# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S154
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

154

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

member congregation in the Synod can hardly be made more open,
although it is at present underutilized. Responsibility for vetting
potential regents has been transferred to CUE, with appropriate
consultation, reflecting CUE’s expanded role in assisting those who
elect and appoint regents in identifying the most qualified and capable candidates. Information on Synod convention nominees will,
in a significant change, be shared with CUE for use throughout the
following triennium in recommending highly qualified regents for
district election or board appointment. This increases the importance and economy of a triennial, synodwide drive for submission
of exceptionally qualified nominees.
Therefore be it
Resolved, that Bylaws 3.10.6–3.10.6.3 be revised, and Bylaws
3.10.6.4–5 be removed, as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
F. Concordia University SystemSynod-Affiliated College and
University Boards of Regents
3.10.6
Each affiliated college and university (“institution”) of
the Synod, with its president and faculty, shall be governed by
a board of regents, autonomous to make decisions in the best
interest of the institution, while electing to be subject to general policies set by the Synod, including those established by the
Concordia University System the following expectations as a
condition of affiliation with the Synod.
3.10.6.1
In exercising its relationship to the Synod and to the
Concordia University System as set forth elsewhere under Bylaw 3.6.6 and following, the board of regents of each institution
shall consider as one of its primary duties the defining and fulfilling of the mission of the institution within the broad assignment of the Synod. common confession and mission it shares
with the Synod and its congregations (Bylaw 1.2.1 [a]). The
board, in addition to its commonly understood fiduciary and
governance responsibilities, shall:
(a) as a whole and as individual members, as stewards of the
institution on behalf of the congregations of the Synod, embrace and advance with administration, faculty, staff, and students the institution’s fundamental purpose as inculcating the
faith, as taught in the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions
(Constitution Art. II), preparing students to live in this faith
toward God and by this faith, in their various vocations, in
love toward the neighbor;
(b) govern the institution with consistent attention to specific
ways that the institution is confessing Jesus Christ in full accord with the doctrinal position of the LCMS (Constitution
Art. II) and fulfilling His mission in our world in concert with
the objectives of the Synod (Constitution Art. III), intentionally seeking continual growth as a board in such governance;
(c) actively foster and expect curricula and policies for student
life and behavior consistent with the doctrine and practice
of the Synod, and commit the institution to the principles of
Christian discipline, an evangelical manner, and good order;
(d) ensure that all faculty receive appropriate formal, ongoing
training in the doctrines of Holy Scripture as rightly taught
in the Lutheran Confessions as they relate to their academic
disciplines, to enable faculty to engage in responsible exercise of their academic freedom within the confession of the
institution and the Synod (Const. Art. II);
(e) ensure that its institution and constituent parts strive to ex2023 Convention Workbook

cel in the Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards,
and to cooperate fully with processes for accreditation by the
Commission for University Education and for appointment
of the institution’s president;
(f) review and approve academic programs recommended by
the administration and faculty, giving due consideration to
the Standards and coordination with other affiliated colleges
and universities. It shall participate fully in the procedures for
the selection and regular review of the president, and shall
approve the appointment of faculty members;
(g) ensure that its institution and constituent parts support the
proper authorities of the Synod in their roles of ecclesiastical
supervision of called workers, placement of graduates, and
doctrinal review status appeals, and submit to the Synod’s
expectations for handling of faculty complaints and dispute
resolution, insofar as they apply;
(h) exercise its unique fiduciary duty of institutional governance without abdicating its authority to, or commingling its
authority with, that of others;
(i) duly consider the common confession, mission, interest, and
cooperative strength of the Synod, with its congregations,
agencies, and other affiliates, as it makes decisions with
impact beyond its campus, especially as it plans new programs, cooperates and consolidates operations with other affiliated schools, operates in a worldwide online marketplace,
cooperates with the Synod Board of Directors in the legal
defense of the right to the free exercise of our confession,
and interacts with the ministries and partners of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, domestically and internationally,
in harmony with its programs and consistent with its protocol
agreements;
(j) govern transparently, in a timely manner sharing with the
Commission for University Education minutes of board
meetings and with both the commission and the Synod Board
of Directors revisions of institutional governing documents
and policies, and responsively, understanding inquiries and
suggestions offered by the commission to be offered on behalf of the congregations with which their institution shares a
confession and mission;
(k) operate with financial transparency, annually providing,
within 30 days of audit completion, audited financial statements and other information as determined in the commission’s accreditation standards to the Commission for University Education and to the Synod Board of Directors and to
congregations of the Synod upon request;
(l) effectively and intentionally govern administration and faculty so that they carry out their management and educational
responsibilities in a manner consistent with the foregoing;
and
(m) affirm in writing submission to those Bylaws of the Synod
applicable to an affiliated college or university, and as may
from time to time be adopted, so long as the institution remains affiliated with the Synod.
3.10.6.2
The board of regents of each college and university
shall consist of no more than 18 members, all voting.
1. One ordained minister, one commissioned minister, and two
laypersons shall be elected by the conventions of the Synod.
2. One ordained minister, one commissioned minister, and
two laypersons shall be elected by the geographical district