Ad Crucem NewsLCMS 2026 ConventionProposed Resolution · Today's Business, 1st Edition
Res. 9-08 — To Amend Bylaws to Clarify and Streamline Responsibilities of Appointed Synod Officers
- Status
- Proposed
- Floor committee
- 9. Structure and Administration
- Today’s Business page
- 154
- Reports cited
- —
Consolidates overtures
Rationale Under current Bylaws, the positions of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) exist to assist the Synod Board of Directors (BOD) in carrying out the responsibilities of the BOD to the Synod. These responsibilities include managing, on behalf of the BOD, left-hand kingdom affairs of the Synod and coordination with all other officers and agencies of the Synod. Both positions report to the BOD and both positions are appointed by the BOD, with the concurrence of the President. The current responsibilities of the CAO and CFO are distinct, yet complementary. Maintaining the two positions at times creates ambiguity and slows coordination with other officers, boards, and agencies of the Synod. Consolidating the two positions into a single Chief Operating Officer (COO) will improve clarity of authority, resource alignment, and coordination across the Synod. It also will give the BOD the ability to allocate resources in a fashion that better serves left-hand kingdom Synod needs, such as audit, finance and accounting, human resources, legal, risk management, and information technology. Organization of these administrative and financial functions under one office will allow the board and its executive freedom to provide for these activities and their leadership with coordination and flexibility. Under the coordination provided by the COO, these principal staff members will provide sensible points of contact and long-term direction in manageable areas of service. Combining the CAO and CFO positions into the COO position also will simplify the overall administration and structure of the Synod office, allowing the elimination of the Operations Team as currently prescribed in . Present Operations Team functions would either be addressed by several bylaws that provide for coordination between the COO and Chief Mission Officer or handled by the Administrative Team (), which includes also the elected officers, which will be retained and remain under the leadership of the President. Therefore be it
Resolved, That to effectuate the consolidation of the C AO position and C FO position into the COO position and to make other adjustments accordingly to improve efficiency and coordination with the Synod, , 3.1.9, 3.2.1.1,
3.3.4.6, 3.3.4.9, 3.4.1, 3.4.1.1–3.4.1.4, 3.5.1.1, 3.6.4.2.1, and 3.9.4.1 be amended and that –3.4.2.3 and 3.5.2–13
3.5.2.1 be deleted as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Reports
3.1.6.1 Reports to a convention of the Synod may be submitted only by the President, a vice-president, the Secretary, the Chief Financial Operating Officer, the Board of Directors of the Synod, a board or commission of the Synod as listed in , 3.2.2.1, 3.2.3, and 3.2.3.1, and other individuals or duly constituted groups who may be required or permitted to do so by the Bylaws, by action of a prior convention of the Synod, or by the President. … Convention Order
3.1.9 The President shall be responsible for the overall organization and operations of the conventions of the Synod.
(a) The Chief AdministrativeOperating Officer or the Chief AdministrativeOperating Officer’s designee shall serve as the convention manager. He shall be responsible to the President for making arrangements for and directing the externals of the convention and other major assemblies of the Synod and may assist with planning and arranging for district conventions. …
(e) All travel and convention expenses of the Synod’s Praesidium, Secretary, Chief AdministrativeOperating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Mission Officer, Board of Directors, district presidents, Commission on Constitutional Matters, Commission on Handbook, Commission on Theology and Church Relations, and legal counsel are included in the operating cost of the convention and as such are included in the district levy. … … Officers Appointed by the President and Board of Directors
3.2.1.1 The appointed officers of the Synod shall be the Chief Financial Operating Officer and the Chief Administrative Officer, appointed by the Board of Directors of the Synod, and the Chief Mission Officer, appointed by the President of the Synod. … Board of Directors
3.3.4.6 The Board of Directors shall exercise general oversight over the operations and activities of the synodwide corporate entities, the Concordia Plans, and Concordia Plan Services as required of it in the Constitution of the Synod and specified in these Bylaws. …
(d) The board shall have the right to designate a representative (by default, the Chief Financial Officer) to attend, as a nonvoting member, all meetings of the boards of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation, The Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri Synod, Concordia Publishing House, Concordia University System, and the Board of Trustees —Concordia Plans (Board of Directors —51 Concordia Plan Services) ,. These non-voting members are entitled to attend all meetings of the board, including executive sessions., and have the same rights and privileges of other board members, except the right to vote. The board’s representative shall serve on the investment committee of the Concordia Plans and Concordia Plan Services. The board and its representative shall, in reasonable time, receive notice of such meetings, the proposed agenda, and minutes thereof. …
3.3.4.9 To carry out the business and legal affairs of the Synod, the Board of Directors may, after consultation with the Administrative Team, appoint other officers subject to the approval of the President. The Board of Directors may also appointand staff as required. … Chief FinancialOperating Officer
3.4.1 The Chief Financial Operating Officer shall administer the financial affairs of the Synod, excluding the synodwide corporate entities, the districts, the Concordia Plans, and Concordia Plan Services and shall assist the Board of Directors of the Synod in carrying out the responsibilities given to it by the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod.
3.4.1.1 The Chief Financial Operating Officer shall be an officer of the Synod and a layperson appointed by the Board of Directors of the Synod in consultation with and with the concurrence of the President of the Synod.
3.4.1.2 The Chief FinancialOperating Officer shall serve a three-year renewable term of office during which he/she shall serve at the direction of the Board of Directors.
(a) He/she may serve an unlimited number of terms.
(b) Each reappointment by the Board of Directors shall be after consultation with and with the concurrence of the President of the Synod.
3.4.1.3 The Chief FinancialOperating Officer also serves as the Treasurer of the corporation and shall …
(h) be authorized to borrow in the name of the Synod, provided its Board of Directors has first determined the amounts and conditions under which such moneys shall be borrowed; (1) instruments relative to such borrowing shall require two signatures: (2) one shall be the Chief Financial Operating Officer and the other shall be another officer of the Synod designated by the Board of Directors of the Synod; …
3.4.1.4 The Chief FinancialOperating Officer shall work together closely with the Chief Administrative Officer and the Chief Mission Officer in carrying out the programmatic, administrative, and financial functions of the national Synod. … 3.5 National Office Teams Administrative Team
3.5.1.1 The Administrative Team shall consist of the President, the First Vice -President, the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Mission Officer, and the Chief Administrative Officer and shall be under the leadership of the President. … The Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri Synod
3.6.4.2.1 One class of members consists of the President of the Synod or his representative, the Chief FinancialOperating Officer of the Synod, and such additional members appointed by the Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as shall equal one for each ten members of the other class of members. … Commission on Handbook
3.9.4.1 The Commission on Handbook shall consist of eight members, five voting and three nonvoting:
1. Of the five voting members, three shall be individual members of the Synod and two shall be attorneys. Terms of voting members shall be for six years, renewable once.
2. The Chief AdministrativeOperating Officer of the Synod, the Secretary of the Synod, and an additional member of the Commission on Constitutional Matters shall serve as advisory members. … Chief Administrative Officer
3.4.2 The Chief Administrative Officer shall assist the Board of Directors of the Synod in carrying out the responsibilities given to it by the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod.
3.4.2.1 The Chief Administrative Officer shall be an officer of the Synod and shall be appointed by the Board of Directors of the Synod in consultation and mutual concurrence with the President of the Synod.
3.4.2.2 The Chief Administrative Officer shall serve a three-year renewable term of office during which he/she shall serve at the direction of the Board of Directors.
(a) He/she may serve an unlimited number of terms.
(b) Each reappointment shall be with the mutual concurrence of the President and the Board of Directors of the Synod.
3.4.2.3 The Chief Administrative Officer shall work together closely with the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Mission Officer in carrying out the programmatic, administrative, and financial functions of the national Synod. … Operations Team
3.5.2 The Operations Team shall assist the President and the Board of Directors of the Synod in carrying out their respective responsibilities for oversight, supervision, management, and coordination of the operations of the national office and according to the triennial emphases adopted by conventions of the Synod.
3.5.2.1 The Operations Team shall consist of the Chief Mission Officer, the Chief Administrative Officer, and the Chief Financial Officer and shall be convened by the Chief Administrative Officer.