# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S171 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 7. UNIVERSITY EDUCATION make the names, addresses, and email addresses of high school students seeking a college education available to the CUS for such purpose; • encouraging member congregations to make their members aware of the opportunities for continuing education and advanced degrees available at CUS schools, for those adults considering such educational options; and • encouraging all pastors, church workers, and congregations of the LCMS to pray for the work done by the CUS schools, and to the Lord of the Harvest to send students to the CUS schools according to His good and gracious will; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm and promote teaching opportunities at CUS schools by • encouraging, through the Synod’s “LCMS U” campus ministry, those students who are enrolled in, or considering entering, graduate educational programs, to explore the possibility of teaching at a CUS school; • directing the CUS to expand and enhance its current database of members of LCMS congregations who hold advanced academic degrees to include students currently pursuing graduate degrees, and encouraging all such persons to submit their names and resume information for confidential consideration by CUS schools seeking faculty candidates; • encouraging each CUS school to implement a formal program to assist in “growing” its own LCMS faculty so that members of LCMS congregations with non-terminal degrees in fields where there is a faculty shortage are engaged and financially assisted in obtaining doctoral-level degrees while teaching at the CUS school, subject to an appropriate commitment to ongoing service in the CUS; • directing each CUS school to urge, and provide reasonable assistance to, those faculty and staff who are members of LCMS congregations but who do not have roster status to seek such status where appropriate; and • encouraging all pastors, church workers, and congregations of the LCMS to pray for the work done by the CUS schools, and to the Lord of the Harvest to send faculty and staff to the CUS schools according to His good and gracious will. Action: Adopted (4) It was moved and seconded to amend the resolution by adding a bullet point to the second-last resolve, to read “encouraging every Lutheran preschool, child development center, elementary school, and high school to develop and implement policies to Resolutions establish and exhibit distinctly Lutheran identity, which will include calling and ongoing support of Lutheran educators.” After debate, the chair put closure of debate on the amendment to a vote, which carried [Yes: 747; No: 76]; the amendment subsequently failed [Yes: 314; No: 526]. Noting the orders of the day, the chair put closure of debate on the main motion to a vote, which carried [Yes: 781; No: 80]. Res. 7-02 was adopted as presented [Yes: 835; No: 48]. To Direct a Collaborative Process to Propose a New Governance Plan RESOLUTION 7-03 Overtures 7-02, 13, 15 (CW, 463, 470–71) WHEREAS, The Concordia University System (CUS) institution presidents, in consultation with the President of the Synod, the CUS Board of Directors, and the President of the CUS, have concluded that greater integration and collaboration would strengthen the individual institutions and the system as a whole, as summarized in the following comments: Higher Education faces an uncertain future. Most observers anticipate a serious decline in the number of colleges over the course of the next several years. Eager not only to survive but to thrive as the Church’s schools, the presidents of CUS institutions are considering various approaches to our colleges and universities’ relationship to one another. Presently, the relationship is marked by goodwill and collegiality, but there is very little mutual accountability or responsibility. Based on the premise that we are stronger together than apart, models that would reinforce and enhance our individual identity and authority coupled with a more robust systemic governance are being explored. How best to maintain local campus oversight and engagement on the one hand, while strengthening the ties that bind us together on the other, is the idea. The intention is to help alleviate tensions and conflict of competition. Even more compelling, the quest is to identify ways in which systemic collaboration presents opportunities for broader reach and impact. and WHEREAS, Such an effort at greater integration requires significant study of regional and professional programmatic accreditation, legal matters, regulatory issues, and matters of structure and governance; and WHEREAS, The CUS institution presidents are wellpositioned with the best knowledge and expertise to develop a strategic plan for the future of CUS institutions that is attentive to best practices of higher education and the needs of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 171