# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S412 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 412 LATE SUBMISSIONS Staff diversity is a strength. However, background in theology and Lutheran doctrine and an understanding of the philosophy of Christian education ts of prime importance for programs of Lutheran education. District personnel may request aid in compiling personnel lists from college placement officers and the Synod’s Board of Parish Education. When calling bodies seek direct help from these same sources, District officers are informed of the names and information provided by college placement officers and the Board of Parish Education. Calling bodies are ultimately responsible for their choice of educational personnel. Every effort should be made to contact references, check with the most recent employer(s), etc. The calling body may wish to schedule interviews with persons under final consideration. Prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit is essential. Procedure for Calling a Candidate As a member of the Synod, each calling body has the assu- rance that the placement officers and District officials, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will provide assistance in the identification of appropriate candidates. All candidates have the assurance that they will receive sincere assistance so that they may be considered for potential calls in keeping with their capabilities. Calling bodies will be able to receive adequate information about viable candidates, have access to available candidates throughout the year, and utilize their options of extending open calls for or designated calls to candidates of category 1. Option: Extending an Open Call A calling body extending an open call for a candidate pre- pares the solemn call document and forwards it to its District President for his signature. A cover letter may be attached indicating that the assigned candidate should be from a spe- cific college. The District office will forward the call to the Synod’s Board for Higher Education. If an open call cannot be filled, itis returned to the calling body. The candidate receiving the call will respond directly to the calling body. A declined call may be submitted again as an open or designated call. Option: Extending a Designated Call Call List Development. A call list may include the names of candidates any time during the year. Candidates’ names may be submitted by any individual and/or secured through the District office. The District also has the option of referring the calling body to one or more of the directors of placement for names of qualified candidates. If even more information is required the credentials of spe- cific candidates may be requested. However, a placement office can provide a set of credentials only with the consent of the candidate. Credentials may contain student-teaching reports, recommendations, and related materials. Credentials may neyer be passed on to a third party. Calling bodies may make direct contact with a placement director. The appropriate District official will be advised of the inquiry and the information shared. Contacts Between Candidates and Calling Bodies. Direct contacts generally are not encouraged. A candidate may be contacted only through the placement director at a given col- lege. Contact may be made by telephone at the location of the calling body (preferably), on the college campus, or other loca- tions, with all expenses to be borne by the calling body. Candidates and calling bodies may request information directly from each other. They may discuss the details of a specific call and determine if there would be any unusual circumstances which would prevent prayerful consideration of the call. A promised acceptance may not be solicited or given prior to the extension of a call. Delivery of a Designated Call. After prayerful deliberation, the calling body may agree to call a specific candidate. Names should not be entered on documents. The documents are sent to the District President for his signature. The District office forwards the call to the Board for Higher Education. The Board for Higher Education sends the call to the appropriate college. Calls are not to be sent to the candidate. The director of placement delivers the call to the candidate and discusses its details, as well as the ethics of handling a call. Candidates will not be allowed to play several calls against each other, nor will they be allowed to decline a call which they have previously accepted in order to accept a subsequent call which they feel they may receive. After accepting a call a candidate will not be eligible to receive another call. The accepting of a call actually removes the candidate from the listing of available candidates. After the placement director delivers the call, the District office and calling body are notified that the call has been extended. The candidate will notify the calling body directly regarding his/her decision. Appropriate information will also be communicated to the District office. All assignments are approved by the Council of Presidents acting as the synodical assignments committee. Initial Entrance into the Educational Ministry. All initial calls to candidates are subject to successful completion of a synodical college program, faculty approval for entrance into the teaching ministry of LCMS, and ratification by the Board of Assignments. After these conditions have been met, place- ment directors inform District Presidents of the candidates’ eligibility for installation. Calling bodies are subsequently granted permission to install by the District President. After accepting a call, the candidate applies to the District President for membership in the Synod and admission to the teacher roster of the Synod. Upon installation by the calling body and admission to the roster, the candidate has officially entered the church’s public educational ministry. Procedure for Extending a Call to Synodically Trained Educators Already in Ministry Should the educator chosen be synodically trained (or colloquized) and already engaged in a ministry (category two), a solemn call should be extended directly to the person. A solemn call is to be extended by the voters assembly of a congregation, which may, however, authorize the board of education to carry out this function on behalf of the total parish, especially when extending nontenured calls. Other designated calling bodies may be boards of directors, college electors, delegates of school associations, etc. Calls extended to men and women may be permanent (continuous, with tenure) or temporary (noncontinuous, with- out tenure). Thecalling body should notify the District office to whom the call was extended and its resulting acceptance or declination. The person accepting the call should request a peaceful release from the current position and also request the District office for a transfer to the District of the calling body. The newly arrived educator should be installed into the new position of ministry after authorization has been requested and received from the the District President. Procedure for Extending a Contract to Nonsynodically Trained Educators In the event a nonsynodically trained person (categories three or four) is selected, a contract with or without tenure is to be extended directly to the person. Most congregations author- ize the board of education to extend such contracts upon the advice of the principal and their own considered judgment. Upon acceptance of a contract the new employee is classi- fied as a lay educator (teacher, director of education, etc.) and may be publicly installed into office. The District office should be notified of the acceptance and installation by the contract- ing body. Lay educators should be encouraged to complete a colloquy program at one of the synodical teachers colleges. “And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12 RSV). Wilbert E. Griesse, Chairman Council of Presidents