# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S411 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) APPENDIX IV Late Submissions L6-73 Board of Assignments Response to Resolution 6-14A At its 1979 convention, the Synod requested the Board of Assignments to review its placement procedures of teacher candidates and to report to the 1981 convention. The Board of Assignments has reviewed these procedures in consultation with the placement directors of the colleges and presents the following report in response to the resolution of the Synod. PROCEDURES FOR THE CALLING AND CONTRACTING OF PERSONNEL INTO THE EDUCATIONAL MINISTRIES OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD Introduction A strong and complete system of Lutheran education requires an effective utilization and constant supply of educators knowledgeable in their profession, committed to discipleship, and dedicated to the cause of Christian education. God has led The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod wisely to maintain its own educational institutions in order to provide and train such personnel for its mission fields, parishes, and schools. Many nonsynodically educated persons have also made great contributions to the cause of Lutheran education. Congregations and other calling bodies operate their educa- tional ministries autonomously, and so they make their own decisions concerning equipment, facilities, budgets, policies, and day-to-day operation. They also call or contract their own teachers, ministers of Christian education, and other staff personnel. Definitions The educational ministries include positions in early child- hood, elementary, secondary, or college teaching, school administration, director or minister of Christian education, mission education, and other special ministries. The educa- tional ministries are contrasted with the pastoral or preaching ministries. A calling body may be a single congregation, a group of congregations, a church agency, a synodical board, a District board, or any other group which has the right to extend a solemn call or offer a contract. A solemn call is an official request, offer, or agreement extended by a calling body in the name of the Triune Godtoa person eligible to receive such a call into an educational ministry of the LCMS. Offers extended to such eligible persons but erroneously referred to as “appointments” or “contracts” are also to be considered calls. A call may be for a limited period of time (nontenured) or placement (tenured). A solemn call is also referred to as a divine call. Official synodical call docu- ments are available from most District offices and Concordia Publishing House. Do not use locally designed documents. Calls may be changed or terminated for valid reasons. Eligibility to receive a solemn call requires the completion of graduation or colloquy requirements at a synodical teachers college and approval for ministry by its faculty. Men and women educators who are eligible to receive calls should not be extended contracts. A contract is an agreement between a calling body and a person who is not eligible to receive a solemn call. Under- 411 graduates and graduates from nonsynodical colleges are in- eligible to receive calls. A candidate is a person, male or female, who is eligible to receive or be assigned an initial solemn call and thus receive placement into an educational ministry. For the purpose of this document also, all current senior class synodical-education and colloquy students eligible for entrance into the church’s educational ministry are referred to as candidates. This desig- nation assumes that such persons will complete their programs successfully and receive faculty approval. Some candidates, usually those in the colloquy program, may have had teaching or other educational experience prior to their eligibility for candidacy. An open call or a designated call may be submitted for a candidate. An open call describes the details of the position to which a candidate is being called, butit does notidentify which candidate is to receive the call. A designated call is a call extended by a calling body to a specific candidate. The official call document is designed so that the calling body can clearly indicate its preference for a specific candidate. An assignment or placement is the result of the action of the Synod’s Board of Assignments working together with directors of placement of the synodical teachers colleges in placing specified candidates into their official initial positions in an educational ministry of the the church. The director of placement is the official of a synodical teachers college charged with the responsibility of recommend- ing candidates for placements under the policies and pro- cedures approved by the Board of Assignments (Council of Presidents). Establishing Educational Personnel Lists The District Presidents are charged with the responsibility of personnel accountability for each District’s varied minis- tries. Most Districts engage an education executive who assists in that responsibility, especially for the educational ministries. As congregations and other calling bodies seek to identify qualified new personnel, they will begin to construct a list of names for possible consideration. The calling body is well advised to solicit the help of the District office to also suggest persons for consideration. When seeking new educational personnel, calling bodies have access to educators from four categories: (1) (2) (3) Candidates Synodically Nonsynodically available from trained educators trained educators (4) Nonsynodically trained educa- the synodical alreadyengaged with profes- tors with no teachers in ministry sional experience professional colleges experience Those in categories three and four can be hired on a contract basis and are classified as “lay educa- tors.” They may become eligible for a call by completing a synodical colloquy program. Those in categories one and two are eligible to receive solemn calls into the church's public ministries and be placed on the roster of the Synod. District officers have access to names and background information regarding many qualified people, especially those from categories one and two. Some names may also be available from categories three and four. A clear job descrip- tion is very helpful in attempting to identify appropriate personnel. Personnel from all four categories may be considered simultaneously. But calling bodies are encouraged to call synodically trained personnel whenever possible. Considera- tion should be given to qualified persons of multicultures, both sexes, and from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.