# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S251
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 251

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 Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church.

c. To assist and advise congregations, pastors, and teachers
affiliated with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and to
exercise supervision over such pastors and teachers as to doc-
trine, 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 preaching stations.

f. To spread the Gospel by means of radio and television
broadcasting, visual education, and all other forms of missionary
endeavor throughout the world.

g. To print, publish, purchase, sell, and otherwise dissemi-
nate Bibles, books, periodicals, literature, music, and other sup-
plies for congregations, schools, Sunday schools, preaching sta-
tions, and institutions.

h. To establish and conduct all such enterprises and endeav-
ors 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 1] Membership

Membership in the corporation is held and may be acquired
by congregations, ministers of religion—ordained and ministers
of religion—commissioned, such as teachers, directors of Chris-
tian education, directors of Christian outreach, directors of
parish music, deaconesses, parish assistants, 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 congre-
gations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod shall be the
voting members of the corporation. Congregations shall exer-
cise their voting power through clergy and lay delegates distrib-
uted among the member congregations in such number as may
be determined from time to time by the Bylaws of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod.

Article IV Meetings

This corporation shall have general meetings, called synod-
ical conventions, at least once every three years, or as often as
may be determined by resolution of the corporation. Special
meetings may be called in such manner as may be provided by
the Constitution or Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod. All officers, the Board of Directors of corporate Synod,
and all corporations, boards, and other subordinate bodies de-
fined in such Constitution or Bylaws shall be responsible to the
synodical convention which is the ultimate authority of the cor-
poration.

Article V Officers and Board of Directors

The corporation shall have a board of directors of such num-
ber and qualifications and who shall be elected in such manner
and for such terms of office as shall be set forth in the Constitu-
tion or Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. In
addition, the corporation shall have officers having such quali-
fications and who shall be elected or appointed in such manner
and for such terms of office as provided for in the Constitution
or Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. To the

xten! licable law,

f Di rr 1 be limi ituti
jaws, a i f th

Article VI Property

This corporation shall have power to acquire by gift, grant,
demise, devise, bequest, purchase, or otherwise, property of
every kind and description, real, personal, or mixed; to hold and
use such property and deal with, or dispose of, any or all such
property by sale, exchange, or gift, when necessary or expedient
to carry out the objects and purposes of the corporation; to re-
ceive, maintain, and administer endowments, legacies, pension
funds, retirement funds, and such other general or trust funds as
may be necessary for the operation of said corporation or for the

accomplishment of its purposes; provided that all such property
shall be acquired, dealt with, or disposed of in a manner not in
conflict with the laws of the State of Missouri or of the laws of
any State in which said property is located.

Article VII Bylaws

This corporation shall have and make such Bylaws as may
be necessary to accomplish its purposes and shall have power
to create such corporations, boards, offices, and other subordi-
nate bodies as may be necessary to accomplish its general and
special objectives and in such Bylaws assign responsibilities to
those bodies.

Article VIII Indemnification
a. This Article shall be a contract between the corporation
such person’s continued service to the corporation. The protec-
i forded to each director or officer his Article shall sur-
viv h_person’s term of office or em nt. Thi i
n I nor may t i iminish: X=
cept as to liability accruing in respect of acts or omissions oc-
curring after the date of such repeal or modification.
b. The corporation shajl hold harmless and indemnify each
director and officer t fullest extent authorized or permitt
the provisions of Subsections | through d 9 through 11
f ion 476, Missouri Revi s amen.
(which Section, in its entirety, is hereinafter referred to as the
‘ te”) or other or additional Visio
which are hereafter adopted authorizing or permitting such in-
i ion. Without limitin nerality of in:
rized by Subsection 8 of the State Statute.
ition to the f i he ration here
1 her indemni irector fficer to the full
extent authorized or permitted by the provisions of Subsection
of the State Statute, or any other or additional statutory provi-
sions which are hereafter adopted authorizing or permitting such
in ification.
d. The corporation will pay, in advance of the final disposi-
tion of jon, sui i
i r officer incurred in defendin civil or crim-
inal action, suit, or proceed against him or her, provided he or
she shall have agreed to reimburse the corporation if and to the

it sh: Iti: | i hat he or i
ntitl indemnified by th ion for such expen:
Article IX Amendments

Amendments to these Articles of Incorporation may be
made at any time at a regular called meeting of this Corporation
by the affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of the delegates
present and voting or by a simple majority of all delegates,
whichever is less, provided such amendments are not inconsis-
tent with the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod or Constitution and laws of the United States or the State
of Missouri.

Commission on Structure

7-07

To Require Unconditional Commitment to Art. II

WHEREAS, The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are
the true written Word of God, and the only rule and norm of faith
and practice (Art. II of the Constitution of the LCMS); and

WHEREAS, The Symbolic Books of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church are a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of
the Word of God, to wit: the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apos-
tles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unal-
tered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confes-
sion, the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the
Sma]] Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord are the
proper exposition of the Word of God; and

WHEREAS, It is the objective of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod to conserve and promote the unity of the True Faith, work
through official structure toward fellowship with other faithful