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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 472

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

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

472

mission board to reach concurrence on a slate of candidates for
the position.
(fe) …

administration consistent with the President’s responsibility under
Constitution Art. XI B 1–4 (also Constitution Art. XI B 7; Bylaws
3.3.1.1–3.3.1.3) between conventions of the Synod and ultimately
shall be responsible to the Synod in convention (Constitution Art. XI
A 1–2).

3.8 Mission Boards and Offices
Mission Boards

…

3.8.1
The mission boards of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod are the following:
1. Board for National Mission
2. Board for International Mission
3.8.1.1
Each mission board shall relate to a mission office,
developing and determining its policies and supervising their
implementation by an executive director.
(a) The President shall make the initial appointment of an
executive director from a slate developed in consultation with,
and having the concurrence of, the respective mission board.
Nominations shall first be solicited, in an official publication of
the Synod, from the agencies and officers, congregational and
individual members of the Synod.
(b) Each appointment of an executive director is for no more than
three years, during which period the executive director shall serve
at the pleasure of the President.
(c) Each mission board, with the assistance of Synod’s
Department of Human Resources, shall conduct a review of the
executive director of its respective office every third year of
service, after which the appointment may be renewed by the
President with the concurrence of the respective mission board.

Office of National Mission

Board for National Mission
3.8.2
The Board for National Mission is charged with
developing and determining policies for the coordination of and in
support of district ministries which support congregations and
schools (Bylaw 1.2.1 [n]). These policies shall embrace and apply
the mission and ministry emphases adopted by the national
convention. Under the leadership of the President of the Synod,
pursuant to Bylaw 3.3.1.1.1, the board shall assist in identifying the
specific goals for the Office of National Mission. Policies
determined by the board (implemented by staff) may include but not
be limited to:
• strong national mission leadership
• Lutheran school ministries and accreditation
• human care and domestic mercy efforts
• stewardship
• evangelism
• church planting and revitalization
• youth ministry
Upon recommendation of the Office of National Mission, the Board
for National Mission shall serve as a calling agency for institutional
and agency chaplains and other non-foreign specialized ministers
(e.g., Veterans Administration chaplains, Bureau of Prison
chaplains, hospital chaplains, pastoral counselors, and teachers of
chaplaincy and pastoral counseling) after consultation with the
appropriate district presidents(s) (cf. Bylaw 2.12.1.4).
3.8.2.1
The Board for National Mission shall have oversight of
supervision over the executive director of the Office of National
Mission regarding the implementation of policies adopted by the
board and implemented by the Office of National Mission for the
coordination of and in support of district ministries which support
congregations and schools. The board shall annually review and
endorseapprove the Office of National Mission strategic plan and
review and provide input on approve the Office of National Mission
initial annual budget proposal prior to its submission for approval by
the Board of Directors. The board shall be under the ecclesiastical
supervision of the President of the Synod regarding doctrine and

2026 Convention Workbook

3.8.2.4
The Office of National Mission implements the policies of
the Board for National Mission under the supervision of the Chief
Mission Officer and the Board for National Mission and shall be
responsible for domestic ministries that especially serve
congregations and schools through the districts of the Synod. Such
district ministries may include but not be limited to:
• Lutheran school ministries and accreditation
• human care and domestic mercy efforts
• stewardship
• evangelism
• church planting and revitalization
• youth ministry
3.8.2.5
In carrying out its mission responsibilities, the Office of
National Mission shall receive its primary focus from the mission
and ministry emphases developed triennially by the national Synod
in convention and from the policies developed and determined by
the Board for National Mission. Through the Chief Mission Officer,
it shall also receive direction from the President of the Synod on all
aspects of its responsibilities.
3.8.2.6
The President’s supervisory responsibilities under
Constitution Art. XI B and Bylaws 3.3.1.1–3.3.1.3 will assure that
the Office of National Mission incorporates the doctrine, mission,
and vision of the Synod in its service to the Synod. All staff shall be
responsible and accountable for their activities to the President of the
Synod (Constitution Art. XI B 1–4) between conventions of the
Synod and ultimately to the Synod in convention (Constitution Art.
XI A 1–2).
…

Board for International Mission
3.8.3
The Board for International Mission is charged with
developing and determining policies in support of mission and
ministry in foreign countries for the Office of International Mission
(Bylaw 1.2.1 [n]). These policies shall embrace and apply the
mission and ministry emphases adopted by the national convention.
Under the leadership of the President of the Synod, pursuant to
Bylaw 3.3.1.1.1, the board shall assist in identifying the specific
goals for the Office of International Mission. Policies determined by
the board (implemented by staff) may include but not be limited to:
• strong mission leadership
• training of missionaries
• ministry for all of the Synod’s military personnel
• safeguarding the rights of partner churches
• ministry for all civilians and their dependents overseas
• international human care
• liaison with the colleges, universities, and seminaries of the Synod
• liaison with the chief ecumenical officer of the Synod
• international schools
Upon the recommendation of the Office of International Mission, the
board shall serve as the only sending agency through which workers
and funds are sent to the foreign mission areas of the Synod,
including the calling, appointing, assigning, withdrawing, and
releasing of missionaries (ministers of religion—ordained and
ministers of religion—commissioned) and other workers for the
ministries in foreign areas.