LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 168

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7. UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
WHEREAS, Many ministries across this nation and the
world have been impacted by graduates from CUP and many
individuals grew spiritually in conversion and/or renewal in
faith toward Christ during their time at CUP; and
WHEREAS, The students benefited greatly from the
dedicated faculty and staff who served them at the university;
and
WHEREAS, CUP became a place where many people were
introduced to the Gospel for the first time; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God
for the ministry of CUP—for the faculty and staff who gave of
themselves to this ministry over the years; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention gratefully
acknowledge the blessing that CUP was to our church and the
spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and be it further
Resolved, That we recognize, remember, and give thanks
to God for the good and godly work and ministry the many
alumni of CUP have done and will continue to do in our
congregations and communities; and be it finally
Resolved, That we give voice to our thanks and praise to
God for working through CUP, and pray His continued
guidance, as we rise and sing the common doxology.
Action: Adopted (4)

An amendment was declined to add a second-last resolve:
“That the Synod establish a memorial fund to offer scholarships
to incoming Concordia University students in memory of the
Concordia colleges and universities that have recently closed.”
Upon closure of debate as suggested by the chair, the resolution
was adopted by voice vote.

To Call Concordia University Texas Leadership
to Repentance
RESOLUTION 7-03
Reports R1, R14, R64 (CW, 1–3, 64–69, 173–79); Overture 7-18
(CW, 359); Report LR67 (TB, 1:30–34)
WHEREAS, Concordia University Texas (CTX), since its
founding in 1926 by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS), has operated and been governed under the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod; and
WHEREAS, On Nov. 8, 2022, a majority of the CTX Board of
Regents (BOR) voted to take action unilaterally to modify the
CTX bylaws and articles of incorporation (the “governing
documents”) in an attempt to make the BOR a selfappointing, self-perpetuating board, no longer subject to the
Bylaws of the Synod; and
WHEREAS, This purported separation was in direct
contradiction to the Constitution and Bylaws, which the
officers of the Synod and its agencies are obligated to uphold
and implement (see Bylaws 1.4.3 and 1.4.5); and

168 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION

WHEREAS, The Fourth Commandment requires that we
honor our authorities, the Seventh Commandment protects
the property of all, and the Ninth and Tenth Commandments
protect us from all evil desires which lead to the breaking of all
the other commandments; and
WHEREAS, This purported separation has caused great
offense and division within the Church body; and
WHEREAS, Many throughout the Synod recognize that this
action, if allowed to stand, will deprive the Synod and its
congregations of an institution to train and certify men and
women for professional church work and to aid the church in
its mission to vigorously make known the love of Christ to all
students enrolled at the university; and
WHEREAS, The report, “Ecclesiastical Visitation of
Concordia University Texas” (Report R64, Workbook, 173–79),
makes it clear that CTX has undergone significant mission and
theological drift away from LCMS doctrine and practice on
many issues, including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI),
especially programs that relate to sex, gender, marriage, and
family, leading the university away in significant mission drift
from the biblical positions and practices of the LCMS; and
WHEREAS, The President of the Synod, Synod Board of
Directors (BOD), and Concordia University System (CUS)
BOD admonished the CTX BOR that it did not have authority
unilaterally to modify its governing documents, and that its
purported separation, action was illegitimate, null and void,
and contrary to the Bylaws; and
WHEREAS, The President of the Synod, the Synod BOD, and
the CUS BOD engaged in extensive communications with the
CTX BOR, including in-person meetings and multiple
correspondences (“Walking Away: Concordia University
Texas Holds to ‘Ill-Advised Course,’” Reporter, June 2023), in
an effort to persuade the CTX BOR to correct its illegitimate
and wrongful purported separation and to restore CTX’s
governing documents to be compliant with the Bylaws; and
WHEREAS, The Synod BOD submitted to the Commission
on Constitutional Matters (CCM) several questions regarding
the CTX BOR Nov. 8, 2022, action, and its purported attempt
to unilaterally change CTX’s governing documents, both with
respect to the process CTX followed and with respect to the
action taken; and
WHEREAS, Upon receiving the questions from the Synod
BOD, the CCM, pursuant to Bylaw 3.9.2.2 (b), invited input
from the President of the Synod, the Synod BOD, the CUS BOD,
the boards of regents of all CUS universities, the CUS
President, and Synod legal counsel, providing ample time for
all of these interested persons and entities to provide input
regarding the questions presented by the Synod BOD; and
WHEREAS, The CTX BOR, accordingly, was given notice of
the questions submitted by the Synod BOD to the CCM and
was given ample time to provide input with respect to those
questions before the CCM issued its opinion; and
WHEREAS, CCM Opinion 23-3006 (“University Board of
Regents Unilateral Separation”) concludes, in part, as follows:

Resolutions