# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S355
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
6. Other present CUS institutions will close or separate from
the Synod. Some sort of recognition relationship with
schools in the latter category may be developed, subject to
approval by a future convention of the Synod. But to
become commissioned rostered LCMS church workers,
graduates of those institutions would have to go through the
Synod’s colloquy process.
and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod directs its Board of Directors and the
CUS Board of Directors to make the changes necessary to act
consistently with the above-enumerated bedrock principles by the
time of the 2026 Synod convention, including proposing to that
convention any desirable refinements or additions for the Synod’s
bylaws; and be it finally
Resolved, That Synod also directs its Board of Directors and the
CUS Board of Directors to provide the 2026 Synod convention a
full report on the implementation steps that have been taken.
Board of Directors
Central Illinois District
Ov. 7-09

Resolved, That the schools are divested or allowed to become
independent colleges, and that after all debt is paid to the Lutheran
Church Extension Fund, the LCMS be paid for the value of the
property and that money go into the endowment fund for church
worker tuition; and be it further
Resolved, That a district may not take over the operations of a
college slated to be closed or divested; and be it further
Resolved, That with regard to all monies in endowments or
pledged to be given in future gifts, the giver of the monies be
informed of the colleges’ status and their legal options concerning
their gifts; and be it further
Resolved, That the work of this task force be completed one year
before the next Synod convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the recommendations be made known to the
congregations for study; and be it further
Resolved, That the recommendations then be brought forth to the
next convention for consideration; and be it finally
Resolved, That the colleges and two seminaries remaining after
this process no longer be allowed to take federal, state, or local
government monies, including student loans.
Concordia, Burlington, IA;
Circuit 8 (Mount Pleasant), Iowa East District

To Form Task Force to Restructure
Concordia University System
WHEREAS, The Synod has had to close three of our colleges in
the past two trienniums plus one year; and
WHEREAS, Our colleges on average, have more non-Lutheran
students than students from Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) congregations; and
WHEREAS, A majority of students in our colleges are enrolled in
programs unrelated to providing church workers; and
WHEREAS, The debt of church work students is becoming so
large to make church work unattainable for students to consider; and
WHEREAS, The influence of non-LCMS students are pushing our
schools in the direction of accepting or tolerating LGTBQ clubs and
groups contrary to Scripture; and
WHEREAS, Government regulations are pushing our colleges into
accepting LGTBQ lifestyles; and
WHEREAS, Concordia University Texas has declared itself to be
no longer under the guidance of the LCMS; therefore be it
Resolved, That a committee of 13 be formed, appointed by the
President of the Synod, with the President serving as a voting
member of this committee. This committee shall include an expert
in finances, law, and real estate. An outside law firm shall be hired
to guide the committee and a reasonable budget be appropriated;
and be it further
Resolved, That this committee recommend to the Synod the
following: Which one or two of our current colleges be retained
while the rest are closed or divested from the LCMS; and be it
further
Resolved, That the following criteria be used along with other
criteria deemed necessary by the committee:
• current percentage of LCMS students enrolled;
• current debt of the school; and
• property value and potential ability to sell the facilities;
and be it further

355

Ov. 7-10

To Bring Accountability
to Concordia Boards of Regents
WHEREAS, Our Concordia universities have long been and
continue to be precious gifts to the world and to the Church,
especially when they clearly confess Christ Jesus as Lord and
Savior according to Holy Scripture and our Lutheran Confessions;
and
WHEREAS, The board of regents at each of our Concordia
universities is vital to offering to its students, the world, and the
Church a clear confession of what we in The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS) believe, teach, and confess; and
WHEREAS, While each of our Concordia universities has
expanded its academic offerings to include other God pleasing
vocations, and at the same time our Concordia universities continue
to be the primary training ground in preparing future ordained and
commissioned ministers for the LCMS; and
WHEREAS, While each Concordia University Board of Regents
is to hold its members accountable, which at times has proved
problematic, and there is currently no mechanism in the Synod
Bylaws for the church at large to deal with regents, including laity,
who fail to faithfully adhere to the bylaws; and
WHEREAS, Neither the Synod President nor the geographic
district president in whose district the Concordia University resides
has any authority over the laity; therefore be it
Resolved, That the South Wisconsin District in convention
appeal to the 2023 Synod convention to request that the
Commission on Handbook (COH) draft a series of bylaws so that
the geographic district president in whose district the specific
Concordia University resides, and/or the Synod President, may,
after futile admonition, appeal to the Board of Directors for relief;
and be it further
Resolved, That, once completed, the COH forward these new
bylaws to the Board of Directors for approval and implementation.
2023 Convention Workbook