I don't understand? Concordia Portland asked to be independent?

[pr dtp]

http://www.cu-portland.edu/news/message-concordia-university-portland%E2%80%99s-board-regents   

[Charles Austin]

Our Doc Yak teaches there. Ask him.

[Dave Benke]

Interesting!  The request to consider independent status comes from the LCMS national board of directors.   My recollection is that this request has been made in the past by the board of regents of Concordia Portland, and was not granted.  So why the 180?

Several items in that consideration, I would think, include:
a) board structure and selection of board members - no more members chosen by the national LCMS convention
b) presidential selection - no more "prior approval panel" and mandatory participation by the national LCMS leadership
c) property - the property would be owned by the local college without (I guess) a "reversionary" clause whereby property after closure goes to the national LCMS
d) debt - debt is held completely locally - this impacts Line of Credit and loan arrangements; what about existing debt to the LCMS, if any?
e) call and roster status for workers - maybe if and as the college maintains some other status with the LCMS (RSO) that would be possible; otherwise calls would be (?) through the district in which the college is located

Thinking out loud, if there are few students who are in programs leading to LCMS roster status (ordained or commissioned) attending Concordia Portland, maybe the LCMS BOD is going toward a more mission/charter driven thematic for its colleges.  They were begun as pastor/teacher training institutions and have morphed substantially through the later 20th century.  Some, such as Seward, River Forest and Wisconsin, still have substantial church work enrollment.  Others don't.  It's fair if that's the background to allow for independence.  Of course, there are both financial and in some sense doctrinal considerations. 

Dave Benke

[John_Hannah]

Interesting!  The request to consider independent status comes from the LCMS national board of directors.   My recollection is that this request has been made in the past by the board of regents of Concordia Portland, and was not granted.  So why the 180?

Several items in that consideration, I would think, include:
a) board structure and selection of board members - no more members chosen by the national LCMS convention
b) presidential selection - no more "prior approval panel" and mandatory participation by the national LCMS leadership
c) property - the property would be owned by the local college without (I guess) a "reversionary" clause whereby property after closure goes to the national LCMS
d) debt - debt is held completely locally - this impacts Line of Credit and loan arrangements; what about existing debt to the LCMS, if any?
e) call and roster status for workers - maybe if and as the college maintains some other status with the LCMS (RSO) that would be possible; otherwise calls would be (?) through the district in which the college is located

Thinking out loud, if there are few students who are in programs leading to LCMS roster status (ordained or commissioned) attending Concordia Portland, maybe the LCMS BOD is going toward a more mission/charter driven thematic for its colleges.  They were begun as pastor/teacher training institutions and have morphed substantially through the later 20th century.  Some, such as Seward, River Forest and Wisconsin, still have substantial church work enrollment.  Others don't.  It's fair if that's the background to allow for independence.  Of course, there are both financial and in some sense doctrinal considerations. 

Dave Benke

From whence does this come?  The press release makes it appear to be initiated by the Synod, at least at the Concordia University System (CUS) level.  It could have been Portland initiative or even a mutual decision to consider.

Peace, JOHN

[Dan Fienen]

It probably doesn't mean anything much, but I've tried finding mention of this on LCMS.com and other LCMS related internet sites and come up empty.  Perhaps it is too new a development for the LCMS news.

[John_Hannah]

It probably doesn't mean anything much, but I've tried finding mention of this on LCMS.com and other LCMS related internet sites and come up empty.  Perhaps it is too new a development for the LCMS news.

They're probably off today for the holiday.

[John_Hannah]

Thinking out loud, if there are few students who are in programs leading to LCMS roster status (ordained or commissioned) attending Concordia Portland, maybe the LCMS BOD is going toward a more mission/charter driven thematic for its colleges.  They were begun as pastor/teacher training institutions and have morphed substantially through the later 20th century.  Some, such as Seward, River Forest and Wisconsin, still have substantial church work enrollment.  Others don't.  It's fair if that's the background to allow for independence.  Of course, there are both financial and in some sense doctrinal considerations. 

Dave Benke

Even the Midwestern Concordias with a higher number of students committed to church vocations don't have a high percentage of their student body as potential church workers.  I doubt that any of them have more than 5% headed for church vocations.

Peace, JOHN

[Charles Austin]

So can the synod just boot a Concordia out of the family?

[John_Hannah]

So can the synod just boot a Concordia out of the family?

I don't know how it works.  Each one may be a bit different, but each one is owned by the Synod.  In the 1970s the synod closed, St. John's in KS, St. Paul's in MO, Concordia in Oakland, CA, and Concordia Senior College, in IN.  St. John (and, I think, Oakland) were sold.  St. Paul's was lent to a local High School association to use and Ft. Wayne was given to the Seminary in Springfield, IL.  We will have to see how this might play out if there is any change proceeding from this consideration.

Peace, JOHN

[Matt Staneck]

Someone in the know shared that the charitable interpretation of this press release is that it is not exactly correct. That is, if one comes away with the understanding that the synod independently asked CUP to explore this possibility.

M. Staneck

[Harvey_Mozolak]

so is this fake news?

[Donald_Kirchner]

"Concordia University Portland has been presented with a request by the Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod to consider becoming an independent Lutheran university."

That seems to fit with the charitable interpretation "that the synod independently asked CUP to explore this possibility."

[Matt Staneck]

"Concordia University Portland has been presented with a request by the Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod to consider becoming an independent Lutheran university."

That seems to fit with the charitable interpretation "that the synod independently asked CUP to explore this possibility."

FWIW, I've been told directly that this isn't correct.

M. Staneck

[Donald_Kirchner]

Oh, okay. I misunderstood.

So, what's the charitable or other interpretation? What is correct?

[Charles Austin]

And why would the college declare and post something that is not true?