Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 175
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 175.
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.
5. One member, who may be an ordained minister, a commissioned minister, or a layperson, shall be appointed by the Praesidium of the Synod after consultation with the president and chair of the board of regents of the respective institution and the Board of Directors of the Synod.
6. College and university board of regents members may be elected or appointed to serve a maximum of three consecutive three -year terms and must hold membership in a member congregation of the Synod.
7. Not more than two of the elected members shall be members of the same congregation.
3.10.6.2.1 Persons elected or appointed to a board of regents should be
knowledgeable regarding the institution and the region in which the institution is located and shall demonstrate familiarity and support for the doctrinal positions of the Synod and possess two or more of the following qualifications or background experiences : theological acumen, an advanced academic degree, higher education administration, administration of complex organizations, finance, law, investments, technology, human resources, facilities management, fund development , or a specific instructional or operational domain designated by the college or university (e.g., “health care” or “marketing”). Demonstrated familiarity with and willingness to advocate for and financially support the institution are desired qualities in the candidate.
(a) Qualification of all nominees for appointment or election as regents, according to the standard indicated above, shall be reviewed and verified by the Concordia University System, which duty may be delegated to a committee composed of its members or others.
(b) Concordia University System shall also ensure that it is prepared to review and verify qualifications of floor nominees at each district and Synod convention, as well as those of regents appointed by a board or in the case of a vacancy, in a timely manner.
(c) Assessment of qualification for service shall be performed on the basis of information submitted by nominees on a regular instrument maintained by the Secretary of the Synod for this purpose.
(d) The Concordia University System and Synod Board of Directors shall provide for training of all regents concerning their responsibility to advance the Synod’s confession and mission objectives and their responsibilities under the Synod Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions.
The training shall consist of an initial training as described in 3.10.6.2.2 and ongoing training.
(e) Approximately 18 months prior to each convention of the Synod, Concordia University System shall consult with the President and Secretary of the Synod and the chairs of the boards of regents of Synod colleges and universities regarding its application of t he qualification standards, and upon this consultation review and revise its related policies and procedures.
(f) Concordia University System shall after input from the Institution Advisory Council develop and maintain in its public policies a rubric for consistent evaluation of qualification for regent service.
