LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 174

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Whereas, Close affiliation of the CUS institutions and the
Synod is crucially important in the rapidly changing culture in
which numerous matters of religious liberty are being eroded; and
Whereas, The structure of most boards and commissions of the
Synod include either the President of the Synod or his representative as a member or members who are appointed by the President
of the Synod; and
Whereas, To ensure communication and mutual accountability while ensuring that governance of CUS institutions remains
with their respective boards of regents, whose vocation, fiduciary
duty, and authority within the Bylaws are to be respected, it is
appropriate that the Praesidium of the Synod have the authority
to appoint one voting member to each respective CUS board of
regents; and
Whereas, Because the accrediting bodies for institutions of
higher education seek confirmation that the ultimate governing
authority of each institution is vested in its governing board (for
Concordia institutions, the boards of regents) and require that
donors to institutions do not exercise undue influence over their
governance, it is appropriate that the bylaws be amended for clarity; and
Whereas, Certain other bylaw revisions are appropriate for
the improved governance of the CUS institutions pertaining to the
boards of regents and the office of president of each institution for
clarification and in keeping with best practices for governance, to
include providing for consistency in interim appointments with the
provisions for interim appointments set forth in Bylaws 3.6.1.5 (b)
and 3.9.5.3.1 (b); therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2013 Res. 5-01A Task Force be commended
for its work thus far; and be it further
Resolved, That the President of the Synod renew the appointment of the task force members and direct them to continue their
work during the next triennium for the purpose of continuing to
• strengthen all CUS institutions’ connection to the Synod
• review the composition, size, and selection of boards of
regents
• review governance structures
• review the process for selecting presidents of institutions;
and be it further
Resolved, That this task force make its first reports and recommendations to the President by the end of 2017, which shall be
provided to the CUS institutions for review and comment for a
period of at least six months, and its final report and recommendation, responding to any comments from the CUS institutions
on the initial draft, to the 2019 LCMS convention; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Bylaws of the Synod be amended as follows:
Rationale
To add linkage with the Synod through appointees of the Praesidium and to clarify issues relating to board of regents governance.

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U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.1.1.2

The board of regents of each college and university
shall consist of no more than 17 18 voting members.
1. One ordained minister, one commissioned
minister, and two laypersons shall be elected by
the conventions of the Synod.
2. One ordained minister, one commissioned
minister, and two laypersons shall be elected by
the geographical district in which the institution
is located.
3. No less fewer than four and no more than eight
laypersons members shall be appointed as voting
members by the board of regents according to a
process determined by the individual institution.
4. 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
officio member.
5. One voting member, who may be an ordained
minister, a commissioned minister, or a layperson, shall be appointed by the Praesidium of the
Synod after consultation with the president of the
respective institution and the Board of Directors
of the Synod.
56. College and university board of regents
members may be elected or appointed to serve a
maximum of three consecutive three-year terms
and must hold membership in a member congregation of the Synod.
67. Not more than two of the elected members
shall be members of the same congregation.
78. Persons elected or appointed to a board of
regents should be knowledgeable regarding the
region in which the institution is located and
shall demonstrate familiarity and support for
the doctrinal positions of the Synod and possess
two or more of the following qualifications: theological acumen, an advanced academic degree,
experience in higher education administration,
administration of complex organizations, finance,
law, investments, technology, human resources,
facilities management, or fund development.
Demonstrated familiarity and support of the
institution is a desired quality in the candidate.
When regents are elected at the national convention of the Synod or appointed by the Board of
Regents, qualifications shall be reviewed and verified as outlined in Bylaw 3.12.3.7 by the Secretary
of Synod (or designee) and the president of the
CUS (or designee). When regents are elected at
district conventions or appointed by the board
of regents, qualifications of all nominees, including floor nominees, shall be reviewed and verified
by the chair and secretary of the district board of
directors or their designees.
“7. University Education”