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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 67

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

CUEnet Update
The Concordia University Education Network (CUEnet), a
cooperative operation of the Concordia University institutions to
provide online colloquy education for teachers continues its work
under the umbrella of the CUS. Since the 2019 convention, many
staff changes have taken place. Long-time Senior Director, the Rev.
Dr. Ray Halm, was called to glory. Dr. Heather Stueve accepted a
call, and two additional staff members have departed.
The presidents of the CUS institutions are currently evaluating
the operation of CUEnet and working to enhance the programs being offered. This is being done in light of a comprehensive review
of CUEnet that also transpired during the triennium.
Following is data related to CUEnet’s students, placements, and
operations.

areas and encourage all non-rostered faculty to participate
in the colloquy program and thereby increase the number
of rostered workers while promoting the training of students through the various graduate programs, especially in
education and in other ministry areas.
4.

Recommend to all students—whatever religious background—the Reformation truths of sola gratia, sola fidei,
sola Scriptura while challenging materialism, pluralism,
rationalism, and other worldviews that contradict the scriptural portrait of man and woman as the apex of God’s creation and the object of His love and mercy in sending His
Son, Jesus Christ, as Savior.

Present and promote the sanctity of life by underscoring the
fact that men and women are created in the image of God
and merit care and protection from conception to natural
death by their very nature as His creatures.

Present and promote the beauty and goodness of marriage
between a man and a woman as God’s sacred order to be
lived out in love and lifelong fidelity while also affirming
the nobility and virtue of the vocation to a single life in
service to God and neighbor.

Accent the quality of instruction in the liberal arts and professional programs as an expression of gratitude for God’s
gift of wisdom and knowledge in a life that is spent in service to God and our neighbor.

Increase communication and collaboration between the
colleges and universities, especially in the areas of distance
education and recruitment while reaching out to collaborate with other ministries of the church: Urban Ministry,
Rural Ministry, Partners Abroad, etc.

Total Enrolled Teacher Colloquy Students

*Not including non-teacher colloquy applicants in enrollment.
**I have sent 21 files to the universities for interviews, but I
have not received interview assessments back yet.
*** 2019 numbers are for the whole year.
Total Operational Expense and Total Income

A Special and Urgent Matter: Concordia
University Texas

Goals for the Concordia University System
in the Triennium—2023–2026
Completely dependent on the grace and mercy of the Triune
God, the CUS seeks to achieve these goals in the coming triennium
of the LCMS:
1.

Ensure and defend the freedom of CUS colleges and universities to teach in accord with the church’s confession and
require ethical behavior based on that confession on the part
of faculty, staff, and students through full implementation
of the “Identity Statement” and its protocols in both oncampus and distance-education programs.

Increase the number of church work students by at least
one-third through multiple efforts to highlight the rewarding and noble calling of service to Christ and His church
in parochial education, public education, and international
education. Simultaneously, increase the number of LCMS
students by one-third.

Enhance the recruitment and development of LCMS faculty
by at least 10 percent throughout the system in all program

The CUS board regrets to inform the delegates to the 2023
Synod convention of an unprecedented action that was taken by
the board majority of Concordia University Texas (CTX) though a
significant minority voted against such an action on or about Nov.
8, 2022. Without the approval of the CUS board, the board majority purportedly adopted a governance model in an attempt to
transform its governance into a self-governing and self-perpetuating board completely independent of the CUS and the LCMS and
delivered its newly adopted governance documents to the Texas
Secretary of State.
Previously, on Nov. 4, 2022, the CUS board considered CTX
governance documents and was preparing a complete analysis and
response to send to the Board of Regents of CTX, only to learn
that the Board of Regents had acted on Nov. 8 without our approval or input. The Board of Regents proposed and purportedly
approved a governing model, namely a self-perpetuating, autonomous, and completely independent board separate from the CUS
and the LCMS.
In response, and acting in accord with the protocols of Matt.
18:15–17, the CUS Board of Directors’ representatives orally
made a presentation to the Board of Regents of CTX on Jan. 12,
2023, seeking repentance and a reversal of the actions taken by the
Board of Regents. The CUS Board subsequently communicated
with the Board of Regents with the sincere hope and prayer that
they would reconsider and reverse their action for the sake of the
church and for the sake of CTX, her faculty, staff, and students.
2023 Convention Workbook