LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 367

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UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
Whereas, The Synod in several recent national conventions
carefully considered the composition of the boards of regents of our
colleges and universities and adopted their current composition; and
Whereas, The qualifications for serving on a Concordia
University System (CUS) board of regents are spelled out carefully
in the Bylaws of the Synod (Bylaw 3.10.5.2 7); and
Whereas, All members of a board of regents are to be members
of the congregations of the LCMS; and
Whereas, The maximum number of members of a board of
regents is 17, with many of those members to be elected by the district and Synod conventions (4 elected in national conventions, 4
elected in the district convention, plus the president of the district in
which the institution resides); and
Whereas, The district president serving as a voting member of
the board of regents is charged to represent the Synod in his district
(Bylaw 4.4.2); therefore be it
Resolved, That the Northwest District in convention give thanks
for the service of those who are serving the church on the various
boards of regents of our colleges and universities and memorialize the
LCMS national convention to do the same; and be it further
Resolved, That the Northwest District in convention voice its support of the current adopted LCMS Bylaws governing the election and
responsibilities of the boards of regents of the Synod’s colleges and
universities, and memorialize the LCMS national convention to reaffirm these same adopted Bylaws.
Northwest District; Missouri District
7-10

To Harmonize Prior Approval Process
for Theology Faculty among Concordia Institutions
Whereas, 2013 Res. 5-11B restored the prior approval process
for initial appointments to seminary faculties, ensuring that review
of such appointments would occur by Synod officials with significant synodwide responsibility, for the well-being of the Synod; and
Whereas, 2013 Res. 5-05B also restored the prior approval
process for initial appointments of theology faculty at Concordia
University System (CUS) institutions but set forth a process different from that used for seminary faculties; and
Whereas, The prior approval process has been beneficial to
Concordia University Chicago, and has not caused any issues with
institutional accreditation or otherwise; and
Whereas, CUS schools are given the exclusive responsibility for
the training of ministers of religion—commissioned; and
Whereas, An important mission of the CUS is to prepare
church workers, many of whom continue their theological education at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis; and
Whereas, “We, though many, are one body in Christ” Romans
12:5; and
Whereas, Students continuing through multiple institutions of
the CUS, as well as to the Synod at large, would benefit from the
application of consistent standards of excellence in the selection and
approval of theology faculty, whether serving at the college, university, or seminary level; and
Whereas, It is appropriate to harmonize the prior approval processes among all Concordia institutions of higher learning to ensure
a consistent standard of excellence; and

367

Whereas, It is also appropriate that the prior approval process
evaluate the work and scholarship of those persons being considered
for tenure or continuing-level appointments; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks for the diligent and faithful
work of all those who have been involved in the prior approval processes as they now exist; and be it further
Resolved, That the Bylaws of the Synod be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.6.6.1 The Board of Directors of the Concordia University System has authority with respect to the Synod’s colleges and universities.
It shall have the overall responsibility to provide for the education of
pre-seminary students, ministers of religion—commissioned, other professional church workers of the Synod, and others desiring a Christian
liberal arts education by providing prior approval as set forth in Bylaw
3.10.5.6.2 for all initial full-time theology appointments to college/university faculties and by coordinating the activities of the Synod’s colleges and universities as a unified system of the Synod through their
respective boards of regents.
3.10.4.7.3 The board of regents on recommendation of the president
of the seminary shall appoint all full-time members of the faculty.
(a) All initial appointments, and all grants of tenure, to seminary faculties shall require prior approval by a majority vote of the President
of the Synod (or his designee), the chairman of the Council of Presidents (or his designee), and the chairman of the Board for National
Mission (or his designee), and shall include a thorough theological review. The three voters shall be ordained. The process shall be
facilitated by the Executive Director of Pastoral Education. Initial
appointment refers to the initial engagement of any person who will
teach one or more seminary courses, other than visiting faculty who
teach no more than one academic year in any three-year period.
3.10.5.6.2 Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, the board
of regents, on recommendation of the president of the institution, shall
appoint all full-time members of the faculty. All initial appointments
and all grants of tenure or continuing appointment to persons serving on
theology faculties or teaching classes in or cross-listed with the theology department shall require prior approval by a majority vote of the
President of the Synod (or his designee), the chairman of the Council
of Presidents (or his designee), and the chairman of the CUS Board
(or his designee), and shall include a thorough theological review. The
three voters shall be ordained. The process shall be facilitated by the
president of CUS. Initial appointment refers to the engagement of any
person who will teach one or more theology courses, regardless of assigned academic department, other than visiting faculty who teach no
more than one academic year in any three-year period. 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 confessional nature and aims of
the institution shall be stated in writing at the time of the appointment
and conveyed to the person being appointed. Faculty members, full- and
part-time, shall pledge to perform their duties in harmony with the Holy
Scriptures as the inspired Word of God, the Lutheran Confessions, and
the Synod’s doctrinal statements.

Board of Regents
Concordia University Chicago
2016 Convention Workbook