CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) has released a package of resource materials for congregations as they prepare to vote on changes to the synodical constitution adopted at the 2017 synodical convention.
“These proposed changes in structure were all adopted by the 2017 LCC Convention by a strong majority,” explains LCC First Vice President Nolan Astley in an executive summary on the congregational ratification process. “Because some of these changes require amendment of the Constitution of LCC, a congregational ratification vote is necessary to approve the changes to the constitution. In order to be adopted the constitutional amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the congregations participating in the ratification vote.”
The resource package now released by LCC provides congregations with the tools they need to participate in the ratification process. The package includes:
- An Executive Summary on Constitutional Amendment Ratification
- A detailed letter to congregations explaining the changes
- The final draft of the Synodical Constitution as amended
- A Comparison Document showing the Synodical Constitution before and after amendments
- The Ballot for Congregational Votes
“The Board of Directors of LCC, together with the Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure, urges member congregations to give prayerful consideration of these amendments to our Constitution and exercise their right to vote,” writes Vice President Astley in his Executive Summary.
Congregational votes on the proposed changes must take place on or before April 16, 2018. Ballots may be submitted electronically or by mail, but those sent by mail must be postmarked no later than April 17, 2018.
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