LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 107

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CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES
Resolved, That the Synod encourage members of its congregations to use this information to make informed decisions as Christian citizens, each according to his or her vocation; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage congregations and their members to pray often for our nation,
its leaders, and persecuted Christians throughout the
world. (1 Tim. 2:1–2; Heb. 13:3).
Action: Adopted as amended (10)
(The resolution was amended by addition of the second resolve.)

To Review Recognized Service
Organization Status Granted by
Board for Congregational Services
RESOLUTION 2-06A
Overtures 2-60–63, 3-41 (CW, pp. 143–44, 167)
Background
A Recognized Service Organization (RSO) is a Lutheran
not-for-profit, tax-exempt service organization that exists
to extend the mission and ministry of the congregations of
the Synod and acts in harmony with the purposes and programs of the Synod.
a. Recognized Service Organization status may be
granted to a service organization (other than an auxiliary)
that extends the mission and ministry of the Synod but is
not part of the Synod as defined by its Constitution and Bylaws. The granting of recognition by the Synod signifies
that a service organization, while independent of the
Synod, fosters the mission and ministry of the church, engages in program activity that is in harmony with the programs of the boards of the Synod, and respects and does not
act contrary to the doctrine and practice of the Synod.
b. Under the governance and policies of its own board, a
Recognized Service Organization operates with freedom
and self-determination as a ministry organization independent of the Synod or Districts or congregations of the Synod
in the establishment and evaluation of its own objectives,
activities, and programs, in organization and administration, and in financial matters.
c. Requests for Recognized Service Organization status
shall be made to the board of the Synod to which the organization desires to relate. Within the area of its responsibility, each board of the Synod may determine those organizations to which Recognized Service Organization status
will be granted.
d. The Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod shall adopt common policies for granting Recognized Service Organization status. Each operating board
of the Synod may also adopt policies and criteria to assure
that its unique needs are met and shall report these to the
Board of Directors.
e. Each board of the Synod shall adopt policies that each
Recognized Service Organization give assurance in its governing documents that recognition as a service organization is not an endorsement by the Synod or a guarantee of
financial responsibility for the debts and obligations of the

107

organization or for services provided or offered. (Bylaw
14.03)
WHEREAS, Recognized Service Organization status enables associations of congregations to enter into areas of
ministry that would not have been feasible if left to one congregation alone (elementary and secondary schools, camps,
etc.); and
WHEREAS, Many of these associations are of a longstanding nature entered into when altar and pulpit fellowship permitted such relationships; and
WHEREAS, Great blessings have often resulted from such
associations; and
WHEREAS, Recent ecumenical directions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may jeopardize the doctrine and practice of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod congregations participating in RSOs (i.e., instruction
of the Christian faith, chapel services, and theological supervision); therefore be it
Resolved, That those congregations currently involved
in joint RSO ventures between The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America review the RSOs’ constitutions, bylaws, and present
practices to assure that they respect, and do not act contrary to the doctrine and practice of the Synod; and be it
further
Resolved, That the President of the Synod in consultation with the Board for Congregational Services appoint a
task force to review the status of RSOs granted by the
Board for Congregational Services, its membership to include, but not be limited to, representative District Presidents, District educational executives, and individual pastors, teachers, and laity of congregations to
1) evaluate potential impact brought about by recent
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ecumenical direction;
2) survey current constitutions, bylaws, and practices of
existing RSOs;
3) develop model constitution and bylaw clauses relating to RSO status which are in concert with the doctrine
and practice of the Synod for use in both existing and future RSOs;
4) provide a complete report to the 2001 synodical convention;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the Board for Congregational Services,
District Presidents, and District educational executives
continue to encourage starting only such new RSO ventures
in which the doctrine and practices of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod are upheld in the constitution
and bylaws of the potential RSO.
Action: Adopted as amended (10)
(By common consent, on recommendation of the floor committee, the words to review the status of RSOs granted by the Board
for Congregational Services were inserted after task force in the
second resolve and the words on RSOs were deleted. An amendment to substitute unionistic for ecumenical in 1) was defeated.)