LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 146

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146 RESOLUTIONS

for Higher Education Services (BHES) to prepare a study
of continuous, rollover contracts as an alternative to tenure
and to report its recommendations to the 1986 convention;
and

Wuereas, The BHES has determined that there are
positive benefits from the use of the rollover contracts; and

Wuereas, Two synodical colleges have adopted the use
of rollover contracts and have been satisfied with them;
and

Wuereas, There are strengths and weaknesses in both
systems, and research in higher education does not indi-
cate that there is strong preference; therefore be it

Resolved, That the BHES be instructed to encourage
local boards of regents to use rollover contracts; and be it
further

Resolved, That the BHES be instructed to offer the op-
tion of the use of rollover contracts, making it a local board
of regents option so that each college and seminary can
choose to stay with a tenure system or change to a rollover
contract system; and be it further

Resolved, That a decision on this matter be made only
after adequate discussion with and involvement of the fac-
ulty at each institution; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Handbook be revised as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

6.23 Appointment of Members

a. The Board of Regents on recommendation of the
president of the institution shall appoint the members
of the faculty to positions approved by the Board for
Higher Education Services. All initial appointments to
seminary and college faculties will also require the prior
approval of the Board for Higher Education Services.

b. Appointments shall ordinarily be for one to four
years and may be extended by the Board of Regents
unless otherwise indicated at the time when prior ap-
proval is granted.

c. The Board of Regents may decline to renew the
appointment of a probationary faculty member without
tenure at its discretion and without formal statement
of cause. If reappointment to the teaching staff is not
contemplated, the Board of Regents shall so notify the
faculty member through the president of the institution
at least six months prior to the expiration of the current
appointment. In the case of individuals under consid-
eration for a rollover contract or permanent tenure
(6.25b) such notice of nonreappointment shall be made
at least 42 nine months before the expiration of the cur-
rent appointment.

d. 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 confes-
sional nature and aims of the institution shall be stated
in writing at the time of the appointment and conveyed
to the person being appointed.

e. Ordinarily candidates for teaching positions with
tenure that are expected to lead to tenure or to rollover
contracts on the Synod’s instructional staffs shall be
graduates of a theological seminary or a terehers college
affiliated with the Synod or shall have achieved such
status by colloquy. When, in exceptional cases, layper-
sons are invelved contracted, they should be persons
who are solemnly pledged to the Holy Scriptures as the
inspired Word of God and to the Lutheran Confessions.

6.25 Permanent Tenure
Each educational institution of the Synod shall nor-

mally award tenure to a minimum of 40 percent and a
maximum of 60 percent of its faculty. Rollover contracts
may be awarded to a maximum of 100 percent of its
faculty.

a. Standards or qualifications for granting tenure or
offering a rollover contract shall be:

1. The faculty member shall ordinarily have com-
pleted five 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 least the
last two years of which shall have been in the institution
he/she is currently serving. , i

. thee} ie piven-

2. The faculty member shall have demonstrated
degrees: earned advanced academic degrees and dem-
onstrated scholarly achievement.

3. The faculty member’s reputation, character, con-
cern for students, and ability to honor leaders shall pres-
ent 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.

5. The faculty member is an active member in good
standing in a member congregation of the Synod.

b. Steps toward granting tenure or rollover contract
shall be:

1. If the Board of Regents, on recommendation of the
president of the institution, determines that a faculty
member meets the above requirements

5 it shall either carry forward
the procedure for granting permanent tenure or a rol-
lover contract or else inform the faculty member of its
decision + : $
i ; to terminate. In
cases in which the decision is made to terminate the
individual’s contract, the contract shall be extended-for

given: continued for at least nine months beyond the time
at which notice is given. If the Board of Regents does
not take up the question of permanent tenure or rollover
contract at least nine months prior to the end of the
sixth year of creditable service, the faculty member shall
be given a rollover contract with a minimum term of
two years.

2. Notice of intent to grant tenure shall be announced
in an official periodical of the Synod.

3. The faculty member shall be given the opportunity
to respond to any comments or concerns that may have
been raised relative to his tenure.

4. At least six weeks after the notice is published,
consent of the electors of the institution shall be given.

5. If the above steps have all been met, after final
review the Board of Regents may grant tenure.

c. The granting of permanent tenure or rollover con-
tract shall in no case be construed as requiring or in-
dicating advancement in rank or increase in salary.

Action: Declined (12).

To Revise Eligibility Requirements for
Colloquy Program for Pastoral Ministry

RESOLUTION 6-08
Overtures 6-18-19B (CW, p. 247)

Wuereas, There are committed and competent laymen
in our Synod who desire to and are able to serve in the
pastoral ministry later in life, having been involved in a
successful career in another field in their earlier years;
and

Wuereas, We continue to affirm the need fora carefully

selected and thoroughly trained clergy in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS); therefore be it