synod website, shall post on The Bishop’s Roadshow, and shall send to the pastors of the Synod a list of the offices and positions to be filled by election under the purview of the Nominating Committee.

Amendment #2

That B9.03, which reads,

B9.03. Nominations by pastors, congregational councils, conferences, and voting members of synod congregations, along with the necessary vita information requested by the Nominating Committee, shall be sent to the Nominating Committee within thirty days.

be amended by striking “necessary” and renumbering as “B9.02,” such that the provision shall read,

B9.02. Nominations by pastors, congregational councils, conferences, and voting members of synod congregations, along with the vita information requested by the Nominating Committee, shall be sent to the Nominating Committee within thirty days.

Amendment #3

That B9.04, which reads,

B9.04. The Nominating Committee shall nominate a minimum of two persons for each office and position to be filled by election, with the exception of those positions assigned to young adults, youth, or persons of color and/or primary language other than English.

be amended by inserting “the vice president and” after “exception of” and before “those positions,” by appending “for which the Nominating Committee shall nominate at least one person,” and by renumbering as “B9.03,” such that the provision shall read,

B9.03. The Nominating Committee shall nominate a minimum of two persons for each office and position to be filled by election, with the exception of the vice president and those positions assigned to young adults, youth, or persons of color and/or primary language other than English, for which the Nominating Committee shall nominate at least one person.

Amendment #4

To renumber B9.05, which reads,

B9.05. The report of the Nominating Committee, which shall include the names of the committee’s nominees with, at minimum, congregational membership and exposition, shall be published on the synod web site at least ten days prior to the assembly.

as B9.04.

Amendment #5

To create a bylaw, numbered B9.05, to read,

B9.05. The Nominating Committee include in its report instructions on making floor nominations for all the officers and positions to be elected.

Amendment #6

To strike B10.07, which reads,

B10.07. From within its membership, including such other members of the synod as desired, the Synod Council shall appoint a Budget and Finance Committee.

Amendment #7

To amend B11.01, which reads,

B11.01. There shall be a Consultation Committee consisting of twelve (12) persons, of whom three (6) shall be ordained ministers and three (6) shall be laypersons, who shall be elected by the Synod Assembly for a term of six (6) years without consecutive reelection. The bishop of the synod shall be a member of the Consultation Committee ex-officio except in instances when the bishop brings charges against an ordained minister. The responsibilities and procedures of this committee shall be those outlined in Chapter 20 of the constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

by striking “of whom three” through the end of the first sentence and striking the last sentence in its entirety, such that it shall read,

B11.01. There shall be a Consultation Committee consisting of twelve (12) persons. The bishop of the synod shall be a member of the Consultation Committee ex-officio except in instances when the bishop brings charges against an ordained minister.

Amendment #8

To strike B11.02, which reads,

B11.02. There shall be a Committee on Discipline which shall be composed of twelve (12) persons, of whom six (6) shall be ordained ministers and six (6) shall be laypersons, who shall be elected by the Synod Assembly for a term of six (6) years without consecutive reelection. The bishop shall not be a member of the Committee on Discipline. The responsibilities and procedures of this committee shall be those outlined in Chapter 20 of the constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Amendment #9

To amend B11.07, which reads,

B11.07. There shall be such operational Committees as deemed necessary by this synod to guide and support the ministry of the synod and its congregations in the various aspects of the Church’s mission. Such committees shall normally be created or disbanded by continuing resolution of the Synod Council, but nothing herein shall preclude the right of the Synod Assembly to create or disband such operational committees by either continuing resolution or bylaw.

by substituting “operational” with “additional,” such that it shall read,

B11.07. There shall be such additional committees as deemed necessary by this synod to guide and support the ministry of the synod and its congregations in the various aspects of the Church’s mission. Such committees shall normally be created or disbanded by continuing resolution of the Synod Council, but nothing herein shall preclude the right of the Synod Assembly to create or disband such operational committees by either continuing resolution or bylaw.

Amendment #10

To amend B11.12, which reads,

B11.12. Vacancies upon committees, commissions and boards shall be filled by the Synod Council. Vacancies may occur through resignations, death or by a chairperson declaring a vacancy upon a committee, commission or board after two unexcused absences by a member.

by insertion of oxford commas, such that the provision shall read,

B11.12. Vacancies upon committees, commissions, and boards shall be filled by the Synod Council. Vacancies may occur through resignations, death, or by a chairperson declaring a vacancy upon a committee, commission, or board after two unexcused absences by a member.

Amendment #11

To amend B12.04, which reads,

B12.04. Deans: Deans will be appointed by the bishop in consultation with the pastors of the conference and reviewed annually. Deans are extensions of the bishop and his office in the local setting. The bishop shall consult with the church council(s) of a dean to negotiate specific time for the dean to devote to his/her duties, with a recommendation minimum of one day per month. Deans will not be paid for the performance of their duties, but expenses will be reimbursed by the synod. A dean’s primary duty will be to assist the bishop in providing pastoral care to pastors and congregations.

by substituting “bishop and his” with “bishop’s,” such that the provision shall read,

B12.04. Deans: Deans will be appointed by the bishop in consultation with the pastors of the conference and reviewed annually. Deans are extensions of the bishop’s office in the local setting. The bishop shall consult with the church council(s) of a dean to negotiate specific time for the dean to devote to his/her duties, with a recommendation minimum of one day per month. Deans will not be paid for the performance of their duties, but expenses will be reimbursed by the synod. A dean’s primary duty will be to assist the bishop in providing pastoral care to pastors and congregations.