Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 128
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 128.
This page reproduces text from the 2023 LCMS Handbook for study and navigation. Readers should verify procedural, legal, parliamentary, or governance questions against the official LCMS Handbook and appropriate LCMS authorities.
Department of Archives and History within six months after they leave office. Such transfer shall be done under the auspices of the Department of Archives and History’s staff and in consultation with the successor in the office.
(e) Such minutes, files, records, and reports shall ordinarily be transferred to the archives at the expiration of not more than 15 years after their creation unless such records are still currently being used by the officer or board. If the latter is the case, this shall be reported to the archives.
(f) Temporary committees, task forces, and other entities or agencies serving the Synod shall immediately on their dissolution transfer to the archives all of their files containing the correspondence, records, minutes, and reports relating to their work.
(g) Institutions, organizations, and agencies related to the Synod or to any of its structure or work that are disbanding permanently are urged to transfer their files, correspondence, records, reports, and other historical materials to the archives.
(h) All auxiliary agencies and interchurch councils and structures related to the Synod or in which the Synod holds membership shall file copies of all official documents, including articles of incorporation, constitutions, bylaws, convention proceedings, offi cial publications, minutes, and other materials, with the archives on a regular basis.
3.6.2.2.2 Concordia Historical Institute shall stimulate historical research, publish
its results, and may, at its discretion, serve as the official depository for such other groups as designate the institute as their depository.
3.6.2.2.3 Concordia Historical Institute shall provide guidelines for the
establishment of an archive -historical unit by each district, seminary, college, and university and other agencies of the Synod.
(a) Copies of official documents of the districts such as articles of incorporation, constitutions, bylaws, convention proceedings, and other official publications shall be filed in the archives of the Synod.
Each district shall also establish the office of “Archivist-Historian” and pattern the responsibilities of the office after those of the archives of the Synod and encourage this officer to work in close relationship with the archives of the Synod.
(b) Colleges, universities, and seminaries of the Synod shall establish departments of archives and history for the preservation of their records and shall transfer bylaws, handbooks, minutes, and official publications to the archives of the Synod. The job description of the college or seminary archivist shall be patterned after that of the archivist of the Synod. Such archivist shall also be directed to work in close cooperation with the archives of the Synod.
Concordia Publishing House
3.6.3 The purpose of Concordia Publishing House is to proclaim the Gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ. It shall serve the Synod and its agencies by developing, producing, marketing, and distributing products for use by members of the Synod, other Christians, and the public in general.
