# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S221 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) HIGHER EDUCATION 221 date any radical change in tenure Johns Hopkins Magazine, Sep- tember 1997, p. 31); and WHEREAS, Any substantive change in the tenure policy as out- lined in the Handbook of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (6.25) can impact the well-being of faculty and institutions; there- fore be it Resolved, That the boards of regents, administrators, and fac- ulty of the colleges and universities of the Concordia University System engage in a discussion of the role of tenure in their mis- sion; and be it further Resolved, That a proposed change in Bylaw 6.25 of the Hand- book of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod be delayed until such discussions have occurred in institutions of the Concordia University System; and be it further Resolved, That boards of regents and administrators of institu- tions of the Concordia University System solicit input from faculty in any proposed change from tenure to rollover contracts. Faculty Concordia College Seward, NE 5-41 To Consider Issues re Tenure and Rollover Contracts WHEREAS, Discussions regarding the issue of tenure policies are taking place; and WuereEaS, Synodical doctrine is protected by the Statement of Limitations to Academic Freedom which applies to tenured faculty as well as nontenured faculty; and WHEREAS, Tenured faculty may be dismissed on reasonable grounds; and WHEREAS, Tenure policies are useful in protecting academic freedom and excellence; and WHEREAS, Tenure policies, when advertised, attract higher qual- ity applicants for positions; and WHEREAS, Most full-time faculty members accepted job open- ings offered as tenure track positions and changing that status would be a switch from their agreement; and WHEREAS, Tenure constitutes a vested property right for those who have tenure; and WHEREAS, It is unclear that current tenure policies are at the root of the problems being addressed; and WHEREAS, Faculty hold few other tangible job benefits compa- rable to other institutions of higher education; and WHEREAS, The University of Minnesota recently lost a bitter legal battle with its faculty regarding tenure rights; therefore be it Resolved, That any proposed changes to Bylaw 6.25 of the Handbook of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod be rejected; and be it further Resolved, That boards of regents and administrators of institu- tions of higher education in the Concordia University System so- licit input and approval from university faculties in any proposed changes to current tenure policies. Faculty ~ Concordia University St. Paul, MN 5-42 To Insure LCMS Faculty in System Schools WHEREAS, The Concordia University System represents The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as an arm of the church to edu- cate church workers and others; and WHEREAS, The theology and practice of the Concordia Univer- sity System pledges to conform to the Lutheran Confessions and the doctrinal position of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, The tradition of the constituency of the faculty in the Concordia University System has been 90 percent LCMS mem- bers; and WHEREAS, It is necessary to maintain a strong LCMS faculty to integrate Lutheran theology and academic excellence; therefore be it Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education make it official policy, and not merely the prerogative of the chairman of the Board of Higher Education, or of the president of the Concordia Univer- sity System, to insure that 90 percent of the faculties at each of our Concordia colleges/universities be members of the LCMS; and be it further Resolved, That all colleges/universities of our system work to- ward compliance with such a policy as soon as possible. Circuit 16 Forum, South Wisconsin District; Circuit 17 Forum, South Wisconsin District 5-43 To Amend Colloquy Bylaws WHEREAS, The 1992 Handbook of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod (LCMS) contained a category of eligibility for admis- sion to the colloquy program for the pastoral ministry for those who are “‘communicant members in good standing of synodical congre- gations who are graduates of an established nonsynodical semi- nary” (Bylaw 6.91 3); and WHEREAS, The 1995 Handbook of the LCMS contains no cate- gory of eligibility for admission to the colloquy program for the pastoral ministry for graduates of nonsynodical seminaries unless they are “ministers who are in good standing in other Christian church bodies, are graduates of established seminaries, and have served at least three years in a recognized ministry in their church body” (Bylaw 6.91 a); and WHEREAS, The alternate route programs at both LCMS semi- naries are designed only for those who are either ministers of reli- gion, commissioned, with at least 8 years of experience or laymen with at least 10 years of significant experience related directly to Word and Sacrament ministry within the LCMS; and WHEREAS, The alternate route programs do not afford opportu- nity for a candidate to have a program of preparation tailored to his individual background after a theological interview has been con- ducted; and WHEREAS, Graduates of nonsynodical seminaries who want to become pastors in the LCMS have no program of preparation open to them within the LCMS other than completing an additional mas- ter of divinity degree or applying to the alternate route program after they have accumulated 10 years of significant experience re- lated directly to Word and Sacrament ministry within the LCMS; therefore be it Resolved, That Bylaw 6.91 1 in the 1995 Handbook of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod be amended by adding the fol- lowing category of eligible applicants: Communicant members in good standing of synodical congregations who are graduates of an established nonsynodical seminary. Faculty Concordia Seminary St. Louis, MO 5-44 To Clarify Seminary Requirement for Pastoral Colloquy Applicants Rationale Bylaw 6.91 provides a process for ministers who were ordained in anon-LCMS church body to become members of The Lutheran