Our Organic Structure
District Council
The business and affairs of the Augustana District are conducted by the District Council. Council members are elected at the Annual Convention of the Augustana District.. Their responsibilities include ensuring and verifying that the District operates according to its constitution, bylaws, and Statement of Faith. To this end, the District Council oversees the six Boards and District staff. The District Council functions as the Board of Trustees and is responsible to the District Convention for all fiscal matters, including the District budget, revenues, and expenditures. From among its own membership, the District Council elects a chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer, and deploys its members to the six Boards.
See more information here.
Board of Theology and Ministry (BTM)
While the members of the other five Boards are appointed by the District Council, the members of the BTM are elected by the District Convention. The rationale for this is that this Board has been given theological and professional oversight of Augustana’s pastors. BTM is charged with administering LCMC’s pastoral certification process and the District’s endorsement process. These steps are designed to examine the qualifications of pastors wishing entry into the Augustana District. Once pastors are admitted into the District, BTM is responsible for enforcing the Ministry Standards of the District. Additionally, it is to sponsor an annual theological conference required for all its pastors and open to any lay participants. As BTM’s primary mission is “to preserve and promote the District’s theological and confessional commitments,” it also will interface with the Board of Theological Education and the Board of Publications.
See more information here.
Board of Congregational Services (BCS)
This Board exists to provide specific services to congregations, as they desire. Consistent with LCMC practice, churches maintain control of their call process, but BCS is available for advice, counsel and support--including providing background checks. BCS will also create a recommended but voluntary set of salary guidelines, and mediate conflict within and between churches when internal efforts have failed.
See more information here.
Board of Publications (BP)
In a day when reliable, faithful and biblical resources are hard to find, the Board of Publications is responsible for providing exactly that. Whether through researching the multitude of options currently available or through commissioning specific projects, BP will provide recommended educational material, curricula and worship resources churches may choose to use.
See more information here.
Board of Theological Education (BTE)
Augustana has committed itself to the success of a single seminary, The Institute of Lutheran Theology. The crisis in the Lutheran landscape is primarily due to theological malfeasance and misdirection. For future generations, the success of a faithful witness is deeply connected to the success of a seminary grounded in both the scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. BTE will partner with ILT to ensure that appropriate theological education and pastoral preparation are provided for men and women being called into pastoral ministry. Additionally, BTE is responsible for providing appropriate education for churches’ lay leadership and member congregations.
See more information here.
Board of World Missions (BWM)
BWM’s task is really two-fold. First, it will sort and sift through numerous already existing international mission projects to identify those that are consistent with our theological emphasis and fiscally worthy of support. These will be made available to congregations who may wish, voluntarily, to support them. This saves each congregation the time and work of sifting through them all by themselves. Secondly, BWM is responsible for administering and supervising any District-wide mission projects that the annual convention may establish.
See more information here.
Board of Domestic Missions (BDM)
Congregations across North America have splintered over the decisions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. This has created a growing number of mission start-up churches. While funding these by the District will not likely be a possibility, BDM exists to help, support, guide and partner with new congregations that want to join LCMC and/or associate with the Augustana District. Additionally, BDM is responsible for public relations, publicity, and any and all means of “getting the word out” about Augustana.
See more information here.
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