CUS meets, visits Concordia University Chicago

A statue of Martin Luther overlooks foliage on the campus of Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

The Concordia University System (CUS) conducted an informal visit to the campus of Concordia University Chicago (CUC), River Forest, Ill., Sept. 16–17. This was the first informal visit to CUC since the passage of Res. 7-04B by the 2023 Synod convention. The CUS found CUC to be a vibrant campus with a strong Lutheran identity that, under the leadership of CUC President Dr. Russell P. Dawn, is firmly committed to the doctrine and practice of the LCMS.

During the visit, CUC faculty, staff and students alike described the university’s commitment to excellence and Lutheran identity in all aspects of campus life. The visitation team attended worship in CUC’s Chapel of Our Lord, where the rhythm of liturgical worship keeps the campus focused on its Lutheran identity.

Following the visit, the CUS Board of Directors met on the CUC campus, its first meeting since the installation of the Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy as CUS president. Hardy reported that the visit to CUC marked the completion of his initial visits to all of the CUS campuses. He reported positively on each of these visits and the work transpiring on each campus.

The CUS board welcomed the Rev. Dr. Douglas Spittel as the new CUS vice-president. The CUS board also welcomed the Rev. Brady Finnern, president of the LCMS Minnesota North District, as the new LCMS Council of Presidents designee to the CUS board. Finnern replaces Hardy, who served in this capacity prior to his election as CUS president.

The CUS board spent time reviewing the CUS regents training event held in June at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis. The training will be a regular event in cooperation with the LCMS Board of Directors. The training received positive responses from participants. The goal is to build upon this positive response and build a more robust process moving forward. The CUS board also discussed the process for vetting regent nominees.

The CUS board appointed a subcommittee to address matters of campus worship. The subcommittee, comprising CUS board members and campus representatives, will begin to draft a series of Theses for Campus Worship over the next several months. These theses will aid in the planning of campus worship as well as in evaluation of this aspect of campus life as it relates to the Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards (LIMOS).

The board continued its review of the LIMOS Evaluation Tool, which has now been used in three campus visits. Several revisions to the tool were discussed and adopted. Further revisions may be made prior to final adoption after the initial round of informal visits has been completed. This will provide a finalized tool for use prior to the initial formal visits, which begin in early 2025. A protocol for these formal visits is now being developed by the board.

The board issued a statement regarding Concordia University Texas, Austin, Texas. (The statement was published on Sept. 20.)

Res. 7-04B requires that the CUS publish Uniform Curricular Standards for Commissioned Ministry Programs by September 2024. A committee of CUS staff, board members and campus representatives met numerous times during the past year to develop these standards. The CUS board unanimously adopted the standards the committee developed.

The board concluded its meeting with a Service of Installation for the Rev. Dr. Paul Philp as executive director of the Concordia University Education Network (CUEnet). Philp began his service to CUEnet on Sept. 1. He continues to serve the CUS in a limited capacity as assistant to the president. The board also recognized his 10 years of service to CUS during the meeting.

The CUS reviewed plans for informal visitations to Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb., on Oct. 14–15, and to Concordia University St. Paul (CSP), St. Paul, Minn., on Nov. 4–5. These two visits will complete the first round of informal visitations to each of the campuses. A report on the board’s November meeting, held at CSP Nov. 6–7, will be shared when it is available.

For more information about the CUS, visit lcms.org/cus or send an email to cus@lcms.org.

Posted Nov. 27, 2024