To Memorialize Commission on Handbook to Revise Number of Voters for Election of Presidents of Concordia University System Schools

WHEREAS, The schools of the Concordia University System (CUS) are agencies of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and were originally developed by the congregations of the Synod for the training of church workers to assist the spread of the Gospel; and

WHEREAS, The presidents of our CUS schools hold a primary level of importance in providing vision and oversight under the broad assignment of Synod; and

WHEREAS, The current selection of presidents of schools of the CUS is strictly tasked to the schools’ boards of regents who are specifically tasked in Bylaw 3.10.6 to do their business (including the selection of presidents) “subject to the general policies set by the Synod, including those established by the Concordia University System,” and whose duty is defined in Bylaw 3.10.6.1 as “defining and fulfilling the mission of the institution within the broad assignment of Synod”; and

WHEREAS, Recent changes to the makeup of CUS boards of regents call for the appointment of members based on certain skill sets (i.e., financial, legal, etc.) which, while necessary and good, have in the past proven also to politicize and distract certain boards from their duty to be mindful of the “broad assignment of the Synod,”namely teaching the Word faithfully and proclaiming the Gospel; and

WHEREAS, The election of our seminary presidents, outlined in Bylaw 3.10.5.6.2 (h) prescribes an election process requiring four votes (regents, elected regent district president, President of Synod, and chairman of Synod Board of Directors), thus offering greater Synod inclusion in the election process; and

WHEREAS, This election process serves as a good template for greater mindfulness of the Synod’s mission in the CUS presidential election process as well; therefore be it

Resolved, That the South Wisconsin District in convention appealtothe2023SynodconventiontorequestthattheCommission on Handbook (COH) draft a series of bylaws so that the election process of Concordia University presidents follow the pattern of seminary president elections; and be it further

Resolved, That once completed, the COH forward these new bylaws to the Synod Board of Directors for approval and implementation; and be it finally

Resolved, That upon ratification, this resolution be passed on to the 68th Regular Convention of the Synod for deliberation by the entire Synod.