LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 205

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Seminary and University Education
than the Synod’s unrestricted budget. The bylaw needs to reflect
these new realities.
The size of the institutions and the complexity of their operations make it necessary for the president to rely on officers who have
responsibility for leadership in the areas of finance, academics, student and spiritual life, recruitment, and fundraising. Although the
president may personally evaluate individual faculty members, lead
faculty meetings, counsel with every student, and direct the campus’
spiritual life programs, it is unrealistic for the Bylaws to state or imply
that the president must perform these routine tasks.
The current bylaw implies that the presidents of our colleges and
universities must be male. However, it would not be contrary to our
Synod’s doctrinal position if a woman were to be elected to serve as
a college or university president. The bylaw needs to be updated to
permit this possibility.
The president of an LCMS college or university is not directly
responsible for carrying out the official functions of the pastoral
office. Currently, of the ten college and university presidents, two
are commissioned ministers and one is a layman.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.8.3.7 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.8.3.7 The president shall be a member of an LCMS congregation
and shall serve as the executive officer of the board of regents to operate
the institution in an effective manner.
(a) The president implements the mission of the institution in accordance with the decisions of the board of regents, utilizing faculty
and staff to execute day-to-day activities.
(b) The president develops resources for the institution and serves as
the chief representative of the institution to external individuals and
groups.
(c) The president administers the institution’s business and organizational activities through appropriate officers, staff, and committees.
(d) The president promotes and facilitates academic excellence in the
faculty and the instructional activities of the institution.
(e) The president ensures that spiritual care is provided to the campus
community.
3.8.3.7 The president of the institution shall be the executive officer
of the board of regents. He shall serve as the spiritual, academic, and
administrative head of the institution.
(a) He shall represent the institution in its relations to the Synod and its
officers and boards.
(b) He shall supervise, direct, and administer the affairs of the institution and all its departments, pursuant to the rules and regulations of
the Synod and its boards and agencies and the policies of the board
of regents.
(c) He shall bring to the attention of the board of regents matters that
require consideration or decision and make pertinent recommendations.
(d) He shall be the academic head of the faculty, preside at its meetings,
and be an ex officio member of all standing committees of the faculty and its departments with the exception of the standing hearings
committee or of another standing committee to which the functions
of such a committee have been assigned.
(e) He shall periodically visit or cause to be visited the classes of professors and instructors, and in general secure conformity in teaching efficiency and subject matter to the standards and policies prescribed
by the board of regents and by the Synod through the Board for
University Education.
(f) He shall advise and admonish in a fraternal spirit any member of
the faculty found dilatory, neglectful, or exhibiting problems in his
teaching. Should this action prove ineffective, he shall request selected members of the faculty privately to engage their colleague

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in further fraternal discussion. If this results in failure to correct or
improve the situation, the president shall report the matter to the
board of regents with his recommendation for action.
(g) He shall delegate or reassign one or more of his functions to a
member of the faculty or staff, although standing administrative assignments shall be made by the board of regents upon his recommendation.
(h) He shall be responsible for the provision of spiritual care and nurture
for every student.
(i) He shall carefully watch over the spiritual welfare, personal life,
conduct, educational progress, and physical condition of the students and in general exercise such Christian discipline, instruction,
and supervision as may be expected at a Christian educational institution.
(j) He shall be responsible for the employment, direction, and supervision of all employees of the institution.
(k) He shall be responsible for the business management of the school
and for the proper operation and maintenance of grounds, buildings,
and equipment.
(l) He shall make periodic and special financial reports to the board of
regents.

Board for University Education;
Board of Regents, Concordia St. Paul;
Board of Regents, Concordia University Texas;
Faculty, Concordia University Portland
5-33

To Require LCMS College and University
Presidents to Be Male
Whereas, The Synod has traditionally insisted that a president of
one of its institutions of higher education is the spiritual, academic,
and administrative head of the institution; and
Whereas, Scripture assigns headship in both home and church (of
which Synod colleges and universities are extensions) to the male;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2010 LCMS convention declare that those
who are elected to be presidents of the Synod’s colleges and universities must be male.
Salem
Taylorsville, NC
5-34

To Clarify Bylaw 3.8.3.8.2 re Promotion of Faculty
Rationale:
This bylaw regarding faculty candidates for advancement to “continuing status” needs to be revised in two ways.
1.
The requirement that the names of candidates be published
in an official periodical serves no useful role in the
process–in fact, it delays the process unnecessarily. The
relevant data is collected from the candidate’s publications,
teaching record, student evaluations, etc. Therefore the
requirement that the names be published needs to be
deleted.
2.
The reference to “electors” in point (e) (4) is undefined
and vague, and should be deleted. Because no one knows
who those electors are, the current practice is to assign this
responsibility to the board of regents as stated in point (e)
(5).
Therefore be it
2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 205

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