To Amend Bylaw Section 3.7 to Clarify Additional Assigned Responsibilities and Provisions on the Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans / Board of Directors—Concordia Plan Services

Official Workbook overture source text

8-01 
To Amend Bylaw Section 3.7 to Clarify Additional 
Assigned Responsibilities and Provisions on the 
Board of Trustees—Concordia Plans /  
Board of Directors—Concordia Plan Services  
Rationale 
Bylaw 3.7 currently describes the responsibilities of Concordia Plan 
Services (CPS) and those it serves in terms that no  longer fully 
reflect its present scope of responsibilities and service. For example, 
this year the Board of Directors (BOD) of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod approved the formation of a captive insurance 
company by C PS, to serve ministries of the Synod, but that is not 
reflected in Bylaw 3.7. 
The Commission on Constitutional Matters found, in Opinion 24-
3043 (minutes of Feb. 3, 2025), that the formation and operation of 
a captive insurance company was not within the predefined Bylaw 
scope of any existing agency or entity, but that it could be  assigned 
to CPS by the Synod BOD. Opinion 24-3043 suggested that “if the 
[Synod] Board [of Directors] determines to undertake this activity 
and to assign it to CPS or a subagency thereof, it would be best for 
the Synod Bylaw description of the work of CPS to be amended by 
the next convention to include this new activity, even if already 
entered into.” The proposed amendments are intended to 
accomplish what was suggested by Opinion 24-3043 by expanding 
the permissible scope of additional responsibilities of CPS  to 
include those that have been or may be assigned to it by the BOD 
of the Synod. The scope includes CPS’ oversight of both Concordia 
Risk Solutions, a captive insurance company established to serve 
ministries affiliated with the Synod, and the CPS Ancillary Program 
Agency, which was approved by the Synod BOD in 2015, and 
which offers Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage 
products, among other voluntary insurance products. 
The amendments also are intended to clarify and expand the scope 
of those who may be served by CPS within the Synod. The current 
Bylaw refers to “member organizations,” and CPS’ only member is 
Corporate Synod. While CPS  remains dedicated to serving 
Corporate Synod, it has served and wants to continue to serve other 
entities and individuals in the Synod. 
Finally, the proposed amendments would update board composition 
and qualification requirements to reflect the expertise necessary for 
overseeing benefit, investment, and captive insurance company 
operations, and to otherwise align with the operations and 
requirements of the Board of Trustees —Concordia Plans/Board of 
Directors— Concordia Plan Services. 
Therefore be it 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.7 be amended to clarify additional 
assigned responsibilities for CPS, to clarify and expand the 
ministries and individuals in the Synod who may be served by CPS, 
and to update provisions on the Board of Trustees —Concordia 
Plans/Board of Directors—Concordia Plan Services in accordance 
with assigned responsibilities; and be it further 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.7.1 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
The Concordia Plans 
… 
3.7.1.2 Concordia Plan Services is also responsible has been and 
may be assigned additional responsibility for managing other 
ancillary programs, including but not limited to various  
supplemental insurance , risk management, human resources, 
employer and employee support, compliance,  and administration 
services programs and the Support Program. 
(a) Assignment of additional responsibility shall be by the Synod 
in convention or the Board of Directors of the Synod, and at the 
request of Concordia Plan Services. 
(b)  Concordia Plan Services may, subject to the provisions of 
Bylaw section 1.5, form subsidiary entities to carry out such 
additional responsibilities. These include: 
• The CPS Ancillary Program Agency, which provides, 
manages, and arranges for products and services that are 
ancillary to the products and services provided for or 
managed by Concordia Plan Services. 
• Concordia Risk Solutions, which serves as a captive 
insurance company to insure and/or reinsure risks of member 
congregations and their schools, Corporate Synod, and 
agencies, auxiliaries and recognized service organizations of 
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.  
(c) Ancillary services may be offered to organizations affiliated 
with The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod and their 
employees, and/or to members of member congregations of the 
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.  
(d) The ancillary programs are not trusts and will be under the 
supervision of the Board of Directors—Concordia Plan Services.  
(ae) The Support Program of the Synod is not a trust but rather a 
program of financial assistance to those eligible ordained  and 
commissioned ministers and their eligible dependents who are in 
financial need. This aid is in the form of a gift from the budgeted 
funds of the Synod. Eligibility standards shall be determined by 
the Board of Directors—Concordia Plan Services.  
(b) There exists and may be added in the future various ancillary 
supplemental insurance and administration services that will be 
made available to member organizations and their employees. 
These programs are not trusts and will be under the supervision 
of the Board of Directors—Concordia Plan Services.  
3.7.1.3 The Board of Trustees of Concordia Plans and the Board 
of Directors of Concordia Plan Services shall consist of 1618 
members. The 1517 voting members shall be appointed by the Board 
of Directors of the Synod. All newly appointed members shall begin 
service on the September 1 following appointment, except with an 
appointment to fill a vacancy, when service shall begin on the first 
day of the month in which the next regular meeting of members 
occurs after appointment. The representative designated by the 
Board of Directors of the Synod shall be the nonvoting member. 
Voting members shall be appointed to three-year terms, which shall 
not exceed four terms in a successive period. The 1517  voting 
members shall include: 
1. Two ministers of religion—ordained 
2. One minister of religion— commissioned 
3. TwelveFourteen laypersons, at least five of whom shall be 
experienced in the design of employee benefit plans, at least five 
of whom shall be experienced in the management of large benefit 
plan or institutional investments, at least two of whom shall be 
experienced in property and casualty insurance, and at least 
2026 Convention Workbook
437FLOOR COMMITTEES: REPORT AND OVERTURE ASSIGNMENTS