Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 473
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 473

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

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
3.8.3.1
The Board for International Mission shall have oversight
of supervision over the executive director of the Office of
International Mission regarding the implementation of policies
adopted by the board and implemented by the Office of International
Mission for the coordination of and in support of ministries of the
Synod in foreign countries. The board shall annually review and
endorseapprove the Office of International Mission strategic plan
and review and provide input on approve the Office of International
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 administration consistent with the President’s
responsibility under Constitution Art. XI B 1–4 (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).
…

Office of International Mission
3.8.3.4
The Office of International Mission implements the
policies of the Board for International Mission under the supervision
of the Board for International Mission and the Chief Mission Officer
and shall be responsible for the work of the Synod in foreign
countries. Such responsibilities may include but not be limited to:
• placement and support of foreign missionaries
• establishment and maintenance of international schools
• coordination of international relief efforts
• policy recommendations to the Board for International Mission
• support and encouragement of international partner churches in
conjunction with the office of the President
3.8.3.5
In carrying out its mission responsibilities, the Office of
International 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 International Mission. Through the
Chief Mission Officer, it shall also receive direction from the
President of the Synod on all aspects of its responsibilities.
3.8.3.6
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 International 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).
…

LCMS Board of Directors
Ov. 9-12

To Restructure Mission Boards
WHEREAS, The 2010 Synod convention adopted the
recommendation of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure
and Governance to consolidate the boards and commissions of
national Synod, including the Board for Pastoral Education, the
Board for University Education, the Board for Black Ministry
Services, the Board for Communication Services, the Board for
District and Congregational Services, the Board for Human Care
Ministries, the Board for Mission Services, the Commission on
Ministerial Growth and Support, the Commission on Structure, and
the Commission on Worship (2010 Res. 8-08A); and
WHEREAS, The bylaws, functions, and offices related to these
boards and commissions were either eliminated, distributed to other

473

existing entities of Synod, or combined into two newly created
mission offices—the Office of National Mission (ONM) and the
Office of International Mission (OIM); and
WHEREAS, These newly created mission offices function under
policies created by their respective boards, the Board for National
Mission and the Board for International Mission, neither of which
has the authority to issue calls (except as specifically permitted in
Bylaws 3.8.2 and 3.8.3), make personnel decisions, or set budgets,
unlike their predecessor boards and commissions; and
WHEREAS, Operating under this new structure for 16 years has
reduced the authority with which these boards may act and therefore
represent the Synod, which they are by design intended to do; and
WHEREAS, This lack of representation of the Synod in the
mission boards is not only a departure from the long-established
pattern of boards, commissions, and committees of the Synod, but
has also raised suspicion of and temptation to abuses of power,
fiscal malfeasance, and unresponsiveness to the congregations of
the Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank the mission boards
for their labors under these conditions and for their efforts at
representing those who elected and appointed them; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention revise bylaws so as to
combine the two mission boards into one Board for Mission, setting
policy for both the ONM and the OIM; and be it further
Resolved, That the Board for Mission be comprised of 16
members, including five elected laypersons (one from each region),
five elected ordained ministers (one from reach region), two elected
commissioned ministers, two faculty representatives from the
respective seminaries, one district president appointed by the
Council of Presidents, and the President of the Synod or his
representative; and be it further
Resolved, That the Board for Mission select four of its members
to represent it as voting members of the Synod Board of Directors
(BOD), thereby bringing the membership of the latter to 20 total
members, 19 voting, thereby ensuring greater representation of the
Board for Mission on the BOD and exercise of the powers and
duties enumerated in Bylaw 3.3.4; and be it finally
Resolved, That the implementation of these bylaws and elections
be delayed until the 2029 Synod convention.
Christ, La Mesa, CA; Circuit 9 (Decatur), Indiana District
Ov. 9-13

To Revisit 2010 Restructuring
WHEREAS, The Synod has periodically deemed it necessary to
restructure its organization and operations and has done so
repeatedly, including 1959, 1979, 1995, and most recently in 2010;
and
WHEREAS, The 2010 Synod convention undertook a substantial
restructuring of the Synod which impacted various boards,
commissions, and other agencies; and
WHEREAS, That restructuring has since reduced the debt of
Synod, streamlined operations, and produced many other benefits;
and
WHEREAS, The restructuring also eliminated or consolidated
numerous longstanding boards, commissions, and other agencies,
reduced the representation of the Synod’s congregations in

2026 Convention Workbook