LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 247

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STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 247

e. It shall develop, sponsor, and coordinate continuing edu-
cational and vocational growth and personal well-being initia-
tives among the entities of the Synod whose work impacts the
church’s workers and their families.

f. It shall seek grants and maintain funds from outside
sources for the support of its objectives when it deems neces-
sary to do so.

Resolved, That the Synod in convention adopt the revised By-
laws as presented above to replace the current Bylaws of the Hand-
book and authorize the Secretary of the Synod to bring other parts
of the synodical Handbook into conformity with these revisions, as
needed.

Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support

7-29

To Revise Bylaws re Board for Mission Services

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention is considering the matter
of anewly revised Handbook; and

Whereas, This has given also the Board for Mission Services
the opportunity to review and revise the paragraphs which govern
and guide its worldwide mission works; and

WHEREAS, The revisions submitted herewith (paragraphs 3.7.6
through 3.7.6.3) will enable the Board for Mission Services to ex-
ercise proper care and use of its personnel and resources for mis-
sion; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2001 convention of the Synod adopt the pro-
posed wording for 3.7.6 through 3.7.6.3 for inclusion in the new
2001 edition of the Handbook.

PROPOSED WORDING
Board for Mission Services

3.7.6 The Board for Mission Services is the mission agency
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and exists to extend
Gospel witness into all the world by involving congregations
and their members in opportunities to give bold witness by word
and deed to the love and work of God, the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit (Article III 2).

3.7.6.1 The Board for Mission Services shall consist of nine
members, who shall be elected by the national convention of the
Synod: four ordained ministers, one commissioned minister,
four laypersons. The Board of Regents of each seminary and
each of the recognized auxiliaries shall be entitled to designate
one representative to serve as an advisory member of the Board
for Mission Services.

3.7.6.2 The Board for Mission Services shall formulate, rec-
ommend, review, and supervise the mission policies and plans
of the Synod and provide for an aggressive and united mission
effort.

(a) It shall recommend and monitor budgets and review or-
ganizational effectiveness.

(b) It shall have a concern for mission and ministry among
minorities, among sensory impaired people, and on campuses.

(c) It shall provide ministry for all of the Synod’s military
personnel, dependents of military personnel overseas, civilians
and their dependents overseas, and patients of Veterans Affairs
hospitals.

(d) It shall maintain liaison and cooperation with assigned
auxiliary agencies, recognized service organizations, and other
organizations involved in mission work.

3.7.6.3 The Board for Mission Services shall serve as the
only sending agency through which workers and funds are sent
to the mission areas of the Synod, even though programs are
supported by Districts or other entities.

(a) It shall recruit, call, appoint, prepare, assign, withdraw,
and release ordained and commissioned ministers and other
workers for the ministries and areas within its direct responsi-
bility. It shall collaborale with Synod’s Department of Human
Resources to develop and administer personnel policies for all
missionary personnel.

(b) It shall counsel with District mission boards and other
agencies and national churches to plan and implement programs
of evangelistic outreach and Christian nurture that make re-
sponsible use of the personnel and financial resources God has
given to the Synod.

(c) It shall serve as the organization through which ordained
and commissioned ministers are called into missionary service
by assigned auxiliary agencies, recognized service organiza-
tions, and other entities involved in mission work.

(d) It shall function as a recruitment, liaison, and endorse-
ment agency with the various governmental units involved in
the armed forces and Department of Veterans Affairs and be-
tween these units and the Synod’s chaplains and directors of re-
ligious education.

Board for Mission Services

7-30
To Combine COO and CTCR

Rationale

Since July 1, 1993, under an “operating agreement” between
the CTCR and the Commission on Organizations (COO), Dr. Jerald
C. Joersz has been providing staff services for the COO. In light of
budgetary considerations discussed in consultation with the Board
of Directors, it has been recommended that the COO be discontin-
ued as a separately functioning commission and that its functions
be carried out by the CTCR. The Commission on Structure has rec-
ommended that the Bylaws presently pertaining to the CTCR and
the COO be combined to reflect this change. Following earlier ap-
proval of the COO, the commission at its February 2001 meeting
adopted for submission to the 2001 synodical convention proposed
Bylaws combining the functions of the two commissions, as fol-
lows.

Resolved, That the following Bylaw paragraphs be approved by
the 2001 convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
and incorporated into the Handbook by the Secretary of the Synod:

The Commission on Theology and Church Relations exists to
assist the President of the Synod in matters of church relationships
and to assist congregations in achieving the objectives of Art. III, 1
and 6, of the Constitution of the Synod.

The Commission on Theology and Church Relations shall con-
sist of 16 voting and 4 advisory members, to be selected as follows:

1. The synodical convention shall elect two ordained ministers who
are parish pastors, one commissioned minister who is a parish
teacher, and two laypersons.

2. The Council of Presidents shall elect by ballot two ordained min-
isters (one of whom shall be a District President) and two
laypersons.

3. The St. Louis and Fort Wayne theological faculties shall each

appoint or elect two members of its faculty.

. The President of the Synod, tn consultation with the Vice-Presi-

dents, shall appoint two additional members.

. The President shall appoint a member from the faculties of the

synodical colleges.

. The President and the First Vice-President of the Synod shall be

advisory members.

7. The Presidents of the St. Louis and Fort Wayne seminaries shall
be advisory members.

(a) Vacancies that occur in the positions that were filled by ap-
pointment shall be filled by the same appointing body.

(b) In the case of vacancies that occur in positions that were
filled by election of a national synodical convention, the ap-
pointing body shall be the Board of Directors of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and they shall follow
the nominating procedures as outlined in the Bylaws of the
Synod for synodically elected boards or commissions.

The commission shall assist the President at his request in dis-
charging his constitutional responsibilities for maintaining doctrinal
unity within the Synod and doctrinal integrity as he relates to other
church bodies.

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2001 Convention Workbook