To Amend Bylaws to Enhance Responsibilities of Synod Mission Boards

WHEREAS, The 2010 Synod convention made substantial changes to the structure and organization of the national Synod office that impacted significantly the mission operations of the Synod. These changes included creating the Chief Mission Officer (CMO) position and creating the Board for National Mission (BNM) and the Board for International Mission (BIM). The bylaws governing the BNM and BIM have been in effect for 15 years, allowing time to assess their overall efficiency and effectiveness; and

WHEREAS, The CMO is ultimately responsible to the President of the Synod,but also is subject to the actions of the BNM and BIM; and

WHEREAS, Current bylaws provide that the BNM and BIM have responsibility for developing and determining policies impacting the Synod’s national and international mission operations but have limited influence on the selection of the CMO, limited ability to influence the budget, and limited ability to ensure proper implementation of the policies they develop; and

WHEREAS, It is desirable and would assist in the overall coordination and efficiency of the Synod’s mission operations to better align the responsibility of the BNM and BIM with the authority given to the BNM and BIM, and enhance the ability of the BNMand BIMtobetteradvancethe Synod’soperationsbothwithin the United States and worldwide; therefore be it

Resolved, That the provision of Bylaw 3.3.1.3 (e) be relocated and elaborated as Bylaw 3.8.1.1 and that Bylaws 3.8.2.1, 3.8.2.4, 3.8.3.1 and 3.8.2.4 be amended as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 3.3 Elected Officers of the Synod President … Powers and Duties – Ecclesiastical and Administrative 3.3.1.3 The President shall have responsibilities and duties that are both ecclesiastical and administrative. … (e) Prior to his appointment of an executive director of a mission office, he shall engage in consultation with the appropriate mission board to reach concurrence on a slate of candidates for the position. (fe) … 3.8 Mission Boards and Offices Mission Boards 3.8.1 The mission boards of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod are the following: 3.8.1.1 Each mission board shall relate to a mission office, developing and determining its policies and supervising their implementation by an executive director. (a) The President shall make the initial appointment of an executive director from a slate developed in consultation with, and having the concurrence of, the respective mission board. Nominations shall first be solicited, in an official publication of the Synod, from the agencies and officers, congregational and individual members of the Synod. (b) Each appointment of an executive director is for no more than three years,during which period the executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the President. (c) Each mission board, with the assistance of Synod’s Department of Human Resources, shall conduct a review of the executive director of its respective office every third year of service, after which the appointment may be renewed by the President with the concurrence of the respective mission board. Board for National Mission 3.8.2 The Board for National Mission is charged with developing and determining policies for the coordination of and in support of district ministries which support congregations and schools (Bylaw 1.2.1 [n]). These policies shall embrace and apply the mission and ministry emphases adopted by the national convention. Under the leadership of the President of the Synod, pursuant to Bylaw 3.3.1.1.1, the board shall assist in identifying the specific goals for the Office of National Mission. Policies determined by the board (implemented by staff) may include but not be limited to:

• strong national mission leadership

• Lutheran school ministries and accreditation

• human care and domestic mercy efforts

• stewardship

• evangelism

• church planting and revitalization

• youth ministry Upon recommendation of the Office of National Mission, the Board for National Mission shall serve as a calling agency for institutional and agency chaplains and other non-foreign specialized ministers (e.g., Veterans Administration chaplains, Bureau of Prison chaplains, hospital chaplains, pastoral counselors, and teachers of chaplaincy and pastoral counseling) after consultation with the appropriate district presidents(s) (cf. Bylaw 2.12.1.4). 3.8.2.1 The Board for National Mission shall have oversight of supervision over the executive director of the Office of National Mission regarding the implementation of policies adopted by the board and implemented by the Office of National Mission for the coordination of and in support of district ministries which support congregations and schools. The board shall annually review and endorse approve the Office of National Mission strategic plan and review and provide input on approve the Office of National 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 (also 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 National Mission 3.8.2.4 The Office of National Mission implements the policies of the Board for National Mission under the supervision of the Chief Mission Officer and the Board for National Mission and shall be responsible for domestic ministries that especially serve congregations and schools through the districts of the Synod. Such district ministries may include but not be limited to:

• Lutheran school ministries and accreditation

• human care and domestic mercy efforts

• stewardship

• evangelism

• church planting and revitalization

• youth ministry 3.8.2.5 In carrying out its mission responsibilities, the Office of National Mission shall receive its primary focus from the mission and ministry emphases developed triennial ly by the national Synod in convention and from the policies developed and determined by the Board for National Mission. Through the Chief Mission Officer, it shall also receive direction from the President of the Synod on all aspects of its responsibilities. 3.8.2.6 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 National 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 tothe 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). … Board for International Mission 3.8.3 The Board for International Mission is charged with developing and determining policies in support of mission and ministry in foreign countries for the Office of International Mission (Bylaw 1.2.1 [n]). These policies shall embrace and apply the mission and ministry emphases adopted by the national convention. Under the leadership of the President of the Synod, pursuant to Bylaw 3.3.1.1.1, the board shall assist in identifying the specific goals for the Office of International Mission. Policies determined by the board (implemented by staff) may include but not be limited to:

• strong mission leadership

• training of missionaries

• ministry for all of the Synod’s military personnel

• safeguarding the rights of partner churches

• ministry for all civilians and their dependents overseas

• international human care

• liaison with the colleges, universities, and seminaries of the Synod

• liaison with the chief ecumenical officer of the Synod

• international schools Upon the recommendation of the Officeof International Mission, the board shall serve as the only sending agency through which workers and funds are sent to the foreign mission areas of the Synod, including the calling, appointing, assigning, withdrawing, and releasing of missionaries (ministers of religion—ordained and ministers of religion—commissioned) and other workers for the ministries in foreign areas. 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 endorse approve 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 triennial ly 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). …