LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 127

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CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES

127

(LCMS) as set forth in the Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and
the applicable resolutions of the Synod.

(LCMS) as set forth in the Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and
the applicable resolutions of the Synod.

Congregations that are members of school associations
have primary responsibility for doctrinal supervision in
their local setting. District Presidents have responsibility
for doctrinal oversight of all members in their Districts, and
BFCS has responsibility for granting or removing RSO status. Because of the above-mentioned requirement, RSOs,
their related LCMS congregations, their Districts, and the
BFCS all have overlapping responsibilities in their relationships to each other. This resolution seeks to improve cooperation and communication and to address current concerns regarding these relationships.
WHEREAS, The BFCS document “Church Recognition of
Recognized Service Organizations” states that RSO school
associations are to affirm in their constitutions that they
“respect and will not act contrary to the doctrine and practice of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as set forth
in Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and the applicable resolutions of the Synod” (V. A 1); and
WHEREAS, The report of the Task Force on Recognized
Service Organizations (Schools) identified “that in most
RSO schools great effort is made to respect and not act contrary to the Synod’s doctrine and practice”; and
WHEREAS, The same report identified that some RSOs
are not in compliance with synodical doctrine and practice;
and
WHEREAS, The same BFCS document, “Church Recognition of Recognized Service Organizations,” requires each
LCMS District to monitor schools operated by an RSO association to “ensure that it respects and does not act contrary to the doctrine and practice of the LCMS as set forth
in the Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and the applicable resolutions of Synod” (VI. C 5); and
WHEREAS, No uniform means exists by which the Districts are carrying out this oversight; and
WHEREAS, We desire to address these matters in a fraternal and pastoral manner; therefore be it
Resolved, That during each synodical triennium each
District President will form at least one committee consisting of one layperson, one pastor, and one commissioned
minister, who, along with the District President and/or the
District Executive for School Ministry, shall conduct an onsite pastoral visit of all schools operated by RSO associations with the purpose of encouraging and monitoring the
RSOs according to BFCS criteria; and be it further
Resolved, That the above described committee(s) shall
evaluate each RSO school within its District, using a uniform evaluation and monitoring tool developed by the
Board for Congregational Services considering the findings
of the RSO Task Force Report; and be it further
Resolved, That any issues of noncompliance such as
those identified in the RSO Task Force Report shall require
that a written plan be developed between the District President and the RSO, identifying a pastoral plan to resolve
all such issues of noncompliance; and be it further
Resolved, That this written plan include specific steps
and time frames. A copy of the written plan shall be sent
to the Board for Congregational Services which is responsible for granting and maintaining RSO status; and be it fur-

Congregations that are members of school associations
have primary responsibility for doctrinal supervision in
their local setting. District Presidents have responsibility
for doctrinal oversight of all members in their Districts, and
BFCS has responsibility for granting or removing RSO status. Because of the above-mentioned requirement, RSOs,
their related LCMS congregations, their Districts, and the
BFCS all have overlapping responsibilities in their relationships to each other. This resolution seeks to improve cooperation and communication and to address current concerns regarding these relationships.
WHEREAS, The BFCS document “Church Recognition of
Recognized Service Organizations” states that RSO school
associations are to affirm in their constitutions that they
“respect and will not act contrary to the doctrine and practice of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as set forth
in Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and the applicable resolutions of the Synod” (V. A 1); and
WHEREAS, The report of the Task Force on Recognized
Service Organizations (Schools) identified “that in most
RSO schools great effort is made to respect and not act contrary to the Synod’s doctrine and practice”; and
WHEREAS, The same report identified that some RSOs
are not in compliance with synodical doctrine and practice;
and
WHEREAS, The same BFCS document, “Church Recognition of Recognized Service Organizations,” requires each
LCMS District to monitor schools operated by an RSO association to “ensure that it respects and does not act contrary to the doctrine and practice of the LCMS as set forth
in the Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and the applicable resolutions of Synod” (VI. C 5); and
WHEREAS, No uniform means exists by which the Districts are carrying out this oversight; and
WHEREAS, We desire to address these matters in a fraternal and pastoral manner; therefore be it
Resolved, That during each synodical triennium each
District President will form at least one committee consisting of one layperson, one pastor, and one commissioned
minister, who, along with the District President and/or the
District Executive for School Ministry, shall conduct an onsite pastoral visit of all schools operated by RSO associations with the purpose of encouraging and monitoring the
RSOs according to BFCS criteria; and be it further
Resolved, That the above described committee(s) shall
evaluate each RSO school within its District, using a uniform evaluation and monitoring tool developed by the
Board for Congregational Services considering the findings
of the RSO Task Force Report; and be it further
Resolved, That any issues of noncompliance such as
those identified in the RSO Task Force Report shall require
that a written plan be developed between the District President and the RSO, identifying a pastoral plan to resolve
all such issues of noncompliance; and be it further
Resolved, That this written plan include specific steps
and time frames. A copy of the written plan shall be sent
to the Board for Congregational Services which is responsi200l Convention Proceedings