LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 171

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7. UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
make the names, addresses, and email addresses
of high school students seeking a college
education available to the CUS for such purpose;
• encouraging member congregations to make their
members aware of the opportunities for
continuing education and advanced degrees
available at CUS schools, for those adults
considering such educational options; and
• encouraging all pastors, church workers, and
congregations of the LCMS to pray for the work
done by the CUS schools, and to the Lord of the
Harvest to send students to the CUS schools
according to His good and gracious will;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm and
promote teaching opportunities at CUS schools by
• encouraging, through the Synod’s “LCMS U”
campus ministry, those students who are enrolled
in, or considering entering, graduate educational
programs, to explore the possibility of teaching at
a CUS school;
• directing the CUS to expand and enhance its
current database of members of LCMS
congregations who hold advanced academic
degrees to include students currently pursuing
graduate degrees, and encouraging all such
persons to submit their names and resume
information for confidential consideration by CUS
schools seeking faculty candidates;
• encouraging each CUS school to implement a
formal program to assist in “growing” its own
LCMS faculty so that members of LCMS
congregations with non-terminal degrees in fields
where there is a faculty shortage are engaged and
financially assisted in obtaining doctoral-level
degrees while teaching at the CUS school, subject
to an appropriate commitment to ongoing service
in the CUS;
• directing each CUS school to urge, and provide
reasonable assistance to, those faculty and staff
who are members of LCMS congregations but who
do not have roster status to seek such status where
appropriate; and
• encouraging all pastors, church workers, and
congregations of the LCMS to pray for the work
done by the CUS schools, and to the Lord of the
Harvest to send faculty and staff to the CUS
schools according to His good and gracious will.
Action: Adopted (4)
It was moved and seconded to amend the resolution by adding a
bullet point to the second-last resolve, to read “encouraging
every Lutheran preschool, child development center, elementary
school, and high school to develop and implement policies to
Resolutions

establish and exhibit distinctly Lutheran identity, which will
include calling and ongoing support of Lutheran educators.”
After debate, the chair put closure of debate on the amendment
to a vote, which carried [Yes: 747; No: 76]; the amendment
subsequently failed [Yes: 314; No: 526]. Noting the orders of the
day, the chair put closure of debate on the main motion to a vote,
which carried [Yes: 781; No: 80]. Res. 7-02 was adopted as
presented [Yes: 835; No: 48].

To Direct a Collaborative Process
to Propose a New Governance Plan
RESOLUTION 7-03
Overtures 7-02, 13, 15 (CW, 463, 470–71)

WHEREAS, The Concordia University System (CUS)
institution presidents, in consultation with the President of
the Synod, the CUS Board of Directors, and the President of
the CUS, have concluded that greater integration and
collaboration would strengthen the individual institutions
and the system as a whole, as summarized in the following
comments:
Higher Education faces an uncertain future. Most
observers anticipate a serious decline in the number of
colleges over the course of the next several years. Eager
not only to survive but to thrive as the Church’s schools,
the presidents of CUS institutions are considering
various approaches to our colleges and universities’
relationship to one another. Presently, the relationship is
marked by goodwill and collegiality, but there is very
little mutual accountability or responsibility. Based on
the premise that we are stronger together than apart,
models that would reinforce and enhance our individual
identity and authority coupled with a more robust
systemic governance are being explored. How best to
maintain local campus oversight and engagement on the
one hand, while strengthening the ties that bind us
together on the other, is the idea. The intention is to help
alleviate tensions and conflict of competition. Even more
compelling, the quest is to identify ways in which
systemic collaboration presents opportunities for
broader reach and impact.
and
WHEREAS, Such an effort at greater integration requires
significant study of regional and professional
programmatic accreditation, legal matters, regulatory
issues, and matters of structure and governance; and
WHEREAS, The CUS institution presidents are wellpositioned with the best knowledge and expertise to
develop a strategic plan for the future of CUS institutions
that is attentive to best practices of higher education and
the needs of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 171