# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S336
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

336

V. REPORT OF THE 2016 RES. 4-03B TASK FORCE ON RECOGNIZED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

3.1.2 The WSO in the Restructured RSO
Program
A WSO is governed exclusively by those in doctrinal and
practical fellowship with the Synod. It has as its essential purpose
the extension and direct support of the Gospel mission and ministry of Synod congregations, and demonstrably functions in support of and on behalf of Synod’s congregations, in terms of the
objectives they have laid out for the Synod granting recognition,
and in cooperation and coordination with its programs and entities.
This implies an unconditional expectation of doctrinal and practical faithfulness, but also that a WSO intentionally and responsively
pursues coordination with the district, national, and international
“witness” programs of the Synod.

3.2.2 ESO Governance and the Revitalized
RSO Program
Schools fall under a variety of governance models, which determine their relationship to the present and revitalized RSO programs:
•

Single-congregation, separately incorporated:
Schools, even if independently incorporated, that are
governed by a single LCMS member congregation (i.e.,
board members elected by the congregation, appointed
by the congregation’s board, etc.) are parish schools
and have the ability to call, to provide worker benefits through Concordia Plans, to finance through the
Lutheran Church Extension Fund, etc., by virtue of their
governance by their congregation. They can request
and be granted membership in Synod’s group 501(c)(3)
exemption on the same grounds. These do not need RSO
status, and will be transitioned out in the future, to be
recognized by the districts as congregationally governed
schools.

•

Multi-congregation (LCMS only), separately
incorporated: Schools, even if independently incorporated, that are governed in the above manner solely by
multiple LCMS congregations have the above benefits
by the same mechanism. These, known as “association
schools,” do not need RSO status, although many currently maintain it. Their ability to call workers and to access benefits from LCEF, CPS, etc., is already provided
through district recognition (in a manner analogous to
that of existing Bylaw 2.11.1 [k]), as was already noted
in 2007 Res. 7-02. These should be transitioned out of
RSO status to reduce the administrative burden on them
and on the program. Just as with those above, these are
under the supervision of the district with which their
congregations are associated.

•

Board-governed schools independent of congregational governance: RSO status will continue to be
required for schools operated by an independent board
(not comprised of board members contributed by an
LCMS congregation or congregations).

•

Pan-Lutheran schools: Six of the schools recognized
as RSOs in 2018 are pan-Lutheran (involve ELCA partners in governance). Because these are jointly governed
by LCMS and non-LCMS congregations, they are not
“association schools” in the sense above and would need
to remain in the RSO program to maintain access to the
benefits accorded to RSOs. In 1998, when there were
34 such schools, the convention directed a review of
their RSO status (Res. 2-06A, Proceedings, 107), noting
that “[r]ecent ecumenical directions of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America [ELCA] may jeopardize
the doctrine and practice of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregations participating in [such] RSOs
(i.e., instruction of the Christian faith, chapel services,
and theological supervision).” The resulting Task Force
on Recognized Service Organizations (Schools) (2001
Today’s Business 1:22–30), noting the profoundly different understandings of confessional commitments,
doctrines, and practices, between the synods, concluded

3.2 Educational Service Organization
(ESOs)
ESOs (proposed Bylaw 6.2.2 [b]) are schools (one or more
early childhood, primary, or secondary school[s]), camps, and
programs ancillary to such. (Professional and/or focused missionand-ministry training falls under the WMO category above.) ESOs
are recognized as service organizations because of their alignment
with the Synod’s fifth constitutional objective, that “[t]he Synod,
under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, shall…[a]id congregations to develop processes of thorough Christian education and
nurture…” (Const. Art. III 5) and their direct roles in furthering
triennial priorities 4–7 (see 2016 Res. 4-02A, Proceedings, 145–6).
By recognizing ESOs and granting them the ability to call rostered
workers, and to participate in worker benefits plans, financing and
fundraising opportunities, the Synod has recognized that the work
of the parochial school—a core emphasis for the Synod from its
foundation—can be carried out in, or in association with, schools
not directly governed by a congregation or congregation(s).
Like WSOs, ESOs must be held to the highest possible standard doctrinally and practically. Unlike WSOs, some of them may
operate in a realm where non-member support (increasingly by
states) is a significant financial input and constrains their ability
to deliver a thorough program of Christian education, nurture, and
catechesis throughout the day. In such an instance, the organization
attempts as best it can to carry out “a thorough program of Christian
education, nurture, and catechesis” by way of a wraparound program or by fostering a close connection with partner congregations
that are active in outreach to families served.

3.2.1 Existing Types of ESO Activity
•

Schools, including Early Childhood, Primary (Elementary), and Secondary (High School) (141)

•

Camp Programs (14, 2 of which are pan-Lutheran)

•

Other Education (10), currently including schools of
non-traditional models, such as wrap-around charter
schools and online schools

•

After School Program

•

Educational Granting (1): Scholarships for Children in
Developing Countries

2019 Convention Workbook