# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S221
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

5. HIGHER EDUCATION

5-01

To Change Membership Structure
of Concordia University System

WHEREAS, The Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod state that the Members of Concordia University System
shall consist of individuals appointed by the Board of Directors,
Council of Presidents, and colleges and universities of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (Bylaw 3.405); and

WHEREAS, Missouri nonprofit corporation law requires annual
membership meetings for all nonprofit corporations that have two
or more members who are natural persons; and

WHEREAS, Missouri nonprofit corporation law allows corporate
members to be represented by delegates and does not require an-
nual member meetings for the corporate members or their dele-
gates; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Directors of Concordia University Sys-
tem has determined that it is fiscally advantageous in scheduling
meetings to amend the Synod’s Bylaws to change from an individ-
ual-member structure to a corporate-member structure consisting
of (1) the Synod, acting through delegates elected by the Synod’s
Board of Directors and Council of Presidents and (2) the colleges
and universities of the Synod, acting through delegates elected by
their Boards of Regents; therefore be it

Resolved, That Concordia University System change from an
individual-member structure to a corporate-member structure; and
be it further

Resolved, That Synod Bylaw 3.405, “Membership of the Con-
cordia University System,” be amended to read as follows:

PRESENFT/PROPOSED WORDING

The - Members of f Concordia t University System shall consist

of # d
the Beard-of Diveotors-of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod and the colleges and universities of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. The Board of Directors of the Synod
and the Council of Presidents;and-the-ether-greup-eensisting-ef
individuale-representing of the Synod each shall elect delegates
representing the Synod. The Boards of Regents of the colleges
and universities as-established-by-the-eerperation-s-bylaws: of
the Synod shall elect delegates representing the colleges and
niversiti numbers of delegates elected by the Board of
Directors of the Synod, the Council of Presidents, and the
Boards of Regents shall be established by the Bylaws of Con-
rdi iversit: stem;
and be it further

Resolved, That the first sentence of Bylaw 3.407 a be amended
to read as follows:

PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING
a. Elected by the Geunet+ef Members delegates of the Mem-
bers of Concordia University System: four laypersons who are not
regents of any of the Synod’s higher education institutions and
who have financial or administrative or education experience;
and be it further

Resolved, That the first two sentences of the second paragraph
of Bylaw 3.407 e be amended to read as follows:

PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING
Any of the 16 voting members is eligible to serve as chair of
the board. If one of the four members elected by the delegates
of the Members of Concordia University System Geunet+ef
Members or one of the four elected by the joint seminary re-
gents is elected chair, that member will leave the Committee for
University Education or Pastoral Education.

‘Board for Higher Education/
Concordia University System

221

5-02

To Restructure Higher Education Governance
of Colleges/Universities/Seminaries

WHEREAS, The colleges/universities/seminaries of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod are facing new challenges and opportu-
nities as they seek to sustain their service to the Synod in an in-
creasingly difficult educational environment; and

WHEREAS, The local campus leaders must exercise a higher
level of governance and leadership in response to the needs and op-
portunities presented by campus constituencies while remaining
faithful to the mission and needs of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod; and

WHEREAS, A think tank established by the BHE/CUS Board in
January 2001 spent 18 months studying the strategic future of
LCMS colleges and universities, and the BHE/CUS Board incor-
porated the findings of the think tank into its recommendations;
and

WHEREAS, The think tank and the BHE/CUS Board have artic-
ulated five key principles that will guide the future of the Concor-
dia University System (CUS): (1) The CUS will work to maintain
and enhance the Christ-centered and Lutheran character of its in-
stitutions; (2) The CUS will provide commissioned ministers for
the LCMS; (3) The CUS will work to ensure a strong fiscal future
for its institutions; (4) The CUS will establish expectations for the
quality of its institutions; and (5) The CUS will implement the pre-
ceding four principles through governance structures that require
more clearly focused accountability of its institutions to the sys-
tem-wide board while expecting stronger governance of the insti-
tutions by their Boards of Regents; and

WHEREAS, The structural changes proposed in this memorial
place more fiscal responsibility upon Boards of Regents to ensure
effective institutional operations while requiring Boards of Regents
to clearly demonstrate that their institutions are providing quality
education that is faithful to the doctrine and mission of the LCMS;
and

WHEREAS, The BHE/CUS Board encourages adoption of the
proposed changes so that college/university/seminary education can
serve the Synod’s mission and ministry needs with a more effective
structure; therefore be it

Resolved, That there should be a separate governing board for
college and university education (Board for University Education,
which will be the governing board for the Concordia University
System) and a separate governing board for seminaries (Board for
Pastoral Education), both meeting in the same location at least once
a year for collaborative discussions; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for University Education is composed
of the following members (no more than one member elected by
the Synod can be from the same District): two ordained, elected by
the Synod; one commissioned, elected by the Synod; one layper-
son, elected by the Synod; four LCMS laypersons, appointed by
the Concordia University System Council of Members and the
Synod President or his representative (voting). Advisory members
will be a District President, appointed by the Council of Presidents;
the Synod Treasurer; the Executive Director of the Board for Pas-
toral Education; and one university president. The Board for Uni-
versity Education will conduct its business in no fewer than three
meetings per year (Bylaw 3.69 c); and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Pastoral Education is composed
of the following members (no more than one member elected by
the Synod can be from the same District): three ordained pastors,
elected by the Synod; one commissioned, elected by the Synod;
four laypersons, elected by the Synod; the Synod President or his
representative (voting). Advisory members will be a District Pres-
ident, appointed by the Council of Presidents; the Concordia Uni-
versity System Executive Director; and the two seminary presi-
dents. The Board for Pastoral Education will conduct its business in
fewer than three meetings per year, one of which shall be a joint
meeting with the two seminaries’ Boards of Regents (Bylaw 3.69
c) on a seminary campus; and be it further