LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 202

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5. HIGHER EDUCATION

5-01
To Revise Bylaws 6.01-6.85 on Higher Education

Rationale

The Synod convention in 1992 (Pittsburgh) clearly expressed
its desire that the Board for Higher Education should assume
greater responsibility for the effective and efficient operation of
higher education in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The
convention voted to put into place a system that developed a rela-
tionship of mutual trust and cooperation between Boards of Re-
gents, presidents, administrations, and faculties of the Concordias.
The Board for Higher Education accepted the convention action as
a clear mandate 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 proposes these Bylaw revi-
sions to clarify the responsibilities of the Board for Higher Educa-
tion, the Board of Regents and the administration of each institu-
tion. The Board for Higher Education feels strongly that these
individuals elected through our synodical process to serve the
church in that place should be empowered to serve. Unless the
Board for Higher Education (or other agencies) are able to add
something to the process or make a difference, the Board for
Higher Education believes we should trust our elected people to
serve our Synod through the principles established by our Lutheran
Confessions and our synodical policy.

The Board for Higher Education placed a significant emphasis
on the revision and update of Chapter VI of the synodical Hand-
book 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 doc-
ument was reviewed three times with representatives of the Presi-
dent’s Blue Ribbon Committee. and reviewed and revised twice by
the BHE/CUS Board.

The Board for Higher Education encourages the Synod in con-
vention in 1998 to adopt the revisions as proposed.

Resolution

WHEREAS, The Handbook specifically describes an integrated
relationship between responsibilities of staff, boards and commis-
sions, 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 educa-
tional 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 re-
vision of Chapter VI for many years; and

WHEREAS, Two members of the Blue Ribbon Committee, ap-
pointed 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, there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention adopt the proposed re-
visions to Bylaws 6.01 through 6.85 in order to establish orderly
policy; provide conformity with present state and Federal laws and

203

regulatory requirements; and remove irregularities, duplications,
and conflicting statements within Chapter VI of the Handbook of
Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of Synod be directed to bring all
other parts of the Handbook into conformity with these changes.

PRESEMT/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 Presi-
dent of the Synod:

3. A District President other than the President of the geo-
graphical 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: +2-ef+her-shel-be-eleeted-for

tee 2 ordained ministers. 2 commis-
sioned 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 of-
ficio 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 non-
convention year.

c. All Board of Regents members shall be elected for three-
year terms renewable three times and Ad+faembers 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.—Fhey-shel-net-be-on-the-selaried-stef-efe

d. All Board of Regents members shall comply with Bylaw
3.71 regarding Conflicts of Interest.
[Rationale: term specification for seminaries was not in-
cluded in a above.]
[Rationale: allowing an additional term increases the stabil-
ity 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 Educa-
tion shall be the appointing body and shall follow the nomina-
tion procedure as outlined in Bylaw 3.63 a and b.

6.03 Functions

In exercising its relationship to the Synod and to the Board
for Higher Education as set forth elsewhere in the Bylaws
(3.601), the Board of Regents of each institution shall consider
as one of its primary duties the defining and fulfilling of the mis-