Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 490

Board shall determine when the Secretary is unable to serve in that 
capacity because of prolonged illness or disability, with the Board 
designating an acting secretary until the Board determines that such 
illness or disability has been removed,” seems to be “without bylaw 
warrant.” The BOD Governance Committee (BOD Minutes, Nov. 
22–23, 2024, #141) referred this matter to the COH, asking that the 
apparent bylaw lacuna be filled. The COH found this situation to be 
analogous to the provision provided for the P resident in Bylaw 
3.3.1.4, the only complication being that there is no “Vice -
Secretary” permanently in place to step in: 
3.3 Elected Officers of the Synod 
President 
...  
Inability to Serve 
3.3.1.4 When the President is unable to serve, the duties and 
responsibilities of the Office of President shall be assumed by 
the First Vice-President. 
(a) The Board of Directors of the Synod shall determine 
when the President is unable to serve in that capacity 
because of prolonged illness or disability. 
(b) The First Vice -President shall remain as the acting 
president until that board determines that such illness or 
disability has been removed. 
The COH has proposed the following amendment to provide the 
BOD a bylaw basis, based on the above, for the procedure expressed 
in its policy manual. 
Therefore be it 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.3.3.3 be inserted (with renumbering of 
the following bylaw) as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
Secretary 
... 
Inability to Serve 
3.3.3.3 When the Secretary is unable to serve, the duties and 
responsibilities of the Office of Secretary shall be assumed by an 
acting secretary appointed by the Board of Directors. 
(a) The Board of Directors of the Synod shall determine when 
the Secretary is unable to serve in that capacity because of 
prolonged illness or disability. 
(b) The acting secretary shall function as such until that board 
determines that such illness or disability has been removed. 
3.3.3.34 In the event of the death, resignation, or permanent 
incapacity of the Secretary, the Board of Directors of the Synod shall 
appoint a successor for the unexpired term. 
B. TO CLARIFY BYLAW 3.10.6.1 BY REORGANIZATION 
OF PROVISIONS 
Rationale 
The Synod’s 2023 convention adopted a number of revisions to 
Bylaws that affect the Synod’s colleges and universities, notably 
Res. 7-04B. Section D of that resolution (2023 Proceedings, 182–
83) revised Bylaws on the duties of Boards of Regents. In the 
present overture, the COH offers a reorganization of this list of 
duties, principally in response to observations from the required 
regent training (Bylaw 3.10.6.2.2) indicating that this would make 
the bylaw’s requirements more readily understood. In doing so, the 
commission solicited and received feedback from Concordia 
University presidents and the Concordia University System. No 
substantive change has been made, only a logical re-ordering of the 
items based in part on comments received from one of the university 
presidents. 
Therefore be it 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.10.6.1 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
3.10.6.1 In fulfilling its commonly understood fiduciary duties 
owed to the institution, and its governance responsibilities, the board 
of regents shall: 
(a) serve as the governing body corporate of the institution, 
vested with all powers its members may exercise either as 
directors, trustees, or members of the body corporate; 
(db) as a whole and as individual members, as stewards of the 
institution on behalf of the congregations of the Synod, embrace 
and advance with administration, faculty, staff, and students the 
institution’s fundamental purpose as inculcating the faith, as 
taught in the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions (Constitution 
Article II), preparing students to live in this faith toward God and 
by this faith, in their various vocations, in love toward the 
neighbor; 
(cc) govern the institution with consistent attention to specific 
ways that the institution is confessing Jesus Christ in full accord 
with the doctrinal position of the LCMS (Constitution Art. II) and 
fulfilling His mission in our world as proper to a college or 
university of the Synod under its objectives (Constitution Art. 
III), intentionally seeking continual growth as a board in such 
governance, including that the board shall:; 
(e1) ensure that all faculty receive appropriate formal, 
ongoing training in the doctrines of Holy Scripture as rightly 
taught in the Lutheran Confessions as they relate to their 
academic disciplines, to enable faculty to engage in 
responsible exercise of their  academic freedom within the 
confession of the institution and the Synod (Constitution Art. 
II); 
(f2) actively encourage and expect curricula and policies for 
student life and behavior consistent with the doctrine and 
practice of the Synod, and commit the institution to the 
principles of Christian discipline, an evangelical manner, and 
good order; 
(bd) 
govern the institution at all times according to the 
commitment of the institution, in its mission and otherwise, to 
carry out its affairs as part of the Concordia University System 
and in accordance with the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions 
of the Synod, including that the board shall:; 
(j1) ensure that its institution and constituent parts strive to 
excel in the Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcomes 
Standards, and to cooperate fully with processes for 
ecclesiastical visitation by the Concordia University System 
and for appointment of the institution’s president; 
(k2) ensure that its institution and constituent parts support 
the proper authorities of the Synod in their roles of 
ecclesiastical supervision of called workers, placement of 
graduates, and doctrinal review status appeals, and submit to 
the Synod’s expectation
s for handling of faculty complaints 
and dispute resolution, insofar as they apply; 
(m3) govern transparently, including, without limitation, 
providing to Concordia University System in a timely manner 
minutes of board meetings and board and institution policies 
adopted or modified, and to both Concordia University System 
and the Synod Board of Directors proposed revisions of 
institutional governing documents and policies prior to their 
adoption, and responsively, understanding inquiries and 
suggestions offered by Concordia University System and the 
Synod Board of Directors to be offered on behalf of the 
2026 Convention Workbook
455STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION