# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S195
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

ADMINISTRATION 195

Resolved. That all of the Synod’s boards be required to iden-
tify and disclose to the Synod’s members existing or potential
conflicts of interest arising or potentially arising from business
and professional affiliations.

English District
Robert L. Landeck. Secretary

4-56A

To Revise Bylaws to Specify Reasons
for Termination of Contracts, Calls,
or Employment

WHEREAS. A person whose employment, contract, or call
has been terminated ought to know the reasons for such termi-
nation: and

WHEREAS. The Handbook of the LCMS presently permits
such termination without reasons in certain cases: therefore be it

Resolved. That all sections of the Handbook which afford such
permission to terminate an individual's employment without
offering reasons to that individual be revised to require the
statement of reasons in writing from the responsible board or
agency: and be it further

Resolved. That no faculty member, staff member, or em-
ployee of the Synod have his employment terminated until such
reasons have been presented to him in writing.

Florida-Georgia District
Theodore W. Eisold. Secretary

Identical or similar:

4-56B

Southeastern Dist. Chas. Mueller

4-57

To Publicly State Reasons for
Discharge of Faculty and Executives

WHEREAS, A number of District executives, synodical execu-
tives, and faculty members from schools of higher learning in
the Synod have had their calls/contracts terminated without
explanation; and

WHEREAS. Recent years have seen a decided change in the
general synodical understanding of the divine call to office either
at District, Synod, or faculty level, so that it presently appears
that divine calls are rather treated as business or union con-
tracts; and

WHEREAS, The general public is usually told that information
is not to be released concerning reasons for such call/contract
termination for fear that the employing agency may be con-
fronted by recrimination via legal action: and

WHEREAS. It seems apparent that the moves to remove
faculty members and synodical or District executives have not
yet reached an end: and

WHEREAS. It would seem that Christian ethics should inform
the world, not vice versa, i.e., that we can give reasons for
termination of all call/contracts out of Christian love for truth
and charity regardless of the world’s threats: therefore be it

Resolved. That reasons be publicly stated for termination
of all synodical and District executives and faculty members of
schools of higher learning in the Synod with the provision that
such public release meets with the personal wishes of the person
terminated.

Peace Lutheran Church
New Berlin, Wis.

Donald Schwerin, President
Jan Blanchard, Secretary
Martin W. Bangert, Pastor

4-58

To Modify Procedures in Cases of
Termination of Employment

WHEREAS. The objects of the Synod include ‘“‘the protection
of pastors, teachers, and congregations in the performance of
their duties and the maintenance of their rights” (Art. III 8): and

WHEREAS, A term appointment, whether to a faculty or an
executive staff position, has traditionally been regarded as a way
of exercising the pastoral or teaching ministry of the LCMS: and

WHEREAS, The termination of a ministry is a matter of utmost
seriousness: and

WHEREAS, The provision in the Bylaws of the LCMS thata
Board of Control ‘may decline to renew the appointment of
a faculty member without tenure at its discretion and without
formal statement of cause” (6.53 e) was intended to protect
the reputation of a faculty member and to safeguard his ability
to seek other employment: therefore be it

Resolved, That 1975 convention of the LCMS direct all
boards of the LCMS not to terminate the employment of any
person by any process (nonrenewal of contract, suspension,
removal from office, retirement) unless at least two thirds of the
members of the board concur in the termination: and be it
further

Resolved. That all boards be directed to give reasons for the
nonrenewal of an appointment if and when the faculty or execu-
tive staff member involved requests such reasons: and be it
further

Resolved. That the individual being terminated be given an
opportunity to appear before the proper board to defend him-
self prior to action being taken: and be it finally

Resolved, That the appropriate Bylaws (2.12, 6.53, 6.77, 6.79 d
and k) be amended to reflect the above resolutions.

Ohio District
Carl A. Brummé, Secretary

4-59
To Make Minutes Available

WHEREAS. It is of great value to have members of the Synod
and the Districts be as well informed as possible about the Lord's
work being done in our midst; and

WHEREAS, Some of the work done by boards, commissions,
and committees is personal in nature and/or determining mat-
ters of personnel which in pastoral concern ought properly
be held in confidence: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Florida-Georgia District of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod memorialize the convention of the
Synod that minutes of boards, commissions, and committees
of the Synod and Districts be made available upon request to
members of the Synod, provided:

a) That those members making such requests pay any costs
involved and

b) That such minutes do not contain personal matters which
by unanimous vote of the involved board, commission,
or committee have been determined properly should be
held in confidence due to pastoral concern: and be it
further

Resolved. That we as a District set an example by making
this our practice from this date.

Florida-Georgia District
Theodore W. Eisold, Secretary
4-60
To Change Name of Commission
of Adjudication

WHEREAS. The Committee on Organization requested the
1973 convention of the Synod to revise its Bylaws to establish
criteria for classifying various boards and commissions as to