Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 158
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 158.
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.
The Executive Director of the Office of Pastoral Education
3.10.4.7 The Pastoral Formation Committee shall meet at least once per year, and
shall report on its work at the annual joint meeting of the two seminary boards of regents. Additional meetings shall be determined by the chairman in consultation with the committee members.
E. Seminary Boards of Regents
3.10.5 Each seminary of the Synod, with its president and faculty, shall be
governed by a board of regents, subject to general policies set by the Synod.
3.10.5.1 The board of regents of each theological seminary shall consider as one of
its primary duties the defining and fulfilling of the mission of the seminary within the broad assignment of the Synod.
3.10.5.2 The board of regents of each theological seminary shall consist of no more
than thirteen members, all voting:
1. Three ordained ministers, one commissioned minister, and three laypersons shall be elected by the convention of the Synod. Not more than two of the elected members shall be members of the same congregation.
2. A vice-president of the Synod shall be designated by the President of
the Synod.
3. A district president other than the geographical district president
shall be appointed by the Council of Presidents.
4. Four members may be appointed as members by the board of regents. In order to achieve continuity, a plan of staggered terms for the appointed board members will be adopted by each board of regents.
Elected and appointed seminary boards of regents members may serve a maximum of two consecutive six- year terms and must hold membership in a member congregation of the Synod.
Appointed members may not vote on the appointment of other members of the board.
3.10.5.3 Once annually, the two seminary boards of regents shall meet jointly on a
seminary campus. Some of the meeting sessions shall be conducted jointly.
3.10.5.4 Vacancies that occur on a seminary board of regents shall be filled in the
following manner:
(a) If the vacancy occurs in a position that was previously filled by the board of regents, the board of regents shall be the appointing body.
(b) If the vacancy occurs in a position that had been filled by a national convention of the Synod, the Board of Directors of the Synod shall be the appointing body and shall follow the nomination procedure provided for filling vacancies in elected positions on boards and commissions of the Synod as outlined in Bylaw 3.2.5.
3.10.5.5 The board of regents of each theological seminary shall become familiar
with and develop an understanding of pertinent policies, standards, and guidelines of the Synod.
(a) It shall develop details of policies and procedures for governance of the seminary.
