# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S223
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SEMINARY AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION 223

5-26

To Remove Ambiguous Phrase from Bylaw 3.8.2.7.3 (b)

WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.8.2.7.3 (appointment of members to facul-
ties of Synod institutions) was altered by the 1998 convention of
the Synod; and

WHEREAS, This action changed the former wording: “When, in
exceptional cases, laypersons are involved, they should be persons
who are solemnly pledged to the Holy Scriptures as the inspired
Word of God and to the Lutheran Confessions” to currently read,
“When laypersons are employed in full-time teaching positions,
they shall pledge to perform their duties in harmony with the Holy
Scriptures as the inspired Word of God, the Lutheran Confessions,
the Synod’s doctrinal statements, and the policies of the Synod”
(3.8.2.7.3 [b]); and

WuereEAas, The phrase ‘“‘and the policies of the Synod” is impre-
cise and ambiguous since there are no centrally defined “policies of
the Synod” to which anyone else is pledged; and

WrerEAS, All faculty members of Synod institutions are al-
ready pledged to “the Holy Scriptures as the inspired Word of God,
the Lutheran Confessions [and] the Synod’s doctrinal statements”;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the phrase “and the policies of the Synod” be re-
moved from Bylaw 3.8.2.7.3 (b) so that the Bylaw reads,

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
(b) Ordinarily candidates for full-time teaching positions
shall be rostered members of the Synod. When laypersons are
employed in full-time teaching positions, they shall pledge to
perform their duties in harmony with the Holy Scriptures as the
inspired Word of God, the Lutheran Confessions, and the
Synod’s doctrinal statements, and-the-peltetes-ef-the-Syned-

Board for Pastoral Education

5-27

To Remove Ambiguous Phrase from Bylaw 3.8.3.8.3 (b)

WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.8.3.8.3 (appointment of members to facul-
ties of Synod institutions) was altered by the 1998 Synod conven-
tion; and

WHEREAS, This action changed the former wording: “When, in
exceptional cases, laypersons are involved, they should be persons
who are solemnly pledged to the Holy Scriptures as the inspired
Word of God and to the Lutheran Confessions” to currently-read
3.8.3.8.3 (b): “When laypersons are employed in full-time teach-
ing positions, they shall pledge to perform their duties in harmony
with the Holy Scriptures as the inspired Word of God, the Lutheran
Confessions, the Synod’s doctrinal statements, and the policies of
the Synod”; and

WHEREAS, The phrase “and the policies of the Synod” is impre-
cise and ambiguous since there are no centrally defined “policies of
the Synod” to which anyone else is pledged; and

Wuereas, All faculty members of Synod institutions are al-
ready pledged to “the Holy Scriptures as the inspired Word of God,
the Lutheran Confessions, [and] the Synod’s doctrinal statements”;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the phrase “and the policies of the Synod” be re-
moved from Bylaw 3.8.3.8.3 (b) so that the Bylaw reads:

PRESENF PROPOSED WORDING, Bylaw 3.8.3.8.3 (b):

c. Ordinarily candidates for full-time teaching positions shall be ros-
tered members of the Synod. When laypersons are employed in full-
time teaching positions, they shall pledge to perform their duties in har-
mony with the Holy Scriptures as the inspired Word of God, the
Lutheran Confessions, and the Synod’s doctrinal statements. andthe

Board for University Education/Concordia University System

5-28
To Clarify Bylaw 3.8.2.7.2 re Faculty Promotions
Rationale

Bylaw 3.8.2.7.2 (e)(4) references the “consent of the electors of
the seminary” prior to promoting a faculty member to a continu-
ing-level appointment status. “Electors” are also referenced in
Bylaw 3.8.2.6.2. Bylaw 3.8.2.6.2 clearly identifies the “electors”
as the electors of president (board of regents, district president,
President of the Synod, and the chair of the BPE). However, in
Bylaw 3.8.2.7.2 there is no identification of who the electors are or
should be. Over the years, the institutions of higher education have
interpreted the “electors” in 3.8.2.7.2 as the board of regents. This
is an appropriate interpretation of who has final authority to pro-
mote a faculty member. Therefore, to clarify the understanding of
Bylaw 3.8.2.7.2, it will be helpful to change the “electors” to the
“board of regents.”

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.8.2.7.2 (e)(4) be revised to read: “At
least six weeks after the notice is published, consent of the board of
regents of the seminary shall be given.”

Board for Pastoral Education

5-29
To Revise Bylaw 3.8.3.8.2 re Promotion of Faculty

Rationale

Bylaw 3.8.3.8.2 (e)(4) references the “consent of the electors of
the institution” prior to promoting a faculty member to a continu-
ing-level appointment status. “Electors” are also referenced in
Bylaw 3.8.3.7.2. Bylaw 3.8.3.7.2 clearly identifies the “electors”
as the electors of president (board of regents, district president,
President of Synod, and the chair of the BUE/CUS Board). How-
ever, in Bylaw 3.8.3.8.2 there is no identification of who the elec-
tors are or should be. Over the years, the institutions of higher edu-
cation have interpreted the “electors” in 3.8.3.8.2 as the board of
regents. This is an appropriate interpretation of who has final au-
thority to promote a faculty member. Therefore, to clarify the un-
derstanding of Bylaw 3.8.3.8.2, it will be helpful to change the
“electors” to the “Board of Regents.”

Therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.8.3.8.2 (e)(4) be revised to read: “At
least six weeks after the notice is published, consent of the eleeters
board of regents of the institution shall be given.”

Board for University Education/Concordia University System

5-30

To Remove Policies of Synod
from Faculty Subscription Requirements

WHEREAS, Bylaws 3.8.2.7.3 (b) and 3.8.3.8.3 (b) regarding
appointment of members to faculties of synodical institutions were

altered by the 1998 convention; and

WHEREAS, This action changed the former wording “When, in
exceptional cases, laypersons are involved, they should be persons
who are solemnly pledged to the Holy Scriptures as the inspired
Word of God and to the Lutheran Confessions” to read “When
laypersons are employed in full-time teaching positions, they shall
pledge to perform their duties in harmony with the Holy Scriptures
as the inspired Word of God, the Lutheran Confessions, the
Synod’s doctrinal statements, and the policies of the Synod”
(Bylaw 3.8.3.8.3 [b]); and

WHEREAS, The phrase “and the policies of the Synod” is impre-
cise and ambiguous since there is no central compilation of “the
policies of the Synod” to which laypersons/teachers are asked to
pledge their agreement; and

WHEREAS, Not even rostered members of Synod are asked to
make such a pledge; therefore be it