# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S189 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 7. UNIVERSITY EDUCATION Proposed Action Therefore be it Resolved, that Bylaws 3.10.6.7–3.10.6.7.5.2 be renumbered and revised as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Concordia University System Faculties 3.10.6.79 The faculty of each college or university of the Synod shall consist of the president, the full-time faculty and the part-time faculty. (a) Part-time or temporary faculty members are distinguished by an appropriate title. (b) Part-time or temporary faculty members shall hold nonvoting membership on the faculty. (c) Only the voting or full-time faculty who are in good standing as individual members of the Synod or are members in good standing of a member congregation of the Synod shall participate in faculty decisions regarding the qualification of graduates or colloquy program participants for rostered service. 3.10.6.7.1 The Concordia University System Board of Directors shall maintain in its policies a list of subject matters that each educational institution must address in its own policies and procedures, to include faculty appointments, employment contracts, contract renewal, contract termination, faculty organization, modified service, sabbaticals, and dispute resolution. 3.10.6.7.29.1 Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, the board of regents on recommendation of the president of the institution shall appoint all full-time members of the faculty. The terms and conditions of every appointment shall be stated in writing and be in the possession of both the institution and the prospective faculty member before the appointment is consummated. Limitations of academic freedom because of the religious and confessional nature and aims of the institution shall be stated in writing at the time of the appointment and conveyed to the person being appointed. Faculty members, full- and part-time, 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. 3.10.6.7.39.2 All initial appointments to persons serving on theology faculties, or teaching classes in or cross-listed with the theology department, shall require prior approval by a majority vote of the President of the Synod (or his designee), the chairman of the Council of Presidents (or his designee), and a member of the Concordia University System board selected by the chair, and shall include a thorough theological review. The three voters shall be ordained. The process shall be facilitated by the president of Concordia University System. Initial appointment refers to the initial engagement of any person to teach one or more theology courses, regardless of assigned academic department, other than faculty who teach theology courses no more than one academic year in any three-year period. 3.10.6.7.49.3 A formal procedure shall be in place to carry out performance reviews for all faculty on a regular basis. Resolutions 3.10.6.7.59.4 Other than honorable retirement, termination of faculty employment may only be the result of the following: (a) professional incompetency; (b) incapacity for the performance of duty; (c) insubordination; (d) neglect of or refusal to perform duties of office; (e) conduct unbecoming a Christian; (f) advocacy of false doctrine (Constitution Art. II) or failure to honor and uphold the doctrinal position of the Synod as defined further in Bylaw 1.6.2 (b); (g) discontinuance of an entire program (e.g., social work, business); (h) discontinuance of an entire division or department (e.g., modern foreign language) or college (e.g., college of business) of a college or university; (i) reduction of the size of staff in order to maintain financial viability in compliance with policies concerning fiscal viability; (j) discontinuance, merger, or consolidation of an entire college or university operation; (k) expiration of the term of a contract of employment; and (l) for those whose position requires membership in a Synod congregation, if the person ceases to be a member of a Synod congregation. 3.10.6.7.5.19.5 A faculty or staff member who is on a roster of the Synod is under the ecclesiastical supervision of the Synod. In the event a member is removed from membership in the Synod pursuant to procedure established in these Bylaws, then that member is also considered removed from the position held and shall be terminated forthwith by the board of regents. 3.10.6.7.5.29.6 An appeal process consistent with the Model Operating Procedure Manual for Faculty and Administration Complaints and Appeal of Termination: Colleges and Universities (developed by the Commission on Constitutional Matters in consultation with the Concordia University SystemBylaw 3.6.6.1 [d]) shall be in place for use by faculty members who wish to challenge a termination decision. Notwithstanding the provisions of any such policy, any person connected with an institution who is a member of Synod shall also remain under the ecclesiastical supervision of the Synod, and nothing in any such CUS institution policy shall be construed to limit or constrain any action that may be taken, or the rights or responsibilities of any party, pursuant to the Synod’s Handbook with respect to a member of Synod. G. TO ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE SYNOD COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES’ BUSINESS CONSULTATION AND EFFICIENT COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION IN SHARED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Rationale In the impression of the 2019 Res. 7-03 committee, the CUS institutions’ success in the present environment—certainly PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 189