# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2013_S140
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Resolved, That district presidents not approve specific ministry sites which could reasonably be expected to support a general
pastor or sites where a minister of religion–commissioned could
fulfill the duties pending reception of the recommendations from
the SMP Committee; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations, districts, and seminaries encourage their SMP pastors to engage in studies which lead to general
pastor status; and be it finally
Resolved, That residential theological education continue to be
the primary means for training men for pastoral ministry in the
Synod.
Action: Adopted (9)
(When the committee introduced Res. 5-04B, it replaced the
fourth resolve paragraph to read: “Resolved, That an SMP Committee as described by Res. 5-03E consider the concerns enumerated
in the 2013 SMP Task Force Report and in overtures submitted to
the 2013 convention of the Synod.” After debate was ended, Res.
5-04B was adopted as changed [Yes: 803; No: 151].)

ing $55 million. Governing these institutions requires that
the regents provide significant professional competencies.
Concordia University System Board: The national board that
has authority with respect to the Synod’s colleges and universities
should be required to have members with special qualifications
corresponding to those of regents.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaws 3.6.6ff., Bylaws 3.10.5ff., and Bylaws
3.12.3ff. be amended as follows, effective immediately at the close
of the 2013 convention of the Synod:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Concordia University System
3.6.6

Concordia University System, as a corporation under
the laws of the State of Missouri, is operated by its
members and board of directors in accordance with
its Articles of Incorporation and corporate bylaws to
further the objectives of higher education within the
Synod. Any amendments to these Articles of Incorporation shall be subject to approval by the members.

3.6.6.1

Boards of Regents: Because of the increasing complexity of
oversight and governance of higher education programs and facilities, individuals who serve as board members should be required
to possess appropriate specialized qualifications (in addition to
Bylaw 3.8.8.6.2 requiring board members to be members of member congregations of the Synod). These qualifications grow out of
the many technical matters that must be understood and considered as a regent.

The Board of Directors of the Concordia University System has authority with respect to the Synod’s
colleges and universities. It shall have the overall
responsibility to provide for the education of pre-seminary students, ministers of religion—commissioned,
other professional church workers of the Synod, and
others desiring a Christian liberal arts education by
providing prior approval for all initial full-time theology appointments to college/university faculties and by
coordinating the activities of the Synod’s colleges and
universities as a unified system of the Synod through
their respective boards of regents.

3.6.6.2

1.	Each board of regents has the fiduciary responsibility to
set strategic directions for the institution and to govern the
areas of academics, finance, student life, enrollment, and
fund development. The rapidly changing and highly competitive arena of American higher education requires governance by regents who can provide visionary leadership
that addresses today’s challenges.
2. The Synod’s colleges and universities have hundreds of employees and thousands of students. Personnel, legal, and
administrative issues are inherent in a complex organization.
3. The colleges and universities of the LCMS have facilities
with a replacement value exceeding $1.5 billion, some of
which is financed through tax exempt bonds. Seven of the
colleges and universities manage operational budgets exceeding $20 million, with two institutional budgets exceed-

The members of Concordia University System shall
consist of the Synod and the colleges and universities
of the Synod. The Board of Directors of the Synod
and the Council of Presidents of the Synod each shall
elect delegates representing the Synod. The boards of
regents of the colleges and universities of the Synod
shall elect delegates representing the colleges and
universities. The 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 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Concordia University System.

3.6.6.3

The Board of Directors of Concordia University System shall be composed of nine voting members and
four nonvoting members (no more than one member
elected by the Synod shall be from the same district,
and no executive, faculty member, or staff member
from a Lutheran institution of higher education may
serve on the Board of Directors of Concordia University System as a voting member):

To Amend Bylaws Regarding Boards of Regents
and Concordia University System Board
RESOLUTION 5-05B
Overtures 5-03–06, 5-12 (CW, pp. 207–216, 221–222)
Rationale

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