LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 129

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HIGHER EDUCATION
date to be responsible for revising the Bylaws to reflect an
orderly operation of higher education. In this regard the
Board for Higher Education requested that the Concordias
work together to develop policies and procedures that
maintain a close tie to the mission and ministry of the
Synod and function in an effective and efficient manner so
that the educational mission of the church is accomplished.
The Board for Higher Education proposed Bylaw revisions to clarify the responsibilities of the Board for Higher
Education, the Board of Regents, and the administration of
each institution.
The Board for Higher Education placed a significant emphasis on the revision and update of chapter VI of the synodical Handbook over the course of the past five years. An
initial draft of Bylaw revisions was edited to conform with
acceptable practice and established laws governing higher
education. This revised document was reviewed three times
with representatives of the President’s Blue Ribbon Committee, and reviewed and revised twice by the BHE/CUS
Board.
The Board for Higher Education encourages the Synod
in convention in 1998 to adopt the revised Bylaws. Furthermore, legal counsel has consistently advised the Board
for Higher Education to remove certain Bylaws which
would be better placed in a policy manual.
WHEREAS, The Handbook specifically describes an integrated relationship between responsibilities of staff, boards
and commissions, the Synod’s Board of Directors, elected
officers of the Synod, and the convention of the Synod
(Bylaw 1.07); and
WHEREAS, The Handbook directs each board and commission that serves the Synod in a specific area of program
or ministry to “administer the programs and resources as
provided or authorized by the Constitution and applicable
Bylaws, or as assigned by the respective convention or
boards; and proposes modifications thereto” (Bylaw 1.07 d);
and
WHEREAS, It has been the practice of the Synod to periodically update or revise the Handbook statements to comply with state and Federal law and other regulatory agencies that influence educational operations; and
WHEREAS, It is extremely difficult to revise Bylaw statements in a piecemeal fashion without disrupting coordination of activity with other entities of the church; and there
has not been a major revision of chapter VI for several
years; and
WHEREAS, over the years, the need for other changes in
operational procedures has become apparent; and
WHEREAS, Two members of the Blue Ribbon Committee,
appointed by the Blue Ribbon Committee, have worked
with the BHE/CUS Board to revise needed parts of this
chapter; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of the members of the Board
for Higher Education to serve the church with orderly policy, therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention adopt the revisions to Bylaws 6.01 through 6.85 herewith presented in
order to establish orderly policy; provide conformity with
present state and Federal laws and regulatory requirements; recommendations of legal counsel; and to remove ir-

129

regularities, duplications, and conflicting statements within
chapter VI of the Handbook of the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Synod be directed to
bring all other parts of the Handbook into conformity with
these changes.
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
VI. Colleges and Seminaries
A. Boards of Regents
6.01 Membership
Each college, university, and seminary of the Synod
shall be governed, subject to general policies set by the
Synod, by a Board of Regents.
a. The Board of Regents of each theological seminary shall consist of the following voting members:
1. Three ordained ministers, one commissioned minister, and three laypersons elected by the convention of
the Synod
2. A Vice-President of the Synod designated by the
President of the Synod:
3. A District President other than the President of
the geographical District in which the seminary is located, elected by the Council of Presidents
b. The Board of Regents of each college and university shall consist of 13 voting members: 12 of whom
shall be elected for 3-year terms renewable twice 2 ordained ministers, 2 commissioned ministers, and 8
laypersons. The President of the District in which the
college or university is located or a District Vice-President as his standing representative shall serve as an ex
officio member.
[Rationale: Specification of terms covered in c below.]
1. One ordained minister, one commissioned minister, and three laypersons elected by the synodical convention;
2. One ordained minister, one commissioned minister, and one layperson elected by the geographical District in which the institution is located;
3. Four laypersons elected by the Board of Regents
in a nonconvention year.
c. All Board of Regents members shall be elected for
three-year terms renewable three times All Boards of Regents members (colleges, universities, and seminaries)
shall be elected to serve a maximum of two consecutive
six-year terms, (ref. Bylaw 3.61 b) and All members
must hold membership in a member congregation of the
Synod, and not more than two of the elected members
shall be members of the same congregation. They shall
not be on the salaried staff of a synodical educational
institution or enter into any gainful business, contracts,
or transactions with the institution.
d. All Board of Regents members shall comply with
Bylaw 3.71 regarding conflicts of interest.
[Rationale: Term specification for seminaries was
not included in a above.]
[Rationale: Allowing an additional term increases
the stability of the board.]
6.02 Vacancies
Vacancies that occur on a Board of Regents shall be
filled in the following manner:
a. If the vacancy occurs in a position that was previously filled by the Board of Regents, the Board of Regents shall be the appointing body.
b. If the vacancy occurs in a position that was previously filled at a District convention, the District Board
of Directors shall be the appointing body.
c. If the vacancy occurs in a position that had been
filled by a national synodical convention, the Board for
Higher Education shall be the appointing body and