LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 239

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

HIGHER EDUCATION 239

5-51

To Affirm Order of Creation
on Seminary Boards of Regents

WHEREAS, Christian men and women have all the God-given
rights, privileges, and responsibilities of all believers (Women in
the Church, a 1985 report of the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations, p. 38); and

WuerEAS, God’s people are called priests not to confer status
but to commission all of them to declare His deeds of salvation
(Women in the Church, p. 38); and

WHEREAS, All Christians have been given the responsibility to
live their Christian faith in their several callings, including the re-
sponsibility to profess and share the Christian faith and to judge all
doctrine (Women in the Church, p. 38); and

WHEREAS, The order of redemption, while affirming that men
and women are one in Christ and joint heirs of salvation, does not
abolish the order established at the time of creation (Genesis 2)
(Women in the Church, p. 37); and

WHEREAS, The distortion of the order of creation brought about
by the fall has been remedied by Christ’s redemption; therefore far
from annulling the order of creation, the order of redemption sanc-
tifies it (Women, p. 37); and

Whereas, In the order of creation God has placed woman in a
position subordinate to man and the scriptural concept of subordi-
nation is a matter of function and relationship between two persons
of equal worth and not a matter of inferiority/superiority (Women,
p. 37); and

WuereEas, | Cor. 14:33b—-35; 1 Tim. 2:11-15; 3:12; 5:17; and
1 Thess. 5:12 forbid women to exercise those functions that would
involve them in having authority, oversight, or public accountabil-
ity over the office of pastor (Women, pp. 42, 46); and

WHEREAS, The main and fundamental purpose of our seminaries
is the training, development, and certification of men for ordina-
tion and service in the Office of Public Ministry; and

WHEREAS, The primary mission of our seminaries is “the prepa-
ration of pastors for the congregations and missions of the LCMS”
(mission statement of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort
Wayne); and

WHEREAS, The seminary president, seminary faculty, and semi-
nary curriculum are under the direct oversight and authority of the
Board of Regents (Bylaw 6.03); and

WHEREAS, The Board of Regents:

1. Is an elector of the seminary president (6.11 f)

2. Annually evaluates the effectiveness of the seminary president (6.14)

3. Renews the term of the seminary president (6.15)

4. Appoints the full-time members of the faculty (6.23 a)

5. May decline to renew initial-level appointments of faculty members
(6.23 d)

6. Sets the standards for admission, transfer, dismissal, or withdrawal
of students (6.35 a)

7. Sets the standards of scholarship to be maintained by students (6.35 a)

8. Determines criteria for granting certifications and diplomas (6.35 a);
and

WHEREAS, The Board of Regents approves and oversees policies
regarding “out-of-class life and activities” of students (6.35 c); and

WHEREAS, It is by the authority of the Board of Regents that
diplomas are given certifying a man “is qualified for the office of
ministry” (Diploma of Vocation); and

WueREAS, The Board of Regents has authority over the admis-
sion, training, and certification of all the men who will be pastors in
the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, By this authority it has direct control over the pas-
toral office; therefore be it

Resolved, That in keeping with the scriptural prohibition of
women having authority over the pastoral office, women will not
serve on a seminary Board of Regents; and be it further

Resolved, That such a prohibition be included in Bylaw 6.01 in
the following way:

PROPOSED WORDING
1. Three ordained ministers, one male commissioned minis-
ter, and three male laypersons elected by the convention of the
Synod.

Circuit 2
Ohio District

5-52
To Revise Faculty Promotion Bylaw

Rationale

Bylaw 6.25 b 4 references the “consent of the electors of the in-
stitution” prior to promoting a faculty member to a continuing-level
appointment status. “Electors” are also referenced in Bylaw 6.11
e, f, g, h, and k. Bylaw 6.11 clearly identifies the “electors” as the
electors of the president (Board of Regents, District President, Pres-
ident of the Synod, and the Chairman of the BHE/CUS Board).
However, in Bylaw 6.25 there is no identification of who the elec-
tors are or should be. Over the years the institutions of higher edu-
cation have interpreted the “electors” in 6.25 as the Board of Re-
gents. This is an appropriate interpretation of who has final
authority to promote a faculty member. Therefore, to clarify the
understanding of Bylaw 6.25, it will be helpful to change the “elec-
tors” to the “Board of Regents.”

therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 6.25 b 4 be revised to read: “At least six
weeks after the notice is published, consent of the Board of Re-
gents of the institution shall be given.”

Board of Regents, Concordia University, River Forest, IL;
Board for Higher Education/Concordia University System

5-53
To Revise Bylaw 6.11, Election of Presidents of Schools

PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING
B. PRESIDENTS

6.11 Election

a. As soon as an impending presidential vacancy ta-the-ef
fee is known, the Board of Regents, with prior consent of the
Board for Higher Education, shall issue #-an-effietel-periediea}
ofthe-Syned a request for the nomination of candidates for the
presidency of the institution. Nominating entities shall promptly
be notified of the vacancy, Fre-eelt-fer-neminetions-shal-de-
seribe describing the office and qualifications desired to fill it.

b. Candidates may be nominated by action of congregations
of the Synod, the Board for Higher Education, the Board of Re-
gents, and or the faculty of the institution as a whole. Nominat-
ing entities may submit nominations to th i f the

Board of Regents within 30 days of notification.
c. eT ee deci incre enbedee

- Persons nominated may
decline to be candidates, and their names will be removed from
the list of nominees. Nominees who allow themselves to be
listed as candidates will be asked to pledge, if eaHed appointed,
to render a decision within 15 days of receipt of the call, unless
granted an extension by the Board of Regents.

d. The designee of the Board of Regents shall publish, in an
official periodical of the Synod, the names of the nominees who

have permitted themselves to be candidates and the date on
which the election is to be held-whieh-shel-net-be-less-than-30

dates.
de. All recommendations, statements of qualifications of any
nominees, or objections to any nominee with reasons therefor,