Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly Resolution failed

Fair Representation

"Concerning equal representation on the Synod Council, the Leadership Development Committee, and other synod teams or task forces."

WHEREAS, the Southeastern Minnesota Synod (or "this synod") has adopted a new "team structure" in 1999 that divides the fifteen member Synod Council into three teams of five persons for specific purposes (see ++S10.01.A99), and

WHEREAS, the concept of equal representation is valued and appreciated by members of the Blue Earth River Conference as an important part of the
shared ministry of this synod, and

WHEREAS, there is no mechanism in place to ensure these positions are represented equally by the five conferences of this synod for the Synod Council, the Leadership Development Committee (the nominating committee for the Synod Council), or other synod committees and task forces, and

WHEREAS, in the year 2000-1, the makeup of the Synod Council was far from being equal in representation, as the following numbers show: (# members:conference)

6          Zumbro River Conference (Austin, Stewartville, Rochester)
4          Cannon River Conference (Northfield, Red Wing, Faribault)
2          Root River Conference (Winona, Spring Valley, Houston)
2            Minnesota River Conference (Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna)
1          Blue Earth River Conference (Fairmont, Blue Earth, Albert Lea)
(The Leadership Development Committee did have one representative from each conference for 2000, but there is no requirement for this in the synod's constitution), and

WHEREAS, the current team structure offers the possibility of a simple solution with each of the five conferences having one member on each team or Committee of five members, and

WHEREAS, the Southeastern Minnesota Synod has not made any attempt to provide for equal representation by the conferences on the Synod Council or Leadership Development Team (Nominating Committee), and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Blue Earth River Conference memorialize the Synod Council to bring the required constitutional amendments for consideration to the next Synod Assembly that will ensure proper and equal representation by the conferences of this synod on the various teams of the Synod Council, the Leadership Development Team (nominating committee), and other committees or teams that serve in this synod as needed or possible, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the attached proposed constitutional changes be considered at the earliest possible time for action by the next Synod Assembly.

Continued:

Possible Constitutional Amendments: (parentheses are changes or additions)

S9.03. (Beginning with the second sentence.) The Synod Leadership Development Committee of five members shall be nominated by the Conference Deans and elected by the Synod Council to serve for one three year term. The Conference Deans and Synod Council shall seek to make allowances for representation by each conferences of this synod when composing the committee. (The rest remains unchanged)

++S11.01.02.B99. The Leadership Development Committee shall nominate members of each team, allowing for equal representation by each conference of this synod, and the Synod Assembly shall elect the members of each team.