LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 142

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142

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

churchly tradition of visitation and ecclesiastical supervision (Cf.
Bylaws 3.3.1.1.1, 3.3.1.2; 1.2.1 [j], Const. Art. XII 7) as a means of
accountability of the Synod’s colleges and universities, under the
Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions, to the whole Synod. CUE,
acting in concert with the existing Committee for Convention
Nominations, will also have an active role in commending highly
qualified potential regents for election and appointment to the affiliated schools’ boards. The boards of regents themselves are dealt
with in section F, further below.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That, with thanks given to God and to those who have
served ably in various related capacities in the interest of furthering
the Synod’s mission through her colleges and universities, and for
the good the Lord has done through such service, Concordia University System (CUS), a synodwide corporate entity, be dissolved,
such dissolution to be effected by the board of directors of CUS
and the board of directors of the Synod when appropriate, taking
into consideration CUS’ remaining left-hand kingdom obligations,
if any, and transferring any continuing common enterprises of the
several colleges and universities, as presently conducted through
CUS, to the several colleges and universities, to an entity or entities
created by the schools to further their common endeavors (section
E), or to other service providers; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaws 3.6.6–3.6.6.2 and 3.6.6.4–3.6.6.8, dealing with the corporate structure of CUS, be deleted; and be it further
Resolved, That, with fervent prayer to God for His blessing in
and through a structure better suited to a new season of the Synod’s relation to her schools, those functions formerly of CUS that
coordinate the schools in vital relation to the confession, mission,
and ministry of the Synod be assigned to a new Commission for
University Education (CUE), as defined in a new Bylaw 3.9.6 and
following, with the existing Bylaw 3.6.6.3 adapted as indicated, as
follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Commission for University Education
3.9.6
The Commission for University Education coordinates
the Synod’s relationship with its affiliated colleges and universities (Bylaws 1.2.1 [a]; 3.10.6f.) to further their effective and
accountable:
•
preparation of commissioned ministers for service in the
Synod and of preseminary students for study at a Synod
seminary;
•
preparation of Lutheran laypersons for lifelong, faithful service to Christ and the neighbor; and
•
robust, intentional engagement of all students with the faith
taught and practiced, with application to their vocations in
family, church, and state.
3.9.6.1
In keeping with the objectives of the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod, and in consultation with its
Institution Advisory Council, the Commission for University
Education shall:
(a) define and adopt the Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome
Standards (“Standards”), on the basis of which affiliated
colleges and universities and each of their church worker
preparation programs shall undergo Synod accreditation; and
maintain policies governing, and supervise the performance
of, such Synod accreditation (Bylaws 3.9.6.4f.);
2023 Convention Workbook

Oversight roles:
(b) monitor, inquire into, report to the President of the Synod
regarding, and promote the ongoing faithfulness of affiliated
colleges and universities to Article II of the Constitution of
the Synod;
(c) monitor—in consultation with the Office of National Mission; the Department of Rosters, Statistics, and Research
Services; the Council of Presidents; and the Synod’s seminaries—and report to the Synod on the enrollment, graduation, placement, and retention rates in programs leading to
candidacy for commissioned ministry or to seminary enrollment and advise the schools on the Synod’s worker needs and
opportunities for coordination;
(d) receive, revise, and recommend to conventions of the Synod
for approval any proposals for creating, essentially revising,
or renaming programs of study and certification for commissioned ministry;
(e) facilitate, together with respective boards of regents, the
process of president selection (Bylaw 3.10.6.8.2) and prior
approval for appointments to theology faculties of affiliated
colleges and universities (Bylaw 3.10.6.9.2); [bylaws as renumbered pursuant to below amendments]
(f) establish in policies expectations for boards of regents’ handling of faculty and staff complaints in matters of doctrine
and practice, to include notification of any relevant ecclesiastical supervisor, and monitor compliance with such policies;
(g) in addition to providing its own report, review and respond
in each Synod convention Workbook to a detailed triennial
strategic report prepared by the Institution Advisory Council,
summarizing the state of and outlook for church worker preparation, confessional Lutheran lay education, campus ethos,
and campus viability in affiliated schools;
Assistive and coordinative roles:
(h) assist the Synod and its affiliated colleges and universities in articulating and advancing the schools’ unified public
confession and application of the church’s doctrine and practice, and, in coordination with the Board of Directors of the
Synod, in advancing the common defense of their rights to
the free exercise of our confession under the Constitution of
the United States;
(i) serve as a point of coordination for financial resources designated to assist the schools in their pursuit of the Standards
and strengthening of churchly identity; in their achievement
of mission outcomes, including, especially, church worker
training; and in their coordination, cooperation, and consolidation of operations, in part or in whole, wherever prudent
and practically feasible, and facilitate a synodwide effort to
raise funds in support of the same;
(j) serve, in consultation with the President and Secretary of the
Synod, the Institution Advisory Council, and the boards of
regents of affiliated colleges and universities, as a resource
for the recruitment of highly and variously qualified potential
regents, offering in nomination (Bylaw 3.12.3.4 [c]) and suggesting for appointment those suitably qualified;
(k) serve as a resource for regents’ development of and mandatory training in governance skills, especially as they relate
to the carrying out of the mission of the affiliated colleges
and universities within the mission of the church, and foster
regents’ growth in aspects of governance related to the ex-