RESOLUTION FOR REGIONAL BOUNDARY CHANGES

Background Section:

Throughout its existence, the Lutheran Student Movement, along with its predecessor body, the Lutheran Student Association of America, has seen fit to develop its programs according to the needs of its student members. This flexibility has been necessary as LSM has tried to maintain a futuristic vision so as to truly be an organization of "moving" students.

This year, after studying the needs of LSM -past, present, and future the National Council is proposing to the National Assembly that LSM change its regional boundaries to match those of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Council believes that this step is necessary for the survival of LSM for several reasons. First of all, National Lutheran Campus Ministry, from which LSM receives its emotional and spiritual guidance, will no longer exist as an independent organization. Its duties will be assumed by the Division for Education of the ELCA. In addition to this, the nine Regional Centers for Mission will be the central clearinghouses for campus ministry and will house the regional directors who will offer LSM emotional, spiritual and financial support. It will be much easier for LSM regions to relate to one. regional director than several.

Thirdly, despite the state efforts of LSM to remain pan-Lutheran, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has begun its own student organization. Unfortunately, most of the membership of LSM from here on will be from congregations within the ELCA. LSM will receive no support from the LCMS in any way and the Council feels that now is the best time to align with the ELCA.

In looking toward the future, the Council feels that the needs of LSM could best be serviced by switching our regional boundaries. Our goal is to preserve the integrity of LSM and to remain faithful to its mission to preach the Gospel of Jesus Chnst to all students wherever they may be. We move on a promise.

WHEREAS National Lutheran Campus Ministry will have its duties assumed by the Division for Education of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and

WHERAS the Division for Education will be the sole supporter of the Lutheran Student Movement, emotionally, spiritually and financially particularly through the nine Regional Centers for Mission, and

WHEREAS despite the efforts of LSM to remain pan-Lutheran, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has begun its own student organization, thereby severing its ties with LSM, and

WHEREAS the majority of student support will be from congregations within the

ELCA,

THEREFORE, let Article HI • The Regions', be amended to say: The regions of

LSM-USA shall be as follows:

1. Region 1 - Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska

2. Region 2A - California, Hawaii, Nevada

3. Region 2B - Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico,
Western Texas, Arizona

4. Region 3 - North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota

5. Region 4A - Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana

6. Region 4B - Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri

7. Region 5 - Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Upper Peninsula
Michigan

8. Region 6 • Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Lower Michigan

9. Region 7 - Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Upper New
York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island

10. Region 8 - Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland,
Delaware, New Jersey, District of Columbia,

Lower New York

11. Region 9A - Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina

12. Region 9B - South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama,

Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

'Regions can offer a name at the assembly