To Amend Bylaw 6.2.2 (a) to Revise Recognized Service Organization Requirement of 100 Percent Synod Board Membership

Official Workbook overture source text

4-32 
To Amend Bylaw 6.2.2 (a) to Revise  
Recognized Service Organization Requirement  
of 100 Percent Synod Board Membership 
WHEREAS, The 2016 Synod convention created a task force to 
review the current structure and recommend the best model for the 
Synod’s relationship to recognized service organizations (RSOs) 
(2016 Res. 4-03B, “To Convene Task Force to Review Recognized 
Service Organization Program and Bylaws,” Proceedings, 146–47); 
and 
W
HEREAS, The task force was charged with, among other things, 
“[ensuring] that all recommendations maintain the important 
relationships with the agencies that are recognized by the LCMS” 
(2016 Res. 4-03B, Proc., 146); and 
WHEREAS, The 2019 Synod convention adopted the 
recommendation of the task force in Resolution 4-06A, “To Amend 
Bylaw Section 6.2 to Revitalize Synod’s Recognized Service 
Organization Program” (2019 Proc., 137–42); and 
W
HEREAS, This resolution thoroughly revised and redefined the 
structure and expectations of RSOs; and 
WHEREAS, An unintended consequence of adopting such a large 
and sweeping change in a single resolution was that some long -
standing RSOs subsequently found themselves no longer qualified; 
and 
W
HEREAS, The language of Bylaw 6.2.2 (a), adopted in 2019 
Res. 4 -06A, states that any witness service organization (a new 
category) must now have 100 percent of its board of directors 
holding membership in a congregation of the Synod or its partner 
churches; and 
W
HEREAS, An organization involved in mission or service in 
areas without Synod representation, or that desires to expand into 
regions without Synod congregations, would find it invaluable to 
recruit board members who better understand the mission context; 
and 
W
HEREAS, This requirement has forced RSOs to choose between 
proudly partnering and affiliating with the Synod or pursuing the 
mission goals for which they exist; therefore be it 
Resolved, That Bylaw 6.2.2 (a) be amended as follows, so that a 
witness service organization may have board membership of at least 
two-thirds members from congregations of the Synod or its partner 
churches;  
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
6.2.2 Policies shall distinguish the three classes of recognized 
service organization, with criteria, procedures, and benefits 
appropriate to each, further distinctions being drawn within the 
categories as needed: 
(a) A witness service organization , under the Scriptures and 
Lutheran Confessions, engages in Word or Word-and-Sacrament 
ministry (including chaplaincy), religious media/programming, 
mission society activity, support of specific missions, mission -
and-ministry training, church worker professional development, 
church worker care, or other work directly related to the church’s 
proclamation. A witness service organization is governed solely 
by Synod (or partner church) congregations or a board 
comprising solely members, at least two -thirds of whom are 
members of member congregations of the Synod (or its partner 
churches). 
(b) An educational service organization … 
(c) A mercy service organization … 
and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend the work of 
the many and various service organizations and their support of the 
Gospel proclamation; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention express the earnest 
desire that longtime and faithful RSOs not be needlessly severed 
from affiliation with the Synod. 
Michigan District 
Ov.