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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 417

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

FLOOR COMMITTEES: REPORT AND OVERTURE ASSIGNMENTS

7. University Education
REPORTS
R1, R2.2, R5, R5.2, R14–R14.5, R55, R62.7
OVERTURES
Ov. 7-01

To Amend Bylaws to Convert Concordia
University System, the Synodwide Corporate
Entity, into Commission for University Education
Rationale
2023 Resolution 7-04B implemented certain changes proposed by
the committee established by 2019 Res. 7-03 to “review the overall
governance of the Concordia University System (CUS) and the
boards of regents of the CUS institutions.” The committee initially
proposed—since the business functions of CUS would cease in the
new model, while the ecclesiastical visitation aspect would continue
and be strengthened—a Synod commission would serve more
efficiently to connect the Synod with its universities than would the
present synodwide corporate entity, having as it does all the
overhead of operating a distinct corporation (2023 Report R61,
“2019 Res. 7-03 Committee to Propose a New Governance Plan for
the Colleges and Universities of the Synod,” Workbook, 141–44).
This new commission was to be named the “Commission for
University Education” (CUE).
Reasons for this change include the following:
• In the new model, as proposed and adopted, CUS no longer
carries out business or line-of-credit management functions
on behalf of the universities, resulting in there being no need
for a separate corporation.
• Bylaws have made explicit allowance for universities to
create new entities to provide collaborative and
consolidative efforts (Bylaws 3.10.6.7–3.10.6.7.1), for
which CUS is to assume no “operational or financial
responsibility” (Bylaw 3.6.6.1 [j])—eliminating another
reason for CUS to exist as a distinct corporation.
• CUS has no sources of funding other than the corporate
Synod subsidy and a small amount of direct giving that could
be accommodated more efficiently and effectively through
corporate Synod, and its budget could be managed more
effectively and with less overhead by eliminating the
corporate, accounting, and audit overhead.
• CUS is served by corporate Synod accounting and audit
functions already, making its operations easily assimilable.
• Provisions exist for commissions (such as the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations) to be staffed with
executive staff to the same extent as CUS had as a synodwide
corporate entity, but these (today, entirely subsidized by
corporate Synod anyway) would be fully integrated into
corporate Synod budgetary processes and human resources
management.
• The “Concordia University System” name and brand can be
retained and used by the Synod for the universities operating
together in concert with the Synod, even if the corporation
operating under that name is dissolved.

417

By the time the proposal was presented in resolution form (2023
Res. 7-04, 2023 Today’s Business 1:143–48), however, this aspect
of the new governance plan was scaled back to “refocus” CUS as
“ecclesiastical visitor” but not to convert the synodwide corporate
entity into a commission. One key reason for this change, despite
the above benefits of the alternative, was that at the time, corporate
Synod and CUS were involved in very significant litigation related
to the closure of Concordia University, Portland, litigation that has
now been resolved. With that matter resolved, the Board of
Directors proposes the completion of this aspect of the original
design of the new governance model, to convert CUS into a
commission, the Commission for University Education, with
equivalent function but with lower overhead. The name, concept,
and brand of “Concordia University System” would be retained and
used by the Synod as the collective name for the universities
operating in concert with one another and with the Synod.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw subsection 3.6.6 be amended, renamed,
and relocated as follows, to convert the Concordia University
System (CUS) into the Commission for University Education
(CUE), with references elsewhere in the Bylaws adjusted
accordingly:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Concordia University SystemCommission for University
Education
3.69.6
Concordia University System, as a nonprofit corporation
under the laws of the State of Missouri, is incorporated as provided
in its Articles of Incorporation and corporate Bylaws to facilitateThe
Commission for University Education facilitates ecclesiastical
visitation and affirmation of the Synod’s colleges and universities
(Bylaw 3.10.6 and following), collectively known as the “Concordia
University System,” and to assistassists with their cooperation and
coordination. It shall seek to assist them with effective and
accountable:
• preparation of commissioned ministers for service in the Synod
and of pre-seminary students for study at a Synod seminary;
• raising up of Lutheran laypersons for lifelong, faithful service to
Christ and the neighbor; and
• robust, intentional engagement of all students with the faith
taught and practiced, with application to their vocations in
family, church, and state.
3.69.6.1
The Concordia University System Board of Directors
Commission for University Education shall:
(a) define, after input from the Institution Advisory Council, and
adopt the Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcomes Standards
(“Standards,” Bylaw 3.69.6.4), which shall be the basis of Synod
visitation of Synod colleges and universities, including each of
their church worker preparation programs; and maintain policies
governing, and supervise the performance of, such Synod
visitation (Bylaws 3.69.6.4 and following), which shall focus on
support and accountability for maintaining and strengthening
Lutheran identity. Consistent with the Standards, the Concordia
University System Commission for University Education shall
ensure that each institution receives:
(1) regular ecclesiastical and fraternal counsel and
encouragement through annual, informal visitation that
involves free exchange among peers;
(2) in-depth ecclesiastical formal visitation and reporting
(including affirmation, commendations, cautions, and
recommendations for improvement; Bylaw 3.69.6.4) at least
once every three years;

2026 Convention Workbook