# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1979_S142 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 142 RESOLUTIONS To Change Bylaw 6.54 WHEREAS, This procedure has placed unnecessary re Permanent Tenure pressure both on Boards of Control and on faculty ; and RESOLUTION 6-08A members; an Overture 6-32 (CW, pp. 191—192) WHEREAS, The question of tenure for faculty mem- bers is being given much consideration not only within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod but in all areas of higher education including accreditation associa- tions; and WHEREAS, The present procedure in the Synod re- quires that tenure must be granted after five years of creditable service or that the faculty member must be dismissed; and eee PRESENT WORDING 6.54 Permanent Tenure a. The Board of Control may grant permanent tenure at any time to any member of the faculty, regardless of rank, upon the recommendation of the president and with the prior consent of the electors of the institution. Proposals for granting permanent tenure shall be submitted for prior review and recom- mendation to the Board for Higher Education. The Board for Higher Education at its discretion may offer a report in person prior to the taking of action by the Board of Control. The electors may then grant such consent by any procedure which they deem appropriate. Such action shall be taken no earlier than 6 weeks after a notice of the intent to grant tenure has been published in the official periodical of the Synod. The Board of Control shall give the faculty member the opportunity to respond to any negative comments prior to the Board’s final action. b. If a faculty member has completed 5 years of creditable service (periods of leave are not included) as a member of the faculty of one or more educational institutions of the Synod of collegiate or seminary level, at least the last 2 years of which shall have been in the institution he is currently serving, and has not been granted permanent tenure, the president is obligated to take up the question of permanent tenure with the Board of Control. The Board of Control shall either carry forward the procedure for granting perm- anent tenure or inform the faculty member of its decision not to grant tenure and thus terminate his contract. In cases in which the decision is made to terminate the individual’s contract, the contract shall be extended for one year beyond the time at which notice is given. If the Board of Control does not take up the question of permanent tenure at least 9 months prior to the end of the sixth year of service, the faculty member shall petition the Board of Control to take up the question of permanent tenure. Tenure may be granted only by direct action of the Board of Control. WHEREAS, A very high percentage of tenured faculty creates a problem of immobility and no tenure may create problems of instability and insecurity; and WHEREAS, Tenure should not be considered an auto- matic result of five years of service but should be awarded on other qualifications of merit, achievement, and ability; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod adopt the following amendment to Bylaw 6.54 (Handbook, pp. 148—144): PROPOSED WORDING 6.54 Permanent Tenure Each educational institution of the Synod shall normally award tenure to a minimum of 40 percent and a maximum of 60 percent of its faculty. a. Standards or qualifications for granting tenure shall be: 1. The faculty member shall have completed 5 years of creditable service (periods of leave are not included) as a member of the faculty of one or more educational institutions of the Synod at collegiate or seminary level, at least the last 2 years of which shall have been in the institution he is currently serving. 2. The faculty member shall have demonstrated scholarly achievement by earning advanced aca- demic degrees. 3. The faculty member’s reputation, character, concern for students, and ability to honor leaders shall present a good reflection on the institution and the church. 4. The faculty member’s aptness to teach has been demonstrated by effective communication in the classroom. b. Steps toward granting tenure shall be: 1. If the Board of Control, on recommendation of the president of the institution, determines that a faculty member meets the above requirements and has not been granted permanent tenure, it shall either carry forward the procedure for granting perm- anent tenure or inform the faculty member of its decision not to grant tenure, in which case his contract may either be renewed or terminated. In cases in which the decision is made to terminate the individual’s contract, the contract shal] be extended for at least 6 months beyond the time at which notice is given. If the Board of Control does not take up the question of permanent tenure at least 9 months prior to the end of the sixth year of service, the faculty member may petition the Board of Control to take up the question of permanent tenure. 2. The Board for Higher Education shall review the candidate’s qualifications and make its recom- mendation. At its discretion it may offer a report in person. 3. Notice of intent to grant tenure shall be an- nounced in the official periodical of the Synod. 4. The faculty member shall be given the oppor- tunity to respond to any comments or concerns that may have been raised relative to his tenure. 5. At least 6 weeks after the notice is published, consent of the electors of the institution shall be given.