To Affirm Regional Selection of Board Members

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a nationwide church body with diverse regional, cultural, and mission al contexts; and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s Board of Directors (BOD), Board for National Mission (BNM), and Board for International Mission (BIM) exercise governance and mission oversight that affect congregations and districts across all regions of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s Bylaws establish regional representation in the composition of the BOD (Bylaw 3.3.4.1), the BNM (Bylaw 3.8.2.3), and the BIM (Bylaw 3.8.3.3); and

WHEREAS, Regional representation in board membership helps ensure that decisions are informed by the lived realities, mission opportunities, and challenges present throughout the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has historically valued broad participation and shared responsibility in its governance and mission structures;

therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm the principle of regional selection and representation in the nomination and election of members to the Synod’s BOD, BNM, and BIM; and be it further

Resolved, That the appropriate Synod entities be encouraged to continue or strengthen processes that provide for balanced regional representation on these boards, so that the governance and mission leadership of the Synod reflects the breadth of its districts and ministries.