12.3. Amendments to Governing Documents Adopted

Amendments to the Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod.

The following amendments to the Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod were adopted en bloc by action SA26.06.13. The amendments adopted, however, fall into three classes:

• †S18.12 — amendments that do not require ratification by the Church Council of the ELCA, meaning they go into effect upon action by the Synod Assembly;
• †S18.13.b — amendments that require ratification by the Church Council of the ELCA (and go into effect upon receipt of notice by the synod of that ratification)—this ratification usually takes place in the late fall;
• an amendment to a required provision within the options provided in the Constitution for Synods, meaning it goes into effect upon action by the Synod Assembly.

Italics indicate addition. Strikethrough indicates deletion.

Amendments not subject to ratification under †S18.12.

S9.04. The bishop shall be elected by the Synod Assembly by ecclesiastical ballot. Three-fourths of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election on the first ballot. If no one is elected, the first ballot shall be considered the nominating ballot. Three-fourths of the legal votes cast on the second ballot shall be necessary for election. The third ballot shall be limited to the seven persons (plus ties) who receive the greatest number of legal votes (including ties in the final qualifying position) on the second ballot, and two-thirds of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. The fourth ballot shall be limited to the three persons (plus ties) who receive the greatest number of legal votes (including ties in the final qualifying position) on the third ballot, and 60 percent of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. On subsequent ballots a majority of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. These ballots shall be limited to the two persons (plus ties) who receive the greatest number of legal votes (including ties in the final qualifying position) on the previous ballot.

S10.05. No elected member Elected members of the Synod Council shall not receive compensation solely for such their service as council members.

S10.06 S10.07. If a member of the Synod Council ceases to meet the requirements of the position to which she or he was elected, the office filled by such member shall at once become vacant.

S10.07 S10.08. The composition of the Synod Council, the number of its members, and the manner of their selection, as well as the organization of the Synod Council, its additional duties and responsibilities, and the number of meetings to be held each year shall be as set forth in the bylaws.

S10.09. Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern parliamentary procedure of all meetings of the Synod Council.

Amendments requiring ratification by the Church Council of the ELCA under †S18.13.b.

S10.09 S10.10. A majority of the members, excluding the youth member, of the Synod Council shall constitute a quorum. The members who attend a meeting that has been previously adjourned for one or more periods aggregating at least 6 days because of an absence of a quorum, although less than a quorum as fixed by this provision, shall nevertheless constitute a quorum for the purpose of acting upon any matter set forth in the notice of the meeting if the notice states that those members who attend the adjourned meeting shall nevertheless constitute a quorum for the purpose of acting upon the matter.

S10.11. The Synod Council may by a two-thirds vote declare vacant the seat of a Synod Council member (other than that of an officer whose removal is governed under †S8.57) who a) has been judicially declared of unsound mind, b) has been convicted of an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than one year, or for any other proper cause which the constitution and bylaws may specify, c) does not accept the office either in writing, within 60 days after notice of election, or by attending a meeting of the board of directors, or d) has been persistently absent in the judgment of the Synod Council by failure to 1) attend in-person meetings, 2) attend meetings by electronic means (under †S10.09.01), or 3) acknowledge mail ballots (under B10.08).

S11.04. The Mutual Ministry Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee of the Synod Council to provide support and counsel to the bishop. A Mutual Ministry Advisory Board shall be appointed jointly by the vice president and the bishop. Term of office on the board shall be 2 years, with 3 members to be appointed from the voting membership of the congregations of this synod each successive year, without term limitation. The vice president or his/her designee, who shall be a member of Synod Council, and the bishop shall be members ex officio of the board. The Mutual Ministry Advisory Board shall function as a board of this synod, adopting for itself such bylaws (subject to ratification by the Synod Council) and rules as best facilitate the fulfillment of its purpose. The duties of the Mutual Ministry Advisory Board shall be defined by continuing resolution.

S11.06. The Finance Board of this synod shall consist of three to six members, not including the treasurer who shall be a member ex officio. The Finance Board members shall be appointed by Synod Council for a term of two years and be eligible for re-election without term limitation. The terms of the Finance Board members shall be staggered. The Finance Board may adopt its own bylaws subject to ratification by the Synod Council. The Finance Board shall be responsible for the management of the synod’s reserves and investments with authority to hold, invest, and liquidate investment within the parameters set by Synod Council and shall perform such other duties as may be committed to it by Synod Council or the governing documents of this synod.

Amendment not subject to ratification because it is within the options allowed in a required provision of the Constitution for Synods.

†S8.51.c. [The terms of office of the officers of this synod shall be as follows:] The treasurer of this synod shall be elected appointed to a term of 4 2 years and may be re-elected reappointed. The treasurer shall serve until a successor takes office.