To Amend Bylaws to Convert Concordia University System, the Synodwide Corporate Entity, into Commission for University Education

Official Workbook overture source text

7-01 
To Amend Bylaws to Convert Concordia 
University System, the Synodwide Corporate 
Entity, into Commission for University Education 
Rationale 
2023 Resolution 7-04B implemented certain changes proposed by 
the committee established by 2019 Res. 7-03 to “review the overall 
governance of the Concordia University System (CUS) and the 
boards of regents of the CUS institutions .” The committee initially 
proposed—since the business functions of CUS would cease in the 
new model, while the ecclesiastical visitation aspect would continue 
and be strengthened—a Synod commission would serve more 
efficiently to connect the Synod with its universities than would the 
present synodwide corporate entity, having as it does all the 
overhead of operating a distinct corporation (2023 Report R61, 
“2019 Res. 7-03 Committee to Propose a New Governance Plan for 
the Colleges and Universities of the Synod,” Workbook , 141–44). 
This new commission was to be named the “Commission for 
University Education” (CUE). 
Reasons for this change include the following: 
• In the new model, as proposed and adopted, CUS no longer 
carries out business or line -of-credit management functions 
on behalf of the universities, resulting in there being no need 
for a separate corporation. 
• Bylaws have made explicit allowance for universities to 
create new entities to provide collaborative and 
consolidative efforts (Bylaws 3.10.6.7 –3.10.6.7.1), for 
which CUS is to assume no “operational or financial 
responsibility” (Bylaw 3.6.6.1 [j]) —elimina ting another 
reason for CUS to exist as a distinct corporation. 
• CUS has no sources of  funding other than the corporate 
Synod subsidy and a small amount of direct giving that could 
be accommodated more efficiently and effectively through 
corporate Synod, and its budget could be managed more 
effectively and with less overhead by eliminating the 
corporate, accounting, and audit overhead. 
• CUS is served by corporate Synod accounting and audit 
functions already, making its operations easily assimilable. 
• Provisions exist for commissions (such as the Commission 
on Theology and Church Relations) to be staffed with 
executive staff to the same extent as CUS had as a synodwide 
corporate entity, but these (today, entirely subsidized by 
corporate Synod anyway) would be fully integrated into 
corporate Synod budgetary processes and human resources 
management. 
• The “Concordia University System” name and brand can be 
retained and used by the Synod for the universities operating 
together in concert with the Synod, even if the corporation 
operating under that name is dissolved. 
By the time the proposal was presented in resolution form (2023 
Res. 7-04, 2023 Today’s Business 1:143–48), however, this aspect 
of the new governance plan was scaled back to “refocus” CUS as 
“ecclesiastical visitor” but not to convert the synodwide corporate 
entity into a commission. One key reason for this change, despite 
the above benefits of the alternative, was that at the time, corporate 
Synod and CUS were involved in very significant litigation related 
to the closure of Concordia University, Portland, litigation that has 
now been resolved. With that matter resolved, the Board of 
Directors proposes the completion of this aspect of the original 
design of the new governance model, to convert CUS into a 
commission, the Commission for University Education,  with 
equivalent function but with lower overhead. The name, concept, 
and brand of “Concordia University System” would be retained and 
used by the Synod as the collective name for the universities 
operating in concert with one another and with the Synod. 
Therefore be it 
Resolved, That Bylaw subsection 3.6.6 be amended, renamed, 
and relocated as follows, to convert the Concordia University 
System (CUS) into the Commission for University Education 
(CUE), with references elsewhere in the Bylaws adjusted 
accordingly: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
Concordia University SystemCommission for University 
Education 
3.69.6 Concordia University System, as a nonprofit corporation 
under the laws of the State of Missouri, is incorporated as provided 
in its Articles of Incorporation and corporate Bylaws to facilitateThe 
Commission for University Education facilitates  ecclesiastical 
visitation and affirmation of the Synod’s colleges and universities 
(Bylaw 3.10.6 and following), collectively known as the “Concordia 
University System,” and to assistassists with their cooperation and 
coordination. It shall seek to assist them with ef fective and 
accountable: 
• preparation of commissioned ministers for service in the Synod 
and of pre-seminary students for study at a Synod seminary; 
• raising up of Lutheran laypersons for lifelong, faithful service to 
Christ and the neighbor; and 
• 
robust, intentional engagement of all students with the faith 
taught and practiced, with application to their vocations in 
family, church, and state. 
3.69.6.1 The Concordia University System Board of Directors 
Commission for University Education shall: 
(a) define, after input from the Institution Advisory Council, and 
adopt the Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcomes Standards 
(“Standards,” Bylaw 3.69.6.4), which shall be the basis of Synod 
visitation of Synod colleges and universities, including each of 
their church worker preparation programs; and maintain policies 
governing, and supervise the performance of, such Synod 
visitation (Bylaws 3.69.6.4 and following), which shall focus on 
support and accountability for maintaining and strengthening 
Lutheran identity. Consistent with the Standards, the Concordia 
University System Commission for University Education shall 
ensure that each institution receives: 
(1) regular ecclesiastical and fraternal counsel and 
encouragement through annual, informal visitation that 
involves free exchange among peers; 
(2) in-depth ecclesiastical formal visitation and reporting 
(including affirmation, commendations, cautions, and 
recommendations for improvement; Bylaw 3. 69.6.4) at least 
once every three years; 
2026 Convention Workbook
417FLOOR COMMITTEES: REPORT AND OVERTURE ASSIGNMENTS