LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 172

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

7. UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
WHEREAS, The presidents and boards of regents of the
CUS institutions have publicly embraced the theological
confession of the church and are committed to consulting
with the President of the Synod, the CUS Board of Directors,
and the President of the CUS; and
WHEREAS, The culture of higher education is changing at
an increasing rate that provides opportunities and poses
challenges to the institutions of the CUS; and
WHEREAS, Colleges and universities—such as those
within the CUS—with modest endowments, competitive
recruitment, significant tuition discounting, and narrow
financial margins are particularly at risk; and
WHEREAS, The colleges and universities of the CUS have
successfully negotiated this challenging environment with
the prayerful and financial support of individuals
throughout the Synod, effective presidential leadership,
and talented faculty and staff; and
WHEREAS, An economic downturn or governmental
changes could pose a serious economic challenge to the
financial stability of the CUS institutions; and
WHEREAS, The witness to Christ and the Church’s
theological confession at the university level is strategic
and vital for the Church’s future; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod Board of Directors, with the
active involvement of the President of the Synod, the
Concordia University System (CUS) Advisory Council (CUS
institution presidents), the CUS Board of Directors, the
President of the CUS, the institutions’ respective boards of
regents, and others as needed, and with the concurrence of
the CUS Advisory Council and the CUS Board, propose a
new governance plan for consideration by the 2022
convention of the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That the proposed new governance plan
specifically address the objectives of 2013 Res. 5-01A and
2016 Res. 7-02B by continuing to:
• strengthen all CUS institutions’ connection to the
Synod;
• strengthen the confessional Lutheran identity of
all CUS institutions;
• review the composition, size, and selection of
boards of regents;
• review the process for selecting presidents of
institutions;
• review the overall governance of CUS and the
boards of regents of the CUS institutions;
• review the financial models for the institutions;
and be it further
Resolved, That a report on the initial governance model
proposals be disseminated to the Synod for a six month
period of comment commencing not later than 15 months
prior to the start of the 2022 convention of the Synod; and
be it finally
172 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION

Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks for
the presidents, faculties, staffs, boards of regents, and
communities of the institutions of the CUS for their clear
and faithful witness to Christ and the church’s theological
confession and practice at the university level by rising and
singing the common doxology.
Action: Adopted as amended (3)
It was moved to postpone consideration of Res. 7-03 until after
consideration of Res.7-01A. Upon clarification that the CUS
Advisory Council already exists and is functioning, the motion to
postpone was withdrawn. It was moved and seconded to amend
the second resolve by adding a bullet to “review the financial
models for the institutions.” With the consent of the body, the
resolution was so modified. Following additional discussion, at
the chair’s initiation, debate was closed [Yes: 882; No: 40]. Res.
7-03 was adopted as amended [Yes: 856; No: 115]; thereupon,
the convention rose and sang the common doxology.

To Advance the Prior Review Process for
CUS Institution Presidential Candidates
RESOLUTION 7-04A
President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, 1:23–24)

WHEREAS, The current election process for presidents of
Concordia University System (CUS) colleges and
universities was implemented by 2010 Synod convention
Resolution 5-06A, which process, including the current
system of prior review and approval of presidential
candidates, follows almost identically 2010 Overtures 5-30
and 5-31 (2010 CW, 203–204), which were written by the
Board of Regents of Concordia University Texas; the Board
of Regents of Concordia University, St. Paul; the Faculty of
Concordia University, Portland; and the Board for
University Education; and
WHEREAS, In this process, Synod Bylaw 3.10.6.6.2 (b)(2)
provides that one of the first steps in the presidential search
process for CUS institutions, before publishing a call for
nominations, is an in-person conference involving the
board of regents, the search committee, and the prior
approval panel to discuss the qualifications that will be
sought and the search criteria for the position; and
WHEREAS, Such in-person meeting allows the board of
regents to engage in dialogue with, and pose any questions
it wishes to, the prior approval panel that consists of the
district president, the Synod President, and the CUS board
chairman; the district president sits on the board of regents
itself, and boards of regents are free to communicate with
both the CUS board chairman and the Synod President at
any time during their search; and
WHEREAS, Nonetheless, boards of regents have
sometimes waited until late in their process, after
conducting initial interviews, to submit their list of
Resolutions