# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S292 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE To Amend Synod’s Articles of Incorporation Rationale The President’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Structure requested that the Board of Directors submit to the convention an overture to amend the Articles of Incorporation of the Synod based upon its review and suggestions and those of legal counsel. The recommended changes are * to eliminate from Articles I and V reference to specific officers or persons, relying on the Constitution and Bylaws to define such positions and thereby simplifying future amendments. to incorporate by reference in Article II the objectives of the Synod as stated in the Constitution. to clarify in Article III that congregations are the voting members of the Synod. * to reference the Constitution of the Synod in Articles VII and VIII. to clarify in Article IV that general meetings of the Synod are its conventions. Resolved, That the Articles of Incorporation of the Synod be amended and restated as indicated under the following proposed Articles of Incorporation. CURRENT ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION Article I Name, Duration, Registered Office, and Agent a. The name of this corporation shall be “The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod.” b. The period of duration of the corporation is perpetual. c. The address of the registered office of the corporation is 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, Missouri. d. The name of the registered agent of the corporation is John Schuelke. Article II Objects The objects of this corporation shall be: a. To unite in a corporate body the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church who acknowledge and remain true to the Book of Concord of the year of our Lord 1580 as a true exhibition of sound Christian doctrine. b. To train ministers and teachers for service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. c. To assist and advise congregations, pastors, and teachers affiliated with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and to exercise super- vision over such pastors and teachers as to doctrine, practice, and performance of their official duties. d To establish, build, conduct, and maintain theological seminaries, colleges, academies, schools, and other institutions of learning. e. To assist in the establishment of Lutheran congregations and preach- ing stations. f. To spread the Gospel by means of radio and television broadcast- ing, visual education, and all other forms of missionary endeavor throughout the world. g. To print, publish, purchase, sell, and otherwise disseminate Bibles, books, periodicals, literature, music, and other supplies for congre- gations, schools, Sunday schools, preaching stations, and institutions. h. To establish and conduct all such enterprises and endeavors and to exercise such further power as may be necessary or expedient to carry out the objects and purposes for which this corporation is or- ganized. Article III Membership The power of the corporation shall be lodged with the accred- ited clergy and lay delegates of the congregations in actual mem- bership with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, distributed among the constituent congregations in such number as may be de- termined upon from time to time by the Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and only such delegates shall be enti- tled to a vote at the meeting of the corporation. PROPOSED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION Article I Name, Duration, Registered Office, and Agent a. The name of this corporation shall be “The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod.” b. The period of duration of the corporation is perpetual. c. The address of the registered office of the corporation is 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, Missouri. Article II Objectives The objectives of this corporation shall be: a. To unite in a corporate body the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church that acknowledge and remain true to the Book of Concord of the year of our Lord 1580 as a true exhibition of sound Christian doctrine. b. To train ministers and teachers for service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. c. To assist and advise congregations, pastors, and teachers affiliated with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and to exercise super- vision over such pastors and teachers as to doctrine, practice, and performance of their official duties. d To establish, build, conduct, and maintain theological seminaries, colleges, academies, schools, and other institutions of learning. e. To assist in the establishment of Lutheran congregations and preach- ing stations. f. To spread the Gospel by means of radio and television broadcast- ing, visual education, and all other forms of missionary endeavor throughout the world. g. To print, publish, purchase, sell, and otherwise disseminate Bibles, books, periodicals, literature, music, and other supplies for congre- gations, schools, Sunday schools, preaching stations, and institu- tions. h. To establish and conduct all such enterprises and endeavors and to exercise such further power as may be necessary or expedient to carry out the objectives stated in the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Article III Membership Membership in the corporation is held and may be acquired by congregations, ministers of religion—ordained and ministers of re- | ligion—commissioned, such as teachers, directors of Christian ed- ucation, directors of Christian outreach, deaconesses, and certified lay ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church who confess and accept the confessional basis of Article II of the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The member congrega- tions of the Synod shall be the voting members of the corporation.