To Amend Bylaws to Enhance Responsibilities of Synod Mission Boards

Official Workbook overture source text

9-11 
To Amend Bylaws to Enhance Responsibilities  
of Synod Mission Boards 
WHEREAS, The 2010 Synod convention made substantial 
changes to the structure and organization of the national Synod 
office that impacted significantly the mission operations of the 
Synod. These changes included creating the Chief Mission Officer 
(CMO) position and creating the Board for National Mission 
(BNM) and the Board for International Mission (BIM). The bylaws 
governing the BNM and BIM have been in effect for 15 years, 
allowing time to assess their overall efficiency and effectiveness; 
and 
WHEREAS, The CMO is ultimately responsible to the President 
of the Synod, but also is subject to the actions of the BNM and BIM; 
and 
WHEREAS, Current bylaws provide that the BNM and BIM have 
responsibility for developing and determining policies impacting 
the Synod’s national and international mission operations but have 
limited influence on the selection of the CMO, limited ability to 
influence the budget, and limited ability to ensure proper 
implementation of the policies they develop; and 
WHEREAS, It is desirable and would assist in the overall 
coordination and efficiency of the Synod’s mission operations to 
better align the responsibility of the BNM and BIM with the 
authority given to the BNM and BIM, and enhance the ability of the 
BNM and BIM to better advance the Synod’s operations both within 
the United States and worldwide; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the provision of Bylaw 3.3.1.3 (e) be relocated 
and elaborated as Bylaw 3.8.1.1 and t hat Bylaws 3.8.2.1, 3.8.2.4, 
3.8.3.1 and 3.8.2.4 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
3.3 Elected Officers of the Synod 
President 
… 
Powers and Duties – Ecclesiastical and Administrative 
3.3.1.3 The President shall have responsibilities and duties that are 
both ecclesiastical and administrative. 
… 
(e) Prior to his appointment of an executive director of a mission 
office, he shall engage in consultation with the appropriate 
2026 Convention Workbook
471STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION