HOUSTON – Delegates to the 63rd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod today (July 19) approved a resolution (5-03A) allowing boards of regents of the two LCMS seminaries to appoint up to four additional voting members.
The seminary boards of regents currently include seven members elected by a national LCMS convention, a vice president of the Synod, and a district president from outside the district where the seminary is located.
The resolution is designed to strengthen the seminary boards of regents, enabling them to make more informed decisions by allowing them to appoint members skilled in the areas of finance, law, investments, human resources, facilities, funding, and administration.
An amendment to the resolution that prevents appointed members from voting on the appointment of other members was endorsed by delegates by a vote of 471 to 467, or by 50.2 percent. The addition was intended to give more control over membership to those who were elected.
Speaking in favor of the resolution, Dr. Dale Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, said the resolution would increase the seminaries’ accountability to the church.
Dr. Dean O. Wenthe, president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., said appointing knowledgeable members would strengthen the boards. With them, he said, “We can do more for you than we could do without them.”
The theme of the July 14-19 convention here is “One Mission – Christ! His Love is Here for You!”
