Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 164
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 164.
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.
(b) Part-time or temporary faculty members shall hold nonvoting membership on the faculty.
3.10.5.7.1 At each theological seminary the president shall propose creation,
modification, or abolition of administrative positions to the board of regents for its approval.
(a) The board of regents at each school shall maintain clear policies for filling and vacating administrative positions.
(b) Administrative appointments shall be made by the board of regents on recommendation by the president of the seminary.
(c) Each board of regents shall maintain a clear plan of succession of administration to assure that the seminary continues to function effectively in the case of incapacity or lengthy absence of the president.
3.10.5.7.2 Each theological seminary shall have established policies and procedures
related to appointments. There shall be two levels of faculty appointments:
(1) Initial level, where the appointment can be terminated with no formal requirement for a show of ca use; (2) continuing level, where termination requires a formal show of cause.
(a) Seminaries are free to decide for themselves what names to apply to these two levels of appointment.
(b) Each seminary normally shall have at least thirty-five percent of its full-time faculty serving at the continuing appointment level.
(c) Each seminary shall require specific action by the board of regents for promotion from an initial -level appointment to a continuing -level appointment.
(d) Standards or qualifications for moving a faculty member from initial-level appointment to continuing-level appointment shall be the following:
(1) The faculty member shall ordinarily have completed four to six years of creditable service (periods of leave are not included) as a member of the faculty of one or more educational institutions of the Synod, at least the last two years of which shall have been in the seminary currently served.
(2) The faculty members shall, as determined by their academic discipline, regularly continue to demonstrate scholarly achievement that may be institutionally funded as determined by the board of regents.
(3) The faculty member ’s reputation, character, concern for students, and ability to honor leaders shall present a good reflection on the seminary and the church.
(4) The faculty member’s aptness to teach has been demonstrated by effective communication in the classroom.
(e) Steps in moving a faculty member from an initial -level appointment to a continuing-level appointment shall be the following:
(1) If the board of regents, on recommendation of the president of the seminary, determines that a faculty member meets the above requirements and is still at the initial -level appointment, it shall either carry forward the procedure for promotion to a continu inglevel appointment or inform the faculty member of its decision not
