Walking Through the Resolutions – Resolution 8-13

Congregations Walking Together in Mission as They Elect the Synod President and First Vice-President To Elect the First Vice-President

RESOLUTION 8-13

TF Report (CW TFR, pp. 34–35); Overture 8-62 (CW, p. 242) WHEREAS, A close working relationship between the President and First Vice-President is vital for effective service by the President’s Office; and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the Synod states under “Duties of the Vice-Presidents,” “The vice- presidents shall upon request of the President represent him in all his functions” (Art. XI C 1); and

WHEREAS, This requirement is especially true of the First Vice-President; and

WHEREAS, The Bylaws, under the “Powers and Duties—Ecclesiastical and Administrative” of the President, state, “He shall establish the duties and responsibilities of the First Vice-President in consultation with the First Vice-President” (Bylaw 3.3.1.3 [f]); and

WHEREAS, The Bylaws further state under the duties of Vice-Presidents, “The First Vice-President shall be a full-time executive and a nonvoting member of the Board of Directors. He shall be responsible to the President at all times for the performance of his duties” (Bylaw 3.3.2.2); therefore be it

Resolved, That upon the election of the President-elect, he will be required to select five names from the list of 20 nominees for the office of First Vice-President; and be it further

Resolved, That the convention will be required to elect the First Vice-President from the list of five chosenby the President-elect; and be it finally Resolved, That Bylaw 3.12.1–3.12.2.5 be amended accordingly, as shown (“2007 Handbook Convention

Version,” TB, pp. 303–306).

First Resolved. The congregations get to vote for any First Vice-President… as long as the President approves.

I keep hearing that the Synod is so unified. If that is the case, how could this possibly be necessary. Besides that point, what if the Synod wants the Vice-President to check the President.  And finally, “the vice-president shall upon request of the President represent him in all his functions” but the President represent the Synod, not himself, so the vice-president is a representative of the Synod not a representative of the president.

Vote: No