# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S186
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

7. UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
the whole” with advisory groups (e.g., a foundation board;
the CUS board) to seek input, but no votes shall be taken at
such meetingswith such advisory groups present.
3.10.6.4 The board of regents shall be authorized to close
the institution or to sell all or any part of the real property
that constitutes the campus only after receiving the prior
written consent of the Concordia University System Board
of Directors and the Synod Board of Directors, except that
the board of regents may close or finally divest the
institution in the event of legal insolvency necessitating
closure or final divestiture after consultation with the
Synod Board of Directors and the Concordia University
System Board of Directors.
3.10.6.5 The board of regents shall be authorized to
relocate, separate, or divest the institution if and only if
such has been approved under the following procedure,
except in the case of a final divestiture as a result of legal
insolvency (Bylaw 3.10.6.4):
(1) A proposal of relocation, separation, or divesture is
presented to the Synod Board of Directors that specifies
why the proposal is in the interest of the Synod. The
proposal can be made by a board of regents, a committee
of the Synod Board of Directors, or by the Concordia
University System Board of Directors.
(2) Upon such proposal, the Synod Board of Directors
shall require the proposal be developed adequately to
allow determination whether the action proposed is in
the interest of the Synod, for which the board of regents,
the Concordia University System Board of Directors, and
other agencies of the Synod shall in a timely manner
supply all information the Board of Directors deems
necessary.
(3) The Synod Board of Directors shall consult with the
involved board of regents, the Concordia University
System Board of Directors, the Institution Advisory
Council, and the Council of Presidents.
(4) The Synod Board of Directors may negotiate with
the involved board of regents’ terms that are in the
interest of the Synod and the general furtherance of its
higher education mission.
(5) The action is approved by the Synod Board of
Directors by its two-thirds vote and by one of the
following by its two-thirds vote: either by the board of
regents of the institution being relocated, separated, or
divested or by the Concordia University System Board of
Directors.
3.10.6.5.1 Two or more Synod colleges or universities shall be
authorized to consolidate the institutions if and only if such
has been approved under the following procedure:
(1) The boards of regents of the consolidating schools
shall present a detailed consolidation plan to the
Concordia University System Board of Directors and the
Synod Board of Directors. The plan shall be consistent
with the requirements of these Bylaws for a Synod
college or university, except that it may involve a
consolidated board of regents deviating from the
composition specified in Bylaw 3.10.6.2, provided that
the ratio of elected to appointed regents is not decreased
and that all members of the resulting board of regents
186 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION

are members of member congregations of the Synod.
Such plan must indicate a definite plan of no more than
six years’ duration to bring the composition of the board
of regents of the institution into compliance with Bylaw
3.10.6.2, and continued affirmation shall be contingent
on execution of said plan.
(2) The plan is approved by the Concordia University
System Board of Directors and the Synod Board of
Directors,
(3) The consolidated college or university shall be
regarded as a Concordia University System college or
university.
3.10.6.5.2 The board of regents shall be authorized to
consolidate a non-Synod school into the institution if and
only if a detailed plan of consolidation that is consistent
with Synod Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions has first
been approved by the Synod Board of Directors by its twothirds vote and by the Concordia University System Board
of Directors by its two-thirds vote.
3.10.6.6 A college or university that is not a Concordia
University System institution may request to join the
Concordia University System. After having consulted with
its Institution Advisory Council, the Concordia University
System Board of Directors may, by its two-thirds vote,
recommend that the college or university join the
Concordia University System. The Concordia University
System recommendation must be submitted either to the
convention of the Synod, which by a majority vote, or the
Synod Board of Directors, which by a two-thirds vote, may
grant membership in Concordia University System. The
Concordia University System recommendations and
subsequent approval shall be subject to all the
requirements and privileges that apply to a Concordia
University System institution, including compliance with
the Synod Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions, except
that the initial composition of the board of regents may
deviate from that specified in Bylaw 3.10.6.2. Such proposal
must specify a definite plan of no more than six years’
duration to bring the composition of the board of regents of
the institution into compliance with Bylaw 3.10.6.2, and
continued affirmation shall be contingent on execution of
said plan.
E. TO REVISE BYLAWS GOVERNING CONCORDIA
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS
Rationale
In keeping with the charge of 2019 Res. 7-03 to “review the
process for selecting presidents of institutions” and to “review
the financial models for the institutions,” the following
bylaws are revised. As with bylaws dealing with the boards of
regents, existing bylaws dealing with institution presidents
call for simplification and updating. The absolutely essential
role of the president as spiritual head of the university is
emphasized, along with his responsibility and accountability
through his board of regents to CUS but also to the Synod.
New mechanisms are put in place for Synod to demand, for
reasons of doctrine and practice, or to advise, for fiscal
reasons, a board of regents to remove a university president.
Resolutions