Official Workbook PDF page source text

3.8.3.1 The Board for International Mission shall have oversight of supervision over the executive director of the Office of International Mission regarding 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 on approve 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 3.8.3.5 In carrying out its mission responsibilities, the Office of International Mission shall receive its primary focus from the mission and ministry emphases developed triennially by the national Synod in convention and from the policies developed and determined by the Board for International Mission. Through the Chief Mission Officer, it shall also receive direction from the President of the Synod on all aspects of its responsibilities.

3.8.3.6 The President’s supervisory responsibilities under

Constitution Art. XI B and Bylaws 3.3.1.1 –3.3.1.3 will assure that

the Office of International Mission incorporates the doctrine, mission, and vision of the Synod in its service to the Synod. All staff shall be responsible and accountable for their activit ies to the President of the Synod ( Constitution Art. XI B 1 –4) between conventions of the Synod and ultimately to the Synod in convention (Constitution Art. XI A 1–2).

… LCMS Board of Directors

Ov. 9-12

To Restructure Mission Boards

WHEREAS, The 2010 Synod convention adopted the recommendation of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance to consolidate the boards and commissions of national Synod, including the Board for Pastoral Education, the Board for University Education, the Board for Black Ministry Services, the Board for Communication Services, the Board for District and Congregational Services, the Board for Human Care Ministries, the Board for Mission Services, the Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support, the Commission on Structure, and the Commission on Worship (2010 Res. 8-08A); and

WHEREAS, The bylaws, functions, and offices related to these boards and commissions were either eliminated, distributed to other existing entities of Synod, or combined into two newly created mission offices —the Office of National Mission (ONM) and the Office of International Mission (OIM); and

WHEREAS, These newly created mission offices function under policies created by their respective boards, the Board for National Mission and the Board for International Mission, neither of which has the authority to issue calls (except as specifically permitted in

Bylaws 3.8.2 and 3.8.3), make personnel decisions, or set budgets,

unlike their predecessor boards and commissions; and

WHEREAS, Operating under this new structure for 16 years has reduced the authority with which these boards may act and therefore represent the Synod, which they are by design intended to do; and

WHEREAS, This lack of representation of the Synod in the mission boards is not only a departure from the long-established pattern of boards, commissions, and committees of the Synod, but has also raised suspicion of and temptation to abuses of power, fiscal malfeasance, and unresponsiveness to the congregations of the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank the mission boards for their labors under these conditions and for their efforts at representing those who elected and appointed them; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention revise bylaws so as to combine the two mission boards into one Board for Mission, setting policy for both the ONM and the OIM; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Mission be comprised of 16 members, including five elected laypersons (one from each region), five elected ordained ministers (one from reach region), two elected commissioned ministers, two faculty representatives from the respective sem inaries, one district president appointed by the Council of Presidents, and the President of the Synod or his representative; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Mission select four of its members to represent it as voting members of the Synod Board of Directors (BOD), thereby bringing the membership of the latter to 20 total members, 19 voting, thereby ensuring greater representation of the Bo ard for Mission on the BOD and exercise of the powers and duties enumerated in Bylaw 3.3.4; and be it finally

Resolved, That the implementation of these bylaws and elections be delayed until the 2029 Synod convention.

Christ, La Mesa, CA; Circuit 9 (Decatur), Indiana District

Ov. 9-13

To Revisit 2010 Restructuring

WHEREAS, The Synod has periodically deemed it necessary to restructure its organization and operations and has done so repeatedly, including 1959, 1979, 1995, and most recently in 2010;

and

WHEREAS, The 2010 Synod convention undertook a substantial restructuring of the Synod which impacted various boards, commissions, and other agencies; and

WHEREAS, That restructuring has since reduced the debt of Synod, streamlined operations, and produced many other benefits;

and

WHEREAS, The restructuring also eliminated or consolidated numerous longstanding boards, commissions, and other agencies, reduced the representation of the Synod’s congregations in 2026 Convention Workbook

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