RESOLUTION 7-01
Reports R1, R15, R63 (CW, pp. 1–7, 77–79, 262); Overtures 7-01–02 (CW, pp. 363–364)
WHEREAS, The Synod is blessed with university leadership that seeks to reflect the confession and practice of the church and to share the treasure of the Gospel with a world in need; and
WHEREAS, The presidents of the Concordia University System (CUS) have endorsed an identity statement and its protocols as a means to demonstrate their support for the Christian teaching and Lutheran confession and practice of the church (R15 pp. 77–78):
Lutheran Identity Standards for CUS Institutions
As educational institutions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), the colleges and universities of the CUS confess the faith of the Church. The Concordias uphold the teachings of sacred Scripture and its articulation in the Lutheran Confessions. This includes the biblical teaching that Jesus Christ— true God and true man—is the sole way to God’s mercy and grace; that at the beginning of time the triune God created all things; that life is sacred from conception to natural death; and that marriage between a man and a woman is a sacred gift of God’s creative hand—over against the reductionistic assumptions of many in our culture who view men and women as only transitory and material beings.
As educational institutions of the LCMS, the Concordias are committed to providing an excellent, robust curriculum in the liberal arts and professional studies, which together equip students for various vocations of service to church and society. As C.F.W. Walther wrote;
“As long as and wherever the Christian church flourished, it always and everywhere proved itself to be a friend and cultivator of all good arts and sciences, gave its future servants a scholarly preparatory training, and did not disdain to permit its gifted youth at its schools of higher learning to be trained by the standard products of even pagan art and science.”
Accordingly, the colleges and universities of the CUS affirm and promise to uphold these identity standards:
1. Identity statements—The institution’s mission statement (and/or vision statement) clearly identifies it as a Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) institution, as do the institution’s primary print and electronic publications.
2. Governing Board—All of the institution’s regents are active members in good standing of LCMS congregations (Bylaw 3.10.5.2–4).
3. Senior Leadership—The president and the senior leaders over academic student life, admissions, and athletics are active members in good standing of LCMS congregations and faithfully participate in worship and religious activities on campus and in their local congregations.
4. Faculty—Each tenure track or continuing-level faculty search is given optimal exposure among members of congregations of the LCMS to identify faculty who are qualified in their respective academic disciplines and are members of LCMS congregations. Ideally, all faculty members are active members of LCMS congregations. When academically qualified LCMS members are not available, faculty members will be Christians who affirm, at minimum, the content of the Ecumenical Creeds and are members of Christian congregations. All faculty members promise to perform their duties in harmony with the truths of Holy Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, and the doctrinal statements of the LCMS (cf. Bylaw 3.10.5.6.2).
5. Theology Faculty— All theology faculty (full-time and part-time) are active members in good standing of LCMS congregations and fully affirm the theological confession of the LCMS. As the LCMS Bylaws indicate, all full-time theology faculty receive prior approval from the CUS Board of 1 Directors before being appointed or called (Bylaw 3.6.6.1).
6. Academic Freedom and Responsibility—All full-time faculty acknowledge their acceptance of the CUS statement of Academic Freedom and Responsibilities. All faculty, both full- and part-time, pledge to perform their duties in harmony with Scripture, the Confessions, and the Synod’s doctrinal statements (Bylaw 3.10.5.6.2).
7. Faith and Learning—In accordance with the doctrine of the two kingdoms, all faculty strive to faithfully bring Lutheran theology into interaction with their various academic disciplines while respecting the integrity of those disciplines. Likewise, in other campus arenas, faculty, staff, and administrators will seek to apply Lutheran theology within their campus vocations.
8. Required Theology Courses—The institution requires two to three theology courses for an undergraduate degree, typically in Old Testament, New Testament, and Christian doctrine. Because these courses are directly related to the theological identity of CUS institutions and to the identity formation of graduates, these theology courses will normally be taken at a CUS institution. Exceptions to this will be approved by the institution’s called theological faculty.
9. Preparation of Church Workers—The institution provides resources to recruit, form, nurture, and place students preparing for professional church work in the LCMS (e.g., pre-seminary, pre-deaconess, deaconess, Lutheran teacher, DCE, DCO, DPM). Specific programs may vary by campus.
10. Campus Ministry—The institution offers regular opportunities for worship that reflect the confession of the church. Faculty, staff, and students are strongly encouraged to participate in these services. The institution calls a campus pastor or chaplain, who is a minister of religion—ordained of the LCMS, to oversee the worship life of the community, organize opportunities for Christian service and witness, and provide pastoral care for students.
and
WHEREAS, Such commitment by the presidents is distinctive and, by God’s grace, will recommend their institutions not only to members of the church but also to those that are seeking such a full and transparent commitment to the integration of the finest in university education with the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and
WHEREAS, While some have noted the drift of colleges and universities away from the churches that gave birth to them, the Synod can give thanks for such a clear and forthright expression of solidarity with the church; and
WHEREAS, Pastors, congregations, and parents are urged to support these faithful presidents and send students as well as financial assistance so that their mission as institutions of the Synod might flourish and display the truth that all true knowledge and learning is rightly ordered in relation to God’s revelation in Jesus Christ; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate that the Synod in convention support the faithful witness of the CUS institutions by adopting the Lutheran Identity Standards prepared by the institution presidents; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate that the achievements of the institutions relating to the Lutheran Identity Standards be shared regularly with the CUS and the President of the Synod to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities as assigned by the Bylaws, and with the institution’s own community and the Synod at large for mutual edification and encouragement; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend the institution presidents for their faithful leadership in the preparation and endorsement of the Lutheran Identity Standards set forth above; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention adopt the Lutheran Identity Standards set forth above; and be it finally
Resolved, That as contemplated by the standards, each institution will submit an annual self-evaluation of its institutional commitment to Lutheran identity by submitting a written report to the CUS Board of Directors and the President of Synod describing, with evidence, how the institution meets the ten Lutheran identity standards, on or prior to December 1 of each year, which report shall be submitted by each respective board of regents and shared with the respective campus community. Additionally, the CUS board shall use this information to report to the Synod in convention the achievements of the institutions relating to the Lutheran Identity Standards, and the President of the Synod and the CUS Board shall use this information to assist them in fulfilling 1 their responsibilities under existing Bylaws 3.3.1.1.1 (c), 3.3.1.2 (a), and 3.6.6.5 (i).