Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 2B. pp. 295-296. Revised published proposal.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 9-16A
Canonical number: 9-16
Committee: Structure and Administration
Source: Today's Business, Issue 2B
Printed pages: pp. 295-296
PDF pages: 43-44
Version: revised, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 2B, pp. 295-296
Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 2B, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.
Page 295
- To Amend Bylaws to Enhance Responsibilities of Synod Mission Boards
- and To Direct Board of Directors, Board for National Mission,
- Board for International Mission, and Chief Mission Officer to Review Overture 9-11
- RESOLUTION 9-16A
- Overture 9-11 (CW, 471–73)
- 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 Bylaws 3.8.2.1, 3.8.2.4, 3.8.3.1 and 3.8.3.4 be amended as follows:
- PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
- Board for National Mission
- …
- 3.8.2.1 The Board for National Mission shall have oversight of supervision of the implementation of policies
- adopted by the board and implemented by the Office of National Mission for the coordination of and in
- support of district ministries which support congregations and schools. The board shall annually review
- and endorseapprove the Office of National Mission strategic plan and review and provide input onapprove
- the Office of National Mission initial annual budget proposal prior to its submission for approval by the
- Board of Directors. The board shall be under the ecclesiastical supervision of the President of the Synod
- regarding doctrine and administration consistent with the President’s responsibility under Constitution Art.
- XI B 1–4 (also Constitution Art. XI B 7; Bylaws 3.3.1.1– 3.3.1.3) between conventions of the Synod and
- ultimately shall be responsible to the Synod in convention (Constitution Art. XI A 1–2).
- …
- Office of National Mission
- 3.8.2.4 The Office of National Mission implements the policies of the Board for National Mission under the
- supervision of the Chief Mission Officer and the Board for National Mission and shall be responsible for
- domestic ministries that especially serve congregations and schools through the districts of the Synod.
- Such district ministries may include but not be limited to:
- • Lutheran school ministries and accreditation
- • human care and domestic mercy efforts
- • stewardship
- • evangelism
- • church planting and revitalization
- • youth ministry
- …
Page 296
- Board for International Mission
- …
- 3.8.3.1 The Board for International Mission shall have oversightsupervision of the implementation of policies
- adopted by the board and implemented by the Office of International Mission for the coordination of and
- in support of ministries of the Synod in foreign countries. The board shall annually review and
- endorseapprove the Office of International Mission strategic plan and review and provide input onapprove
- the Office of International Mission initial annual budget proposal prior to its submission for approval by
- the Board of Directors. The board shall be under the ecclesiastical supervision of the President of the Synod
- regarding doctrine and administration consistent with the President’s responsibility under Constitution Art.
- XI B 1 –4 (Constitution Art. XI B 7; Bylaws 3.3.1.1 –3.3.1.3) between conventions of the Synod and
- ultimately shall be responsible to the Synod in convention (Constitution Art. XI A 1–2).
- …
- Office of International Mission
- 3.8.3.4 The Office of International Mission implements the policies of the Board for International Mission under
- the supervision of the Board for International Mission and the Chief Mission Officer and shall be
- responsible for the work of the Synod in foreign countries. Such responsibilities may include but not be
- limited to:
- • placement and support of foreign missionaries
- • establishment and maintenance of international schools
- • coordination of international relief efforts
- • policy recommendations to the Board for International Mission
- • support and encouragement of international partner churches in conjunction with the office of the
- President
- …
- and be it further
- Resolved, That the Board of Directors, BNM, BIM, and the CMO together review the remaining proposed bylaw
- changes contained in Overture 9-11 and, if necessary, recommend structural changes to the Synod convention; and be it
- finally
- Resolved, That they bring these recommendations to the 2029 Synod convention.
