LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 147

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III. BOARD FOR INTERNATIONAL MISSION OPERATIVE DIRECTIVES FOR IMPLEMENTING LCMS BYLAW 3.8.3
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III. Board for International Mission Operative
Directives for Implementing LCMS Bylaw 3.8.3
(Referencing CCM Opinion 14-2724)
1. THE CALLING OR APPOINTING OF PERSONS SERVING
WITHIN A FOREIGN MISSION AREA OF THE SYNOD
—Bylaw 3.8.3’s operative language states that the Board for
International Mission “shall serve as the only sending agency
through which workers ... are sent to the foreign mission areas of
the Synod.” Such language means:
a. Any LCMS pastor or other rostered worker of the Synod,
who will be working within the foreign mission areas of the
Synod, is to be called or appointed solely by the Board for
International Mission, through a recommendation by the Office
of International Mission.
i. This operative language is binding on LCMS districts
and congregations whether the intent is for the call or appointment to remain under the authority and responsibility
of the district or congregation or whether such person—
called or appointed—is to be “lent” to another entity,
whether affiliated with the Synod or not.
ii. If a district or congregation of the Synod wants to have a
call extended or an appointment made to a person, for the
purpose of that person serving in a foreign mission area
of the Synod, such call or appointment may be considered
by the Board for International Mission, upon the recommendation of the Office of International Mission, within
the context of a dual call or secondment. (See Definition
Section for what would constitute a dual call or secondment.)
b. With respect to a call to an LCMS pastor or other rostered
worker or appointment of any other worker by an auxiliary
recognized by the Synod or recognized service organization
to serve in a foreign mission area of the Synod, International
Mission through the Office of International Mission. It is
understood that providing such information will facilitate good
order and appropriate coordination with respect to activities
occurring in that foreign mission area of the Synod including
the recognition of any protocol document or other arrangement
between the Synod and any authority within that foreign mission area of the Synod. Such communication and coordination
should occur whether such call or appointment is to remain
under the direct responsibility of the auxiliary or recognized
service organization or such person is to be “lent” to another
entity, whether recognized by the Synod or not.
2. THE PROVISION OF FUNDS FOR WORK UNDERTAKEN
WITHIN FOREIGN MISSION AREAS OF THE SYNOD—Bylaw
3.8.3’s operative language states that the Board for International
Mission “shall serve as the only sending agency through which
... funds are sent to the foreign mission areas of the Synod.” Such
language, with respect to funds directed to an entity not part of corporate Synod, means:
a. A district of the Synod may not send funds to an entity not
part of corporate Synod, with the exception of an auxiliary
recognized by the Synod or recognized service organization for work in a foreign mission area of the Synod; and
b. With respect to congregations, auxiliaries recognized by
the Synod, or recognized service organizations, such entities may direct funds to an entity not part of corporate
Synod, for work in foreign mission areas of the Synod un-

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derstanding that congregations, as members of the Synod,
are to be cognizant of Art. VI 2 c, of the Synod’s Constitution, and that auxiliaries recognized by the Synod and
recognized service organizations are to be sensitive to the
Constitutional and bylaw provisions and expectations of
the Synod.
3. THE DEFINITION OF A “FOREIGN MISSION AREA OF THE
SYNOD”—Bylaw 3.8.3’s operative language is applicable to the
sending of workers and funds to “foreign mission areas of the
Synod.” The authority for determining what are the “foreign mission areas of the Synod” rests solely within the authority of the
Board for International Mission. With respect to auxiliaries recognized by the Synod and recognized service organizations, such
organizations are expected to undertake any activities within “foreign mission areas of the Synod” in a manner that is supportive
of and cooperative with the activities undertaken by the Synod,
through the Office of International Mission.
4. WHERE THERE EXISTS A CALL OR APPOINTMENT BY A
DISTRICT OR CONGREGATION, WHERE SUCH PERSON
IS CURRENTLY WORKING IN A FOREIGN MISSION
AREA OF THE SYNOD, OR WHERE FUNDS ARE BEING
SENT TO A FOREIGN MISSION AREA OF THE SYNOD,
IN CONTRAVENTION OF BYLAW 3.8.3 AND THESE
OPERATIVE DIRECTIVES:
a. In such circumstances, and as the appropriate calling or
appointing authority, the Board for International Mission will
proceed in a manner consistent with the Synod’s Constitution
and Bylaws. The Board for International Mission understands
and will honor the “desire of people (and institutions within
the Synod) to have direct and personal contact with a specific
mission project.” (See CCM Opinion 14-2724.)
b. The Board for International Mission, upon information being
received by and through the Office of International Mission,
will address each circumstance on its own facts and merits.
APPLICABLE DEFINITIONS:
• All definitions that follow will be considered within the context of
and understood by any and all appropriate language and definitions
within the Constitution and Bylaws of the LCMS:
• “Foreign mission areas of the Synod” with respect to the operative
language of Bylaw 3.8.3 means: Areas outside the 50 states of the
United States of America as defined by the Board for International
Mission, upon the recommendation of the Office of International
Mission. The Office of International Mission will, at least annually, publish the list of “foreign mission areas of the Synod.”
• “Communication,” within the context of BIM operative 1, means:
Information with respect to the matter under consideration will
be directed to the attention of the Office of International Mission,
with a copy to the Chairman of the Board for International Mission,
informing such authorities of the subject matter and any relevant
and attendant information for which the communication is being
directed.
• “Coordination,” within the context of BIM operative 1, means:
To take into consideration all protocol documents and any other
arrangements or agreements entered into by the Office of the
President of the Synod under Bylaw 3.3.1.1.2 that would impact
the work being undertaken within that “foreign mission area of
the Synod.” All such protocol or other relevant documents will be
made available as necessary and required through the Office of
International Mission.
• A “dual call” or “dual appointment” means the following: A call
or appointment issued by a district or congregation and by the
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