Res. 9-09 — To Amend Bylaws to Coordinate Responsibilities of Chief Mission Officer with Other Synod Officers

Rationale 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, eliminating the Synod’s Board for Mission Services, and creating the Board for National Mission (BNM) and the Board for International Mission (BIM). The bylaws governing the CMO position have been in effect for 15 years, allowing time to assess their overall efficiency and effectiveness. The CMO is ultimately responsible to the President of the Synod. The CMO also has responsibilities that have significant impact on matters within the supervision and responsibility of the Synod’s Board of Directors (BOD) and must coordinate extensively with other officers of the Synod, some of whom report to the BOD . While the content of the Synod’s communications deals with doctrinal, practical, and programmatic material that belongs under the supervision of the President or the appointed officer reporting to him, namely the CMO, and while Synod’s fundraising certainly relates to its programs, there are operational aspects of this work that the BOD suggests would benefit from closer coordination with other activities more operational than programmatic. Corporate Synod would benefit from an integrated treatment of its information systems. The BOD has made a significant ongoing investment in a constituent management system and a more comprehensive approach to information management, including building a team with the skills for internet and database development, which is necessary if rewards are to be reaped in better service to the Synod’s membership, enhanced presentation of its confession and mission in electronic platforms, and improved efficiency and capacity. Likewise, the BOD is responsible for “providing operating and capital funds to carry out the work of the Synod” (Bylaw 3.3.4.5 [c]), but 2010 restructuring placed fundraising under the supervision of the President. While messaging and approach may shift with changes in presidential administrations, the fundamental communications and fundraising operations of the Synod should be provided for in a way that could survive such a transition. The change here proposed, to transfer these functions to reside under the board’s Chief Operating Officer, while retaining certain approvals to the President, therefore serves continuity as well as efficiency and effectiveness. It is desirable and would assist the overall coordination and efficiency of the work of the CMO, other Synod officers, and the BOD to realign certain responsibilities among the CMO and other Synod officers that relate to budgetary, property, financial, legal matters, and other left-hand kingdom responsibilities. Proposed Action Therefore be it

Resolved, That to assist in the overall coordination and efficiency of the Synod’s mission operations and to assist the overall coordination and efficiency of the work of the CMO, other Synod officers, and the BOD, the bylaws be amended as follows:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Chief Mission Officer

3.4.3 The Chief Mission Officer shall be responsible to the President of the Synod for the mission, ministry, and any programmatic and coordinative functions which are implemented according to the policies adopted by the Board for National Mission and the Board for International Mission.

3.4.3.1 The Chief Mission Officer shall provide staff and other resource(s) to the Board for National Mission and the Board for International Mission.

3.4.3.2 The Chief Mission Officer shall be an officer of the Synod and shall be appointed and subsequently reappointed by the President of the Synod following the President’s consultation with the Board for National Mission and the Board for International Mission and with the mutual concurrence of the Board of Directors and the concurrence of the Board for National Mission and the Board for International Mission acting jointly. The Chief Mission Officer may serve an unlimited number of terms.

3.4.3.3 The Chief Mission Officer shall be a minister of religion —ordained and shall serve a three-year renewable term of office and shall serve at the direction of the President of the Synod.

3.4.3.4 The Chief Mission Officer shall meet regularly with the executive directors of the commissions (if any) and the chief executives of synodwide corporate entities as the liaison for and at the direction of the President of the Synod. In carrying out his responsibilities as described in Bylaw 3.4.3 as an aspect of the programmatic, administrative, and financial functions of the national Synod, the Chief Mission Officer He shall work together shall coordinate closely with the Chief Financial Operating Officer and the Chief Administrative Officer in carrying out the programmatic, administrative, and financial functions of the national Synod and shall meet regularly with the executive directors of the commissions (if any) and the chief executives of synodwide corporate entities as the liaison for and at the direction of the President of the Synod.

3.4.3.5 The Chief Mission Officer shall, at the direction of the President, supervise the work of the Office of National Mission and the Office of International Mission.

3.4.3.6 The Chief Mission Officer shall, on behalf of the President, supervise fundraising activity of the national office according to policies established by the Board of Directors of the Synod.

3.4.3.76 The Chief Mission Officer shall, on behalf of the President, supervise the content of communications, public relations, and news and information provided by the Synod, including the official periodicals of the Synod, The Lutheran Witness and Reporter.

3.4.3.8 The Chief Mission Officer shall, on behalf of the President, provide leadership, coordination, and oversight for pre-seminary education programs, seminary education, and post -seminary continuing education, and by providing advocacy for pastoral education and health within the Synod. He shall serve as the chairman of the Pastoral Formation Committee. … Chief FinancialOperating Officer …

3.4.1.5 The Chief Operating Officer shall, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Synod, supervise fundraising activity of the national office according to policies established by the Board of Directors of the Synod and subject to the supervision of the President of the Synod over the theological content of communications. The selection of the top executive responsible for fundraising of the national office and all employees responsible for theological content of related communications can be made only with the concurrence of the President of the Synod. Selection of other outward facing employees shall occur only after consultation with the President of the Synod.

3.4.1.6 The Chief Operating Officer shall, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Synod, supervise the budgetary, legal, and business aspects of communications, public relations, and news and information provided by the Synod, including the official periodicals of the Synod, The Lutheran Witness and Reporter. The selection of the top executive(s) responsible for communications, public relations, and news and information provided by the Synod and all employees responsible for theological content of such can be made only with the concurrence of the President of the Synod. Selection of other outward facing employees shall occur only after consultation with the President of the Synod.