To Clarify Oversight and Revitalize Role of Registered Service Organizations

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1. 11To Clarify Oversight and Revitalize Role of Registered Service Organizations
2. 12RESOLUTION 4-04A
3. 13Report R1 (CW, 1–5); Overtures 4-32–35 (CW, 319–22); President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, 1:28); Late Overture L4-57
4. 14(TB, 1:46–48)
5. 15WHEREAS, The 2016 Synod convention created a task force to review the current structure and recommend the best
6. 16model for the Synod’s relationship to recognized service organizations (RSOs) (Res. 4- 03B, “To Convene Task Force
7. 17to Review Recognized Service Organization Program and Bylaws,” Proceedings, 146–47); and
8. 18WHEREAS, The 2019 Synod convention adopted the recommendation of the task force in Resolution 4- 06A, “To
9. 19Amend Bylaw Section 6.2 to Revitalize Synod’s Recognized Service Organization Program” (Proc., 137–42), and began
10. 20implementing the vast new recommendations; and
11. 21WHEREAS, 2019 Resolution 4-06A (ibid.) granted RSOs numerous privileges, under the ecclesiastical oversight of
12. 22district presidents who report any concerns to Synod’s mission offices (Office of International Mission or Office of
13. 23National Mission) (Bylaw 6.2.1 [b–c]); and
14. 24WHEREAS, The Synod Board of Directors (BOD), Board for International Mission, and Board for National Mission
15. 25were charged with creating policy for RSO oversight, and implementation delegated to staff; and
16. 26WHEREAS, “Over the past five years, 115 organizations have been granted RSO status; in the same period, 77 have
17. 27been terminated, denied or withdrawn. Of those 77, 49 organizations did not represent LCMS doctrine and practice
18. 28adequately and RSO status was ended.” (President’s Report, Part 2, Today’s Business, 1:28); and
19. 29WHEREAS, Some mercy service organizations (Bylaw 6.2.2 [c]) have been influenced by law or controlling
20. 30regulation, on occasion, to facilitate actions contrary to the Word of God; and
21. 31WHEREAS, Other organizations intentionally promote and facilitate actions contrary to the Word of God; and
22. 32WHEREAS, The role of and faithful work of RSOs are to be commended, celebrated, and encouraged; therefore be
23. 33it
24. 34Resolved, That the Synod remain patient as the RSO Office and Synod continue implementing all the revisions from
25. 35the 2016 task force and 2019 resolution that resulted in the current Bylaw section 6.2, “Recognized Service
26. 36Organizations” in collaboration with the appropriate district president; and be it further
27. 37Resolved, That the RSO Office keep the BOD apprised of legal and regulatory constraints which may burden an
28. 38RSO’s religious exercise, and the BOD be encouraged to monitor this area for potential to stand with our organizations
29. 39in the unfettered “extension of the divine mercy without compromising the church’s scriptural and confessional
30. 40standards” (Bylaw 6.2.2 [c]), to which they may be entitled under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United
31. 41States or other laws protecting religious liberty, and thus with those RSOs striving to remain faithful ; and be it further
32. 42Resolved, That the RSO Office withdraw RSO status from organizations that intentionally promote actions contrary
33. 43to the Word of God, including but not limited to unnatural or unbiblical family structures ; and be it finally
34. 44Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks for the work of our many faithful RSOs.