Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 167
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 167.
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.
3.10.5.7.6 The board of regents may decline to renew the appointment of a faculty
member during an initial -level appointment period without a formal statement of cause.
3.10.5.7.6.1 No member of the faculty on a continuing -level appointment or on an
initial-level appointment except at the expiration of the term of appointment shall be removed from the faculty either by ecclesiastical authority or by the board of regents except for cause.
3.10.5.7.7 Positions of initial -level appointment as well as continuing -level
appointment faculty may be terminated by the board of regents under certain institutional conditions that do not reflect on the competency or faithfulness of the individual faculty member whose position is terminated. These conditions are the following: (1) Discontinuance of an entire program; (2) discontinuance of an entire division or department of a seminary; (3) reduction of the size of staff in order to maintain financial viability in compliance with policies concerning fiscal viability; and (4) discontinuance, merger, or consolidation of an entire seminary operation.
(a) In the event of termination of a faculty position by the board of regents, a minimum of six months advance notice to initial -level appointment faculty and 12 months advance notice to continuing-level appointment faculty must be provided the terminated faculty member in writing.
(b) The opportunity to serve the seminary in another capacity for which the terminated faculty member has credentials and qualifications shall be offered the terminated faculty member if such a vacancy exists at the time of termination or becomes available wit hin two academic years.
(c) In identifying which specific faculty positions are to be discontinued or terminated, the board of regents shall follow the guidelines and procedures of that seminary’s reduction in force policy.
(d) A terminated position may not be filled subsequently by another person during the next two academic years without first offering the last previous incumbent who held the position with continuing -level appointment status the position at his or her last prev ious salary plus average annual salary increases provided to that faculty during the interim.
3.10.5.7.8 A faculty member who is on a roster of the Synod is under the ecclesiastical
supervision of the Synod. In the event a member is removed from membership in the Synod pursuant to procedure established in these bylaws, then that member is also considered removed from the position held and shall be terminated forthwith by the board of regents.
3.10.5.7.9 The board of regents shall have authority to investigate, hear, and act on
any complaint regarding the conduct of office of seminary faculty and administration, including those arising out of Bylaw 3.10.5.7.5.
(a) If the board of regents receives a complaint against a member of that seminary ’s faculty or administration concerning any matter, including those specified under Bylaw 3.10.5.7.5, except in a matter of sexual misconduct or criminal behavior, it shall direct the complainant first to meet face-to-face with the respondent in an attempt to resolve the issue (in the manner described in Matthew 18:15).
