# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1986_S172 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) a 172 RESOLUTIONS paragraph b of this Bylaw, it shall be set forth in the letter of understanding that the organization shall 1. honor and uphold the doctrine and practice of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as set forth in the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions; 2. be responsible for its own debts and liabilities and so indicate in all of its agreements of a financial nature, statements of ownership, bylaws, financial offers, and other legal documents, agreements, promotional ma- terials, and all other communications of a financial na- ture in accordance with the criteria approved by the synodical Board of Directors, so that it is clear that being recognized by the Synod as a service organization is not regarded as an endorsement by the Synod of its orga- nization and administration, or as a guarantee on the part of the Synod for the fiscal solvency of, or any fi- nancial responsibility for, the organization or for ser- vices expressly or impliedly offered. 3. Among the criteria that may be required but are not made mandatory by these Bylaws are the following: i) The service organization will seek to coordinate and communicate its programs with and to the Synod, and to implement efforts to cooperate with the Synod, through the appropriate board or commission. ii) The service organization will provide the appro- priate board or commission with an annual program report. iii) Except with respect to fund-raising efforts that are intended to reach only its own constituency, the ser- vice organization will consult with the appropriate board or commission with respect to its special fund- raising efforts. iv) The service organization will inform the appro- priate board or commission of the actual dollar amount raised and the percentage of costs involved in fund-rais- ing efforts. d. Privileges. Being a recognized service organization gives the following privileges: 1. Eligibility of ordained and commissioned minis- ters of the Synod serving such organizations to remain on the membership rosters of the Synod as “active mem- bers,” if otherwise eligible 2. Eligibility for obtaining church extension loans from the Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri Synod or from district church extension funds, unless the policies of LCEF or the appropriate district preclude such organization as an eligible borrower 3. Eligibility to be an “employer” under the various Worker Benefit Plans of the Synod, unless the policies of such a plan preclude such organization as an eligible employer 4. Listing of the organization in The Lutheran An- nual as a recognized service organization, provided that such listing shall be prefaced by a statement that rec- ognition is not a guarantee on the part of the Synod for the fiscal solvency of the recognized service organization or any financial responsibility for such organization or for services expressly or impliedly offered 5. The opportunity to report to conventions of the Synod, including the respective districts, through the appropriate board or commission e. Termination of Recognition. Recognized service- organization status may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, by a service organization or by the Synod acting through the appropriate board or com- mission, in accordance with Board of Directors policy. However, the effective date of termination by the Synod shall be not earlier than 90 days after the organization has been notified in writing of the intent to terminate, thus allowing that organization an opportunity to seek a continuation of its recognition by the Synod. There shall be no right of appeal of such termination by the Synod, to a synodical convention or otherwise. Promptly after the effective date of any termination, the Synod shall publish a notice in an official periodical that the organization is no longer recognized by the Synod as a service organization. Action: Adopted as amended (11). (Prior to presenting the resolution, the committee had changed Bylaw 14.03 c 3 to read, “Among the criteria that may be required but are not made mandatory by these bylaws are the following:” An amendment calling for deletion of the first three sentences of 14.03 b was declined.) * * * O. To Bring About Uniformity of Language and Content in Bylaws In order to bring about a uniformity of language and content in the Bylaws, as a result of other changes more specifically proposed to the 1986 convention, the following changes in the Bylaws are proposed: 1. Wherever there is a reference to “clergyman” or “pas- tor” the term ordained minister will be used, and whenever there is a reference to “teacher” the term commissioned minister will be used. However, ifthe context indicates that the intent is to refer to a parish pastor or a classroom teacher, the reference will be changed to “ordained min- ister who is a parish pastor” and “commissioned minister who is a classroom teacher.” The Commission on Consti- tutional Matters is instructed to make these changes throughout the Bylaws. 2. Wherever there are references to a “general conven- tion” or “delegate convention” of the Synod, the reference will be changed to “national convention” unless the context clearly indicates an intention to apply to district conven- tions, either alone or together with national conventions. The Commission on Constitutional Matters is instructed to make the changes throughout the Bylaws. 3. The last sentence of old Bylaw 2.03 will be combined with the last sentence of Bylaw 2.07 in order to eliminate unnecessary overlap. 3a. Provide for a recognition process with respect to Lutheran elementary and secondary schools. 2.223 g 4. Present section 1.37, which provides definitions, will be designated as section 2.51, and present sections 2.51 and following will be renumbered accordingly. 5. The term Personnel Department wherever used will be changed to “Department of Personnel and Human Re- sources.” Wherever “Personnel Director” is used, it will be changed to “Director of the Department of Personnel and Human Resources.” The Commission on Constitutional Matters is instructed to make the changes throughout the Bylaws. 6. The content of present section 2.67 shall be preceded by the following: “In accord with relationships referred to in chapter 1 of these Bylaws, especially section 1.07 d, the following general regulations will apply...” 7. The words ratified in which appear in present section 2.67 d will be changed to “reported to.” 8. Wherever the title Administrative Officer of the Board of Directors is used, it will be changed to “executive officer of the Board of Directors.” In addition, in section 2.67 j, boards and commissions will submit their proposed budgets “through the executive officer of the Board of Di- rectors and the Council of Administrators.” The Commis- sion on Constitutional Matters is instructed to make the changes throughout the Bylaws.