To Amend Bylaw 3.10.5.7 to Address Seminary Adjunct Faculty

WHEREAS, Both Concordia Seminary and Concordia Theological Seminary make use of contracted faculty, bearing various titles including “adjunct faculty,” “guest instructors,” “guest professors,” or “visiting instructors” (hereafter “adjuncts”); and

WHEREAS, The standard procedure is that adjuncts are appointed by the president through the provost and in consultation with the pertinent department chairman. Their services to the seminary are provided on a contractual basis, rather than through a call to the faculty; and

WHEREAS, Adjuncts must conform to the doctrinal standards of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod by upholding the accepted doctrinal statements of the Synod, including Article II of the Synod Constitution; and

WHEREAS, CCM Op. 23-3031, “Seminary Adjunct Faculty,” has determined that “No bylaw sets forth specific procedures for appointment of part-time or temporary faculty,” (i.e. adjuncts); and

WHEREAS, The lack of an adjunct specific bylaw has resulted in CCM Op. 23-3031 stating that “[t]he [seminary] board [of regents] could choose to undertake such appointments directly, or it could choose to permit the president to undertake such appointments subject to ultimate approval or ratification by the board. The board could also choose to delegate this task to a committee in accordance with Bylaw 1.5.3.3. These examples are not intended to exhaust all legitimate possibilities; so long as the choices of the board do not conflict with another express provision of the Bylaws, it is free to accomplish its task of ‘approving’ as it sees fit”; and

WHEREAS, The lack of an adjunct specific bylaw has also resulted in CCM Op. 23-3031 stating “[o]ur analysis begins with Bylaw 3.11. Bylaw 3.11.1 (a) provides that ‘[m]embers of the Synod who are appointed to positions requiring an ordained minister or commissioned minister shall receive a solemn call.’ If a specific position being filled by apart-time faculty member requires that the person filling that position be an ordained or commissioned minister (rather than merely incidentally being filled by one), then Bylaw 3.11.1 (a) would require that person to receive a solemn call. Having received a call into that specific position, the position would be a ‘called position’ under the Bylaws, including Bylaw 4.4.3 (a)”; and

WHEREAS, Such a practice of calling and installing adjuncts would be administratively cumbersome and would be counterproductive for the seminary and for the church; and

WHEREAS, The ordinary delegation of this responsibility to the seminary president and administration is wise, and workable; and

WHEREAS, The boards of regents at both seminaries have for decades, understood the Synod Bylaws to require board approval of regular full-time faculty members but not to require direct board approval of adjuncts; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention amend Bylaw 3.10.5.7 as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Seminary Faculties 3.10.5.7 The faculty of each theological seminary of the Synod shall consist of the president, the full-time faculty, and the part-time faculty. … (c) Adjunct instructors must conform to the doctrinal standards of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod by upholding the accepted doctrinal statements of the Synod, including Article II of the Constitution of the Synod. Such adjuncts are appointed by the president through the provost and in consultation with the pertinent department chairman.Their services to the seminary are provided on a contractual basis. Adjuncts are not called to the faculty. The president of the institution shall make known to the respective board of regents the names and duties of the adjuncts, the boards ratifying the adjuncts.