# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1989_S146 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 146 RESOLUTIONS for Higher Education Services (BHES) to prepare a study of continuous, rollover contracts as an alternative to tenure and to report its recommendations to the 1986 convention; and Wuereas, The BHES has determined that there are positive benefits from the use of the rollover contracts; and Wuereas, Two synodical colleges have adopted the use of rollover contracts and have been satisfied with them; and Wuereas, There are strengths and weaknesses in both systems, and research in higher education does not indi- cate that there is strong preference; therefore be it Resolved, That the BHES be instructed to encourage local boards of regents to use rollover contracts; and be it further Resolved, That the BHES be instructed to offer the op- tion of the use of rollover contracts, making it a local board of regents option so that each college and seminary can choose to stay with a tenure system or change to a rollover contract system; and be it further Resolved, That a decision on this matter be made only after adequate discussion with and involvement of the fac- ulty at each institution; and be it finally Resolved, That the Handbook be revised as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 6.23 Appointment of Members a. The Board of Regents on recommendation of the president of the institution shall appoint the members of the faculty to positions approved by the Board for Higher Education Services. All initial appointments to seminary and college faculties will also require the prior approval of the Board for Higher Education Services. b. Appointments shall ordinarily be for one to four years and may be extended by the Board of Regents unless otherwise indicated at the time when prior ap- proval is granted. c. The Board of Regents may decline to renew the appointment of a probationary faculty member without tenure at its discretion and without formal statement of cause. If reappointment to the teaching staff is not contemplated, the Board of Regents shall so notify the faculty member through the president of the institution at least six months prior to the expiration of the current appointment. In the case of individuals under consid- eration for a rollover contract or permanent tenure (6.25b) such notice of nonreappointment shall be made at least 42 nine months before the expiration of the cur- rent appointment. d. The terms and conditions of every appointment shall be stated in writing and be in the possession of both the institution and the prospective faculty member before the appointment is consummated. Limitations of academic freedom because of the religious and confes- sional nature and aims of the institution shall be stated in writing at the time of the appointment and conveyed to the person being appointed. e. Ordinarily candidates for teaching positions with tenure that are expected to lead to tenure or to rollover contracts on the Synod’s instructional staffs shall be graduates of a theological seminary or a terehers college affiliated with the Synod or shall have achieved such status by colloquy. When, in exceptional cases, layper- sons are invelved contracted, they should be persons who are solemnly pledged to the Holy Scriptures as the inspired Word of God and to the Lutheran Confessions. 6.25 Permanent Tenure Each educational institution of the Synod shall nor- mally award tenure to a minimum of 40 percent and a maximum of 60 percent of its faculty. Rollover contracts may be awarded to a maximum of 100 percent of its faculty. a. Standards or qualifications for granting tenure or offering a rollover contract shall be: 1. The faculty member shall ordinarily have com- pleted five years of creditable service (periods of leave are not included) as a member of the faculty of one or more educational institutions of the Synod, at least the last two years of which shall have been in the institution he/she is currently serving. , i . thee} ie piven- 2. The faculty member shall have demonstrated degrees: earned advanced academic degrees and dem- onstrated scholarly achievement. 3. The faculty member’s reputation, character, con- cern for students, and ability to honor leaders shall pres- ent a good reflection on the institution and the church. 4. The faculty member’s aptness to teach has been demonstrated by effective communication in the classroom. 5. The faculty member is an active member in good standing in a member congregation of the Synod. b. Steps toward granting tenure or rollover contract shall be: 1. If the Board of Regents, on recommendation of the president of the institution, determines that a faculty member meets the above requirements 5 it shall either carry forward the procedure for granting permanent tenure or a rol- lover contract or else inform the faculty member of its decision + : $ i ; to terminate. In cases in which the decision is made to terminate the individual’s contract, the contract shall be extended-for given: continued for at least nine months beyond the time at which notice is given. If the Board of Regents does not take up the question of permanent tenure or rollover contract at least nine months prior to the end of the sixth year of creditable service, the faculty member shall be given a rollover contract with a minimum term of two years. 2. Notice of intent to grant tenure shall be announced in an official periodical of the Synod. 3. The faculty member shall be given the opportunity to respond to any comments or concerns that may have been raised relative to his tenure. 4. At least six weeks after the notice is published, consent of the electors of the institution shall be given. 5. If the above steps have all been met, after final review the Board of Regents may grant tenure. c. The granting of permanent tenure or rollover con- tract shall in no case be construed as requiring or in- dicating advancement in rank or increase in salary. Action: Declined (12). To Revise Eligibility Requirements for Colloquy Program for Pastoral Ministry RESOLUTION 6-08 Overtures 6-18-19B (CW, p. 247) Wuereas, There are committed and competent laymen in our Synod who desire to and are able to serve in the pastoral ministry later in life, having been involved in a successful career in another field in their earlier years; and Wuereas, We continue to affirm the need fora carefully selected and thoroughly trained clergy in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS); therefore be it