LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 200

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

9. STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
proposal on university governance, as presently conceived; (2)
LCEF is today principally managing lines of credit and
deposits of surplus funds, rather than doing so through the
Concordia University System as an intermediary; (3) that the
seminaries and universities have developed capacity for other
investment approaches. In its meeting of April 28, 2021, the
BOD Governance Committee recommended simply striking
both passages, a proposal with which the COH concurs in its
Item 19-004.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.10.5.5 (e) be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
E. Seminary Boards of Regents
…
3.10.5.5 The board of regents of each theological seminary
shall become familiar with and develop an understanding
of pertinent policies, standards, and guidelines of the
Synod.
…
(e) It shall approve institutional fiscal arrangements,
develop the financial resources necessary to operate the
seminary, and participate in its support program.
(1) Only the board of regents is authorized to
establish a line of credit or to borrow for operating
needs, subject to the policies of the Board of Directors
of the Synod.
(2) All surplus institutional funds above an adequate
working balance shall be deemed to be surplus and
shall be deposited with the Chief Financial Officer of
the Synod for investment. Earnings from such
investments shall be credited to the depositing
seminary.
…
and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.10.6.4 (e) be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
F. Concordia University System Boards of Regents
…
3.10.6.4 The board of regents of each institution shall
become familiar with and develop an understanding of
pertinent policies, standards, and guidelines of the Synod
and the Board of Directors of Concordia University System.
…
(e) It shall approve institutional fiscal arrangements,
develop the financial resources necessary to operate the
institution, and participate in its financial support.
(1) Only the board of regents is authorized to
establish a line of credit or to borrow for operating
needs, subject to the policies of the Board of Directors
of Concordia University System and the Board of
Directors of the Synod.
(2) All surplus institutional funds above an adequate
working balance shall be deposited with the
Concordia University System for investment.
200 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION

Earnings from such investments shall be credited to
the depositing institution.
…
F. REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
FOR PRESIDENTIAL VOTERS
Rationale
Bylaw 3.12.2.3 governs the registration of presidential voters
by the congregations and parishes of the Synod. This process
involves the collection of name, address, email address,
phone, and a “security question” for the pastoral and lay
voters to be registered. Handwriting of this information on a
form and subsequent data entry have proven very error-prone
and time-consuming. Especially the important email address
has been a challenge. Improperly completed or signed forms
take a long time to detect and correct, with the consequence
that some congregations have difficulty completing the
process in time.
The Office of the Secretary implemented an online
registration process in preparation for this convention to
address the above issues and to allow for districts to be
involved in reminding congregations to register their voters,
as required by 2019 Res. 9-16 and its amendment of Bylaw
3.12.2.3 (d). This required an interpretation of the CCM (CCM
Op. 20-2930) to understand an online interface to be within
the definition of “form” and the “signatures” required to be
satisfied by “verifiable attestations, by some commonly
understood means of physical or electronic signature.”
Proposed is to adapt the language of the Bylaw to be similar to
the “secure and verifiable method” used elsewhere, so as to
clarify requirements without seeming to imply use of an
unwieldy paper process.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.12.2.3 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Elections of President and First Vice-President
…
3.12.2.3 The Secretary of the Synod shall compile and
maintain the voters list for the election of the President of
the Synod. This list and any of its parts shall not be
disseminated.
(a) This voters list shall include:
(1) the pastor of each member congregation or multicongregation parish (assisting pastors are not
eligible)
(2) a lay person from the congregation or parish
(b) The congregation or parish shall present to the
Secretary of Synod 90 days prior to the election a proper
credentials form provided, via a secure and verifiable
method provided by the Secretary, the voter(s) selected
by the congregation or parish, signedas well as an
attestation by two of the congregation’s officers that the
voter(s) are properly authorized by the congregation to
vote on its behalf. If a congregation or parish has more
than one pastor eligible to vote, the congregation shall
Resolutions