# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S202
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

202 RESOLUTIONS

7. The determination to utilize full and appropriate
data in making decisions that affect the individual schools
and the total system.

__. 8. The determination to operate our system of schools
:-aecording to sound principles of fiscal management.

9. The determination to consolidate schools if the data

dictate that such action is appropriate.

.._ Resolved, That we commend the Board for Higher
'. "Education for its report, “God Opens Doors Through
Higher Education”; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education, in
accordance with the Bylaws of the Synod, act immediately
on the principles articulated in its report as summarized
above; and be it further mo,

Resolved, That synodical subsidies be granted to col-
leges and seminaries primarily for the support of church-
work students according to a formula established and.
implemented by the Board for Higher Education on ap-
proval of the Board of Directors, with support increasing.as:
students progress through the class levels of each church-
worker program, and with priority being given to students
preparing for the pastoral and teaching ministries; and be
it further :

Resolved, That the support for general education stu-
dents be derived from sources as outlined in the report and
where possible in consultation with the Stewardship De-
partment; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education espe-
cially be sensitive to any ambiguities, tensions, and over-
lapping of responsibilities that might arise, e.g., between
the Board for Higher Education and Boards of Control in
acting on the planning principles; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education main-
tain close communication and consultation with the Board
of Directors, the Council of Administrators, and the Ad-
visory Council as it acts on these planning principles; and
be it further

Resolved, That at the 1981 synodical convention the
Board for Higher Education give a school-by-school prog-
ress report on present and new programs and their inter-
relationship within the system and on the overall status of
higher education of the Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod enter with joy the doors God
opens in higher education by redoubling its efforts to
recruit for church ministries and by providing increased
support for its colleges and seminaries in order that the
proclamation of the Gospel of Christ may grow and flourish
among us and in all the world.

and
WHEREAS, The Board for Professional Education
Services has been attempting to operate under the

above policy which has been adopted; and

WHEREAS, Conventions have made administrative
rather than policy decisions which were not in accord
with the 1979 resolution; and

WHEREAS, A President’s Commission on Higher
Education has béen approved for review and analysis of
the present system of colleges in the Synod, which group
was requested by the Advisory Council and agreed to by
the Board of Directors of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The commission will in the course of
carrying out its task be responsible for conducting a
feasibility study for the purpose of identifying short-
and long-range goals for the system for presentation to
the Board for Professional Education Services; and

WHEREAS, It may be necessary as a result of its
feasibility study to implement plans for achievement of
these goals prior to the next synodical convention; and

WHEREAS, Such plans could involve more efficient

utilization of financial, human, and technological re-

sources, consolidation or merger, relocation, closing of
colleges or the separation of some such institutions from
the Synod, so that they become free-standing educa-
tional institutions, all in order to enhance the effective-
ness of the system of higher education or safeguard its
future; and

WHEREAS, The present Bylaws governing the im-
plementation of plans related to issues such as those
above may constitute some limitation on certain actions
which are determined to be essential and expedient;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board for Professional Education
Services, after consultation with the Boards of Directors
of the Districts in which the institutions are located,
Boards of Regents, Board of Directors of the Synod, and
the Council of Presidents, is hereby authorized and
directed to carry out such actions as may be necessary
for the enhancement of the effectiveness of the system
of colleges of the Synod and to safeguard its future; and
be it further

Resolved, That if the study indicates the need for
consolidation, relocation, closing of certain institutions,
or the separation of some such institutions from the
Synod so that they become free-standing educational
institutions, the concurrence of three of the four above-
named entities is required; and be it further

Resolved, That to assure that this is possible, Bylaw
2.233 k be amended, for the next triennium only and for
this purpose only, and to read as follows:

PRESENT WORDING

k. have authority, after receiving the consent of
the Boards of Regents of the colleges involved and
with the approval of the synodical Board of Directors
and the Council of Presidents, to consolidate colleges
to the extent required by the church’s professional
needs and by its financial condition; :

PROPOSED WORDING

k. have authority, after consultation with the
Boards of Directors of the Districts in which the .
institution is located, Boards of Regents, Board of ::
Directors of the Synod, and the Council of Presidents,
to consolidate or merge, relocate, close institutions; :
separate institutions from the Synod so that they
become free-standing institutions, with the conct
rence of three of the four above entities; :

and be it finally :

Resolved, That until the feasibility study be com-
pleted, the Board for Professional Education Services be
entrusted to continue refining guidelines for funding,
and therefore we respectfully decline Overtures 4-49,
6-24, and 6-32. ,

Action: Adopted (2).

(The convention refused to eliminate the words “Boar
Directors of the Districts in which the institution is loca
from the proposed Bylaw. It also declined to replace mn
third-last resolve the words “the concurrence of three: 0
four above-named entities is required” with the words
consultation with the above-named entities.” An ame
to the latter amendment, calling for a substitution of the ™