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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 469

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
construction on the actions of all involved as we are called to do;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the convention rise in the singing of the common
doxology to give thanks for the efforts of all those involved in
presidential searches under the current process and specifically
within the last triennium.
Board of Regents
Concordia University Chicago
Ov. 7-11

To Affirm the Three-Fold Role of Concordia
University System Presidents
WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.10.6.6 sets forth the three-fold role for the
president of each Concordia University System (CUS) institution:
“He shall serve as the spiritual, academic, and administrative head
of the institution”; and
WHEREAS, These three roles must not be viewed in isolation or
in opposition to one another, as though one could have a university
without academic leadership, or a complex organization without
administrative leadership, or a school of the Church without
spiritual leadership; rather, each role is necessary and
complementary to the others; and
WHEREAS, God knows the material needs of our CUS schools
(Matt. 6:32) and He will provide them according to His good and
gracious will, and we give thanks to God for the many dedicated
and talented faculty, staff, and administrators who serve and have
served to advance the mission of Concordia University Chicago
(CUC), and for the many blessings our university has received from
God working through their efforts; and
WHEREAS, As Scripture teaches us in Mark 8:36: “For what does
it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” what
does it profit a CUS school if it gains a billion-dollar endowment
and award-winning academics, yet forfeits its identity in Christ? and
WHEREAS, We give thanks that such loss of identity has not
happened at CUC, and we give thanks for the spiritual headship of
our president, Rev. Dr. Daniel Gard, who has faithfully led this
institution to confess Christ crucified for all our students, faculty,
staff, and administration; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gard has fulfilled his responsibilities to “be
responsible for the provision of spiritual care and nurture for every
student” and “carefully [to] 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” (Bylaw 3.6.6.1 [h,i]); and
WHEREAS, Though all roles are needed, it is evident that spiritual
headship is the most important role of a CUS president. Any secular
institution can manage academics and administration, but our CUS
schools have as their reason for existence the development of our
students in mind, body, and soul to serve their neighbors and the
church in the vocations to which God has called them; therefore be
it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm the vocation of
the CUS president including the role of spiritual head, recognizing
that all presidents rely upon staff and administrators experienced in
their respective administrative and financial roles, and no one
person possesses all possible skills; and be it further

469

Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm, as the
Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) has ruled on
multiple occasions over at least the past 35 years (e.g. CCM Op. 072489, CCM Op. 99-2160), and previous opinions, that spiritual
headship is a non-delegable duty, and that accordingly, consistent
with the order of creation, CUS presidents must be male, possess
theological acumen sufficient for this duty, and ideally, be ordained.
Board of Regents
Concordia University Chicago
Ov. 7-12

To Give Thanks for Servant Leadership for the
Concordia University System
WHEREAS, “We, though many, are one body in Christ” (Rom.
12:5), and likewise, the colleges and universities of the Concordia
University System (CUS) are sister institutions, joined by the
common bond of our Confessions, and united in service to Synod
and the world at large by providing quality higher education for the
spread of the Gospel through the training both of future church
workers and faithful laity; and
WHEREAS, The CUS schools have a long history of cooperation
over many decades, including joint software purchasing, consulting
on operational matters, and many other areas, seeking to use the
children’s tuition and the people’s offerings in the most effective
way possible in collaboration, not in competition, and viewing the
ability to partner and work together not as a threat but as an
opportunity of service (Matt. 23:11); and
WHEREAS, The CUS schools are coordinated through the CUS,
which has as its members our Synod and all of the colleges and
universities of the Synod, with delegates representing the boards of
regents of the CUS schools; the Council of Presidents of the Synod;
and the Board of Directors of the Synod (Bylaw 3.6.6.2); and
WHEREAS, The CUS Board is broadly representative, including
not only members elected by the Synod in convention, but also a
district president and a CUS university or college president; and
WHEREAS, All CUS board members are required to have
demonstrated familiarity and support of the institutions, to support
the doctrinal positions of the Synod, and to possess two or more of
the following qualifications: theological acumen, an advanced
degree, experience in higher education administration,
administration of complex organizations, finance, law, investments,
technology, human resources, facilities management, or fund
development (Bylaw 3.6.6.3); and
WHEREAS, The congregations of the Synod have directed the
CUS Board to use its expertise to work on behalf of the Synod to
assist and oversee the CUS schools in various matters, including
policies and procedures for cooperative roles and responsibilities of
the colleges and universities (Bylaws 3.6.6.5–3.6.6.7); and
WHEREAS, The congregations of the Synod have also directed
the Synod’s Board of Directors to approve capital projects and
institutional master plans for the CUS schools, and to establish and
monitor criteria for determining institutional viability, fiscal and
otherwise (Bylaw 3.3.4.5 [e]); and
WHEREAS, Such work of the CUS Board and Synod Board of
Directors is accomplished through cooperation and shared
governance, recognizing that each individual board of regents is
responsible for the governance of its CUS college or university
within the parameters established by the Synod; and
2019 Convention Workbook