LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1986, Page 171

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LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION 171

ship and participation;

2. It identifies itself with the Synod but is not a part
of the Synod’s constitutional structure;

3. It operates with freedom and self-determination
as a ministry, independent of the Synod in the estab-
lishment and evaluation of its own objectives, activities,
and programs, in its organization and administration,
and in financial matters, while complying with the re-
sponsibilities outlined in Section 14.01 c of these By-
laws;

4. It exists as an arm of the Synod and has as its
primary function aiding the Synod, specifically in pro-
grams that extend the ministry and mission of the
Synod;

5. It is classified by the Internal Revenue Service as
a 501(cX3) corporation; and

6. Its membership is made up of persons who are
baptized members of congregations that are members
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

b. Process for Recognition. An organization is given
auxiliary status only through synodical convention ac-
tion. For continued recognition as an auxiliary, an or-
ganization must meet and continue to meet the
requirements given above. When it no longer meets
these requirements, an organization loses its auxiliary
status. This determination shall be made by a synodical
convention after an evaluation by the synodical Board
of Directors, based on consultation with the organiza-
tion in question.

The following organizations are the only ones rec-
ognized as synodical auxiliaries:

1. International Lutheran Laymen’s League

2. International Lutheran Women’s Missionary

le

c. Responsibilities. An auxiliary shall

1. report annually, through its president, to the Syn-
od’s President, and on request of the Synod’s President
to the synodical convention;

2. provide the Synod with an annual program report;

3. keep the Synod advised of any new program under
consideration;

4. submit all material of a Biblical or theological na-
ture to the Synod for doctrinal review;

5. be responsible for its own debts and liabilities and
so indicate in all of its agreements of a financial nature,
statements of ownership, financial offers, and other le-
gal documents, agreements, and promotional materials,
and all other communications of a financial nature in
accordance with criteria determined by the synodical
Board of Directors, so that it is clear that being an aux-
iliary is not regarded as an endorsement by the Synod
of its organization and administration, or as a guarantee
on the part of the Synod for the fiscal solvency of, or any
financial responsibility for, the organization or for ser-
vices expressly or impliedly offered;

6. honor and uphold the doctrine and practice of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as set forth in the
Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

d. Privileges. Being a recognized auxiliary of the
Synod gives the following privileges:

1. Eligibility of ordained and commissioned minis-
ters of the Synod serving such organizations to remain
on the membership rosters of the Synod as “active mem-
bers,” if otherwise eligible

2. Eligibility for obtaining church extension loans
from the Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri
Synod, unless the policies of LCEF preclude such or-
ganization as an eligible borrower

3. Eligibility to be an “employer” under the various
Worker Benefit Plans of the Synod, unless the policies
of such a plan preclude such organization as an eligible
employer

4. Recognition of the auxiliary in the Handbook of
the Synod and listing of the organization in The Lu-
theran Annual as an auxiliary of the Synod, provided
that such listing shall be prefaced by a statement that
recognition is not a guarantee on the part of the Synod
for the fiscal solvency of the auxiliary, or any financial

responsibility for such organization or for services ex-
pressly or impliedly offered

5. The opportunity to report to conventions of the
Synod

6. The opportunity to raise funds within the Synod
to support the auxiliary’s programs

14.03 Other Recognized Service Organizations

a. Definitions. Service organizations other than aux-
iliaries may be recognized by the Synod if they are of a
nature that there can be a continuing liaison between
the Synod and each such organization, leading to pos-
sible mutual enhancement of their respective minis-
tries. Each such organization may be referred to as a
“recognized service organization.” Recognized service
organizations include each social-ministry organization
which has been granted church-affiliated status by the
Board for Social Ministry Services (Bylaw 3.423 b), each
elementary and secondary school which has an identity
distinct from that of a single member congregation of
the Synod and has been granted church-recognized sta-
tus as authorized by the Board for Parish Services (By-
law 3.223 g), and each other organization that has been
formally recognized, following the process set forth in
paragraph b of this section, by a board or commission
designated by the synodical Board of Directors or by the
Board of Directors itself. Conditions that must be sat-
isfied for any organization to be and remain a recognized
service organization are as follows:

1. It is involved in program activities that extend the
mission and ministry of the church.

2. It identifies itself with the Synod but is not a part
of the Synod’s constitutional structure.

3. It operates with freedom and self-determination
as a ministry, independent of the Synod in the estab-
lishment and evaluation of its own objectives, activities,
and programs, in its organization and administration,
and in financial matters, while complying with the re-
sponsibilities outlined in section 14.03 c of these Bylaws.

4. It is an organization, or is part of an organization,
which has been classified by the Internal Revenue Ser-
vice as a 501(c\3) organization.

5. Except as may be permitted under criteria ap-
proved by the synodical Board of Directors as permitted
in paragraph b of this Bylaw, (i) its members shall be
congregations, or (ii) to the extent members may include
either individuals or congregations which are not mem-
bers of the Synod, it shall have members of member
congregations of the Synod as a significant source of
voluntary financial support.

b. Process for Recognition. Each board and commis-
sion which may be authorized by synodical Bylaws or
by the synodical Board of Directors to grant recognized
service-organization status shall develop criteria that
must be satisfied by an organization seeking that status.
The criteria shall include those matters made manda-
tory under the provisions of paragraph c of this Bylaw.
The criteria developed by each board and commission,
and any changes in them, shall be submitted to the
Board of Directors for approval before they are applied.
An organization seeking recognition shall apply to the
synodical Board of Directors, which shall designate the
appropriate board or commission to handle the appli-
cation. That board or commission shall decide whether
or not to grant recognition, but such shall be according
to the applicable criteria, and shall be responsible for
any subsequent decision to terminate the recognition as
provided in paragraph e of this Bylaw. The board or
commission shall promptly report to the synodical
Board of Directors each decision made by it as to grant-
ing or terminating recognitions of service organizations.

c. Responsibilities. Each organization granted rec-
ognition as a service organization, as a prerequisite to
the effective date of that recognition, shall sign a letter
of agreement or understanding in a form developed by
the appropriate board or commission of the Synod and
approved by the synodical Board of Directors. In addi-
tion to any special criteria required, as permitted under