Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 210
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 210.
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.
(d) Eligibility to be an “employer” under the Concordia Plans of the Synod unless the policies of such a plan preclude such organization as an eligible employer.
(e) Recognition of the auxiliary in the Handbook of the Synod and listing of the organization in The Lutheran Annual as an auxiliary of the Synod, provided that such listing shall be prefaced by a statement that recognition is not a guarantee on the part of the Synod for the fiscal solvency of the auxiliary, or any financial responsibility for such organization or for services expressly or impliedly offered.
(f) The opportunity to report to conventions of the Synod.
(g) The opportunity to raise funds within the Synod to support the auxiliary’s programs.
6.2 Recognized Service Organizations
6.2.1 The granting of recognized service organization status by the Synod
signifies that a service organization, while independent of the Synod, fosters the mission and ministry of the church, engages in program activity that extends the mission and ministry of the Synod, is in harmony with the programs of the Synod, and respects and does not act contrary to the doctrine and practice of the Synod.
(a) Under the governance and policies of its own board, a recognized service organization operates with freedom and self -determination, structurally independent of the Synod and its agencies, in the establishment and evaluation of its own objectives, activities, and programs, in organization and administration, and in financial matters.
(b) A recognized service organization respects the rights and obligations of Synod’s members, individual and congregational.
Respecting proper evangelical supervision, counsel, and care of church workers and congregations, a recognized service organization acc epts and agrees to facilitate the respective district president’s ecclesiastical supervision of its rostered workers and his role in the recognized service organization’s call process. A recognized service organization recognizes a congregation’s right and duty to regularly call its own pastor and agrees not to extend pastoral ministry to a congregation without the specific consent of the congregation and the congregation’s district president.
(c) A recognized service organization respects the authority of Synod’s districts. A recognized service organization working within a geographical district, or with a congregation of a non-geographical district, accepts and agrees to facilitate the ecclesiastical oversight of the respective district’s president over the organization’s activities within his district. The overseeing district president shall report unresolved doctrinal and practical concerns to the Synod mission office granting status.
(d) A recognized service organization shall call and, in any sense involving distinctive function(s) of the pastoral office, be served by only those ordained ministers or candidates designated by Bylaw 2.5.2.
