LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 142

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142 RESOLUTIONS
To Change Bylaw 6.54 WHEREAS, This procedure has placed unnecessary
re Permanent Tenure pressure both on Boards of Control and on faculty
; and
RESOLUTION 6-08A members; an

Overture 6-32 (CW, pp. 191—192)

WHEREAS, The question of tenure for faculty mem-
bers is being given much consideration not only within
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod but in all areas
of higher education including accreditation associa-
tions; and

WHEREAS, The present procedure in the Synod re-
quires that tenure must be granted after five years of
creditable service or that the faculty member must be
dismissed; and

eee

PRESENT WORDING

6.54 Permanent Tenure

a. The Board of Control may grant permanent
tenure at any time to any member of the faculty,
regardless of rank, upon the recommendation of the
president and with the prior consent of the electors of
the institution. Proposals for granting permanent
tenure shall be submitted for prior review and recom-
mendation to the Board for Higher Education. The
Board for Higher Education at its discretion may
offer a report in person prior to the taking of action by
the Board of Control. The electors may then grant
such consent by any procedure which they deem
appropriate. Such action shall be taken no earlier
than 6 weeks after a notice of the intent to grant
tenure has been published in the official periodical of
the Synod. The Board of Control shall give the faculty
member the opportunity to respond to any negative
comments prior to the Board’s final action.

b. If a faculty member has completed 5 years of
creditable service (periods of leave are not included)
as a member of the faculty of one or more educational
institutions of the Synod of collegiate or seminary
level, at least the last 2 years of which shall have been
in the institution he is currently serving, and has not
been granted permanent tenure, the president is
obligated to take up the question of permanent tenure
with the Board of Control. The Board of Control shall
either carry forward the procedure for granting perm-
anent tenure or inform the faculty member of its
decision not to grant tenure and thus terminate his
contract. In cases in which the decision is made to
terminate the individual’s contract, the contract shall
be extended for one year beyond the time at which
notice is given. If the Board of Control does not take
up the question of permanent tenure at least 9 months
prior to the end of the sixth year of service, the faculty
member shall petition the Board of Control to take up
the question of permanent tenure. Tenure may be
granted only by direct action of the Board of Control.

WHEREAS, A very high percentage of tenured faculty
creates a problem of immobility and no tenure may
create problems of instability and insecurity; and

WHEREAS, Tenure should not be considered an auto-
matic result of five years of service but should be
awarded on other qualifications of merit, achievement,
and ability; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod adopt the following amendment to Bylaw 6.54
(Handbook, pp. 148—144):

PROPOSED WORDING

6.54 Permanent Tenure

Each educational institution of the Synod shall
normally award tenure to a minimum of 40 percent
and a maximum of 60 percent of its faculty.

a. Standards or qualifications for granting tenure
shall be:

1. The faculty member shall have completed 5
years of creditable service (periods of leave are not
included) as a member of the faculty of one or more
educational institutions of the Synod at collegiate or
seminary level, at least the last 2 years of which shall
have been in the institution he is currently serving.

2. The faculty member shall have demonstrated
scholarly achievement by earning advanced aca-
demic degrees.

3. The faculty member’s reputation, character,
concern for students, and ability to honor leaders
shall present a good reflection on the institution and
the church.

4. The faculty member’s aptness to teach has been
demonstrated by effective communication in the
classroom.

b. Steps toward granting tenure shall be:

1. If the Board of Control, on recommendation of
the president of the institution, determines that a
faculty member meets the above requirements and
has not been granted permanent tenure, it shall
either carry forward the procedure for granting perm-
anent tenure or inform the faculty member of its
decision not to grant tenure, in which case his
contract may either be renewed or terminated. In
cases in which the decision is made to terminate the
individual’s contract, the contract shal] be extended
for at least 6 months beyond the time at which notice
is given. If the Board of Control does not take up the
question of permanent tenure at least 9 months prior
to the end of the sixth year of service, the faculty
member may petition the Board of Control to take up
the question of permanent tenure.

2. The Board for Higher Education shall review
the candidate’s qualifications and make its recom-
mendation. At its discretion it may offer a report in
person.

3. Notice of intent to grant tenure shall be an-
nounced in the official periodical of the Synod.

4. The faculty member shall be given the oppor-
tunity to respond to any comments or concerns that
may have been raised relative to his tenure.

5. At least 6 weeks after the notice is published,
consent of the electors of the institution shall be
given.