# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2010_S139
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SEMINARY AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

To Clarify Bylaw 3.8.3.8.2 re Promotion of Faculty
RESOLUTION 5-10
Overture 5-34 (CW, pp. 205–206)
Rationale
This bylaw regarding faculty candidates for advancement
to “continuing status” needs to be revised in two ways .
1 . The requirement that the names of candidates be published in an official periodical serves no useful role in
the process—in fact, it delays the process unnecessarily . The relevant data is collected from the candidate’s
publications, teaching record, student evaluations, etc .
Therefore the requirement that the names be published
needs to be deleted .
2 . The reference to “electors” in point (e) (4) is undefined
and vague, and should be deleted . Because no one knows
who those electors are, the current practice is to assign
this responsibility to the board of regents as stated in
point (e) (5) .
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3 .8 .3 .8 .2 (e) be revised to read:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3 .8 .3 .8 .2 Each educational institution shall have established
policies and procedures related to appointments… .
…(e) Steps in moving a faculty member from an initial-level
appointment to a continuing-level appointment shall be the following:
(1) If the board of regents, on recommendation of the president of the institution, determines that a faculty member meets
the above requirements and is still at the initial-level appointment, it shall either carry forward the procedure for promotion
to a continuing-level appointment or inform the faculty member
of its decision not to do so, in which case the individual either
may continue at the initial-level appointment or be terminated .
Any continuation of employment at the initial-level appointment shall be on a year-to-year basis . Faculty employment
during the initial-level appointment period may be terminated
without disclosure of cause . In cases in which the decision is
made to terminate the individual’s contract, the contract shall
be extended for at least six months beyond the time at which
notice is given . If the board of regents does not take up the question of promotion to a continuing-level appointment at least nine
months prior to the end of the sixth year of service, the faculty
member may petition the board of regents to do so .
(2) Notice of intent to promote to a continuing-level appointment status 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 promotion to a continuing-level appointment .
(4) At least six weeks after the notice is published, consent
of the electors of the institution shall be given .
(5)(2) If the above steps have all been met, after After
final review the board of regents may promote to a continuing-level appointment status .

139

Action: Adopted (10)
(During discussion, an amendment was introduced to replace
“without disclosure of cause” in Bylaw paragraph (e) (1) with “for
cause .” Ruled a substitute motion, the assembly declined to consider the motion by a vote of 196 to 859 . When debate was ended,
Res . 5-10 was adopted as presented [Yes: 855; No: 251] .)

To Clarify Bylaw 3.8.2.7.2 (e) re Promotion of Faculty
RESOLUTION 5-11
Overture 5-34 (CW, pp. 205–206)
Rationale
This bylaw regarding faculty candidates for advancement
to “continuing status” needs to be revised in two ways .
1 . The requirement that the names of candidates be published in an official periodical serves no useful role in
the process—in fact, it delays the process unnecessarily . The relevant data is collected from the candidate’s
publications, teaching record, student evaluations, etc .
Therefore the requirement that the names be published
needs to be deleted .
2 . The reference to “electors” in point (e) (4) is undefined
and vague, and should be deleted . Because no one knows
who those electors are, the current practice is to assign
this responsibility to the board of regents as stated in
point (e) (5);
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3 .8 .2 .7 .2 (e) be revised to read:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3 .8 .2 .7 .2 Each theological seminary shall have established
policies and procedures related to appointments .  . . .
… (e) Steps in moving a faculty member from an initial-level
appointment to a continuing-level appointment shall be the following:
(1) If the board of regents, on recommendation of the president of the seminary, determines that a faculty member meets
the above requirements and is still at the initial-level appointment, it shall either carry forward the procedure for promotion
to a continuing-level appointment or inform the faculty member
of its decision not to do so, in which case the individual either
may continue at the initial-level appointment or be terminated .
Any continuation of employment at the initial-level appointment shall be on a year-to-year basis . Faculty employment
during the initial-level appointment period may be terminated
without disclosure of cause . In cases in which the decision is
made to terminate the individual’s contract, the contract shall
be extended for at least six months beyond the time at which
notice is given . If the board of regents does not take up the question of promotion to a continuing-level appointment at least nine
months prior to the end of the sixth year of service, the faculty
member may petition the board of regents to do so .
(2) Notice of intent to promote to a continuing-level appointment status shall be announced in an official periodical of
the Synod .
2010 Convention Proceedings