LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 193

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UNPRINTED REPORT AND LATE OVERTURES
• there are no present ecclesiastical problems in the
schools;
• the Synod should not move toward isolationism.
The task force concluded that some administrators did
not seem to perceive the threat of false doctrine or realize
how the ELCA has diverged from historic Lutheran doctrine. Several reported that they had given little or no
thought to what might happen in the wake of the ELCA’s
recent ecumenical decisions.
IV. Model Clauses for RSO School Association
Constitutions and Bylaws
The 1998 synodical convention instructed the TF to “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”
(1998 Resolution 2-06A). The TF therefore recommends
that these model clauses be included in the governing documents of all new RSO schools and that they be utilized in
amending existing documents as possible.
Recommended Model Clauses:
Purpose Statement
The purpose of the association shall be to administer
and maintain a Lutheran school(s) and conduct such other
lawful purposes as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.
The primary purposes of the Lutheran school shall be to
1. Teach and nurture the children of Association congregations in the Christian faith and life as defined by
Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions; and
2. Bring unchurched children and their parents to know
Jesus Christ as their Savior and encourage them to
become responsible members of a Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod congregation; and
3. Teach and nurture the children of other Christians
churches in the Christian faith and life as defined by
Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions; and
4. Enable each child to achieve his or her God-given potential as a servant in the church and in society by
providing the highest quality education available.
Confessional Standard
This association accepts without reservation
1. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as
the written Word of God and the only rule and norm
of faith and of practice;
2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church as a true and unadulterated statement and
exposition of the Word of God, to wit, the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene
Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of
Luther, the Small Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord.
The entire teaching and administrative staff shall be responsible for maintaining these doctrinal standards in both
the curricular and extracurricular program of the school.
The school(s) operated by the association shall teach, re-

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spect, and not act contrary to the doctrine and practice of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as set forth in the
Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and the applicable
resolutions of the Synod.
Membership
Full Membership shall consist of congregations that are
members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod or of a
church body in fellowship with the LCMS. Those congregations desiring to become full members shall
a. Adopt a resolution to that effect;
b. Select representatives in the manner prescribed by
these Bylaws;
c. Make formal application to the secretary of the association on the form authorized by the Board of Directors;
d. Contribute an annual sum as determined and published from time to time by the Board of Directors;
e. Be actively involved in the recruitment of students;
f. Support the programs of the association;
g. Support the association with their prayers.
Affiliate Membership shall consist of congregations that
are not members of or in fellowship with The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. Those congregations desiring to
become affiliate members shall
a. Adopt a resolution to that effect;
b. Select representatives in the manner prescribed by
these Bylaws; affiliate congregational delegates shall
be accorded the full privileges of the floor in any meeting, but shall not be entitled to vote or hold office.
OR
b. Select representatives in the manner prescribed by
these Bylaws; affiliate congregational delegates shall
be accorded the full privileges of the floor in any
meeting, and may vote in matters pertaining to capital campaigns, fiscal policy, budgets, purchase or improvement of real property, and election of the Board
of Directors. Affiliate congregational delegates shall
not be eligible to hold office.
c. Make formal application to the secretary of the association on the form authorized by the Board of Directors;
d. Contribute an annual sum as determined and published from time to time by the Board of Directors;
e. Be actively involved in the recruitment of students;
f. Support the programs of the association;
g.Support the association with their prayers.
Leadership Qualifications for Administrators and Teachers
All administrators and faculty members shall perform
their ministry in accordance with the confessional standards set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws of the
LCMS. The chief administrator of the association and of the
school shall be a professional church worker on the roster of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (see LCMS Bylaw
2.45) and be ecclesiastically accountable to the LCMS.
Accountability for Doctrine and Practice
______ Lutheran School, through its governing board,
with reference to its doctrine and practice, is accountable
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