To Request Transparency from Concordia University Wisconsin—Ann Arbor

WHEREAS, The common goal of the Concordia University System (CUS) is to develop Christian leaders for the church, community, and the world; and

WHEREAS, Concordia University Wisconsin—Ann Arbor (CUWAA) has been developing Christian leaders for the church, community, and the world since 1963; and

WHEREAS, In a report dated Feb. 1, 2024, CFO Colleague, a financial consultancy for higher education institutions, analyzed recent financial performance for the university and concluded: The structural deficit for the combined entity of CUW and CUAA requires immediate and substantial attention. … It is difficult to see a way forward for CUAA, given its enormous deferred maintenance needs, inadequate [net tuition revenue] per student and the use of net tuition to fund athletic costs. … The time is now to craft a multi-year plan that addresses these clear challenges. (CUAA Task Force Report, May 31, 2024, 6–7) and

WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 1.5.3.4 states, “All mission boards, commissions, and governing boards may appoint standing committees of specialists to provide professional or technical assistance to the board or commission and may delegate certain responsibilities to such committees while retaining supervision. Standing committees may be made up of or include non-board or commission members. The creation of standing committees shall be reported to the President and the Board of Directors of the Synod”; and

WHEREAS, In response to the CFO Colleague Report, the CUWAA Board of Regents, on Feb. 29, 2024, adopted a resolution for “a special subcommittee to explore the possibility of the Ann Arbor campus applying for self-governance within the Concordia University System” (CUAA Task Force Report, May 31, 2024, 7); and

WHEREAS, Members of the special subcommittee reported that their work veered outside of the scope of the board’s resolution; and

WHEREAS, Members of the subcommittee were either required to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or were removed from the special subcommittee; and

WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 1.5.3.5 states, “All agencies of the Synod shall develop policies and procedures for making available official minutes of their meetings. All mission boards and commissions shall develop policies and procedures to make available upon request and at a reasonable price a verbatim copy of the official minutes of their meetings except for executive sessions. Any member of the Synod may request a copy of any official minutes of mission boards or commissions by submitting a written or electronic (via email) request to the Secretary of the Synod, who shall provide such minutes according to the policy of the Board of Directors”; and

WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 3.10.6.1 (o) states, “In fulfilling its commonly understood fiduciary duties owed to the institution, and its governance responsibilities, the board of regents shall: maintain effective internal controls and operate with financial transparency, annually reviewing and approving the institutional budget and providing, within 30 days of board acceptance and final issuance of the institutional audit, audited financial statements and other information as specified in the policies of the Synod Board of Directors and to congregations of the Synod upon request”; and

WHEREAS, Congregations of the Michigan District have requested these financial statements and have not received them from the CUWAA board; and

WHEREAS, The congregations of the district desire to bear with CUWAA in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1–5); and

WHEREAS, The congregations of the district desire to walk as children of light and expose things done in secret to the light so that Christ would shine on all things (Eph. 5:8b–14); and

WHEREAS, The 2025 Michigan District convention directed formal requests to the CUWAA board to:

• rescind the NDAs signed by the special subcommittee members as a sign of good faith and to restore the sacred trust and confidence in the process;

• make available the verbatim copies of the official minutes and the video recordings of the meetings of the special subcommittee to the district presidents for the benefit of building national consensus on this issue; and

• respond to the previous and all subsequent congregational requests for audited financial statements;

therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage transparency in the financial states of the CUS schools and the Synod at large.