# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S78
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

78 PARISH, YOUTH, AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES

sion whose membership consists of persons in part elected and
in part appointed or elected in some other way, be handled in
identical fashion. This would mean that if the Synod approves
the proposed change, the five presidential appointees would
also be appointed to a six-year term. We therefore urge the
convention to adopt the following resolution:

-~>> To Change the Terms of Board Office

WHEREAS, The present terms of office of the members of the
Concordia Historical Institute Board of Governors are for three
years with reappointment or reelection possible twice there-
after for a maximum total of nine years of service; and

WHEREAS, The Synod changed its convention cycle from
biennial to triennial, a sequence which coincides with the
triennial terms of board tenure; and

WHEREAS, Such coincidence may make it possible that a
large number of the board may consequently not be reelected or
reappointed at the end of that specific term, causing a totally
new board to establish policies and procedures; and

WHEREAS, The board is meeting only three or four times
each year, and considerable time is required by new board
members to become thoroughly acquainted with the many-
faceted and intricate operations of the Institute; and

WHEREAS, A proficiency and thorough acquaintance with
all facets of the Institute’s work is most desirable on the part of
the board that it might carry out its synodically assigned tasks
effectively and efficiently; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
extend the terms of office of the Institute's Board of Governors
from three to six years to provide for an essential continuity by
staggering elections and appointments; and be it further

Resolved, That the board terms be limited to two six-year
terms; and be it further

Resolved, That the President of the Synod designate two of
his five appointees to serve for a six-year term beginning on
Jan. 1, 1983, and three for a three-year term beginning at the
same time: and be it finally

Resolved, That the three members elected to the Board of
Governors with terms beginning on Jan. 1, 1983, receiving the
highest number of votes be elected for a six-year term, while the
two receiving the lesser votes be elected for a three-year term
beginning on Jan. 1. 1983.

Conclusion

The Synod is to be very highly congratulated for operating
one of the best systems of recordkeeping, archives manage-
ment, and reference services throughout the American denom-
inations. Other denominational archives and history depart-
ments have, in many instances, patterned their programs after
that of the Synod’s.

We express our gratitude to the Synod that it has enabled
the Institute to serve in a very unique and intricate manner,
providing highly specialized services to almost every entity in
the Synod, including its congregations, pastors, teachers,
scholars, amateur historians, and others.

We are grateful to all, including particularly the officers of
the Synod, the Board of Directors, and all who have supported
the archival-historical work with their prayers, their special
financial contributions, and their historical resources.

Harry L. Smith, President
Aug. R. Suelflow, Director

2-11

To Reinsert in Handbook an Emphasis
on Lutheran Elementary
and Secondary Schools

WHEREAS, The 1981 convention of the Synod in its Bylaw
revisions did not retain the historical and widely accepted
statement that, ‘‘the most effective educational agencies avail-
able to the church for equipping God's people for ministry are

the full-time Lutheran elementary and secondary schools”
(Bylaw 7.05, Handbook, 1979); and

WHEREAS, The Board for Parish Services continues to be
supportive of this statement; therefore be it

Resolved, That the statement “the most effective educa-
tional agencies available to the church for equipping God’s
people for ministry are the full-time Lutheran elementary and
secondary schools” be added to the Synod’s Handbook at its
proper location.

Board for Parish Services
Raymond A. Mueller, Chairman
Victor A. Constien, Executive Secretary

2-12

To Encourage Christian Education
and the Recruitment of Teachers

WHEREAS, The Constitution of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod states in Article III that among the objectives
of the Synod are the establishing of Christian elementary and
secondary schools and the training of ministers and teachers
for service; and

WHEREAS, The well-publicized oversupply of teachers in
public education is not true of Lutheran elementary and
secondary schools; and

WHEREAS, The synodical teacher education enrollment in
major LCMS teacher education colleges has decreased signifi-
cantly during the past several years: and

WHEREAS, There is a significant teacher shortage, particu-
larly of male elementary teachers, in the schools of the LCMS;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the officers and members of the Synod, its
Districts, and its congregations be charged to pray earnestly
and work to establish, uphold, and preserve Lutheran schools;
and be it further

Resolved, That talented young people of LCMS congrega-
tions be encouraged to enter the teaching ministry of our
church; and be it finally

Resolved, That special emphasis be placed on encouraging
talented young men for the teaching ministry.

Faculty

Concordia College

River Forest. I].

Lila M. Kurth, Secretary

To Urge the Use
of Synodically Certified Teachers

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has dili-
gently worked through its colleges and seminaries to “recruit
and train pastors, teachers. and other professional church
workers” (Constitution, Art. III, 3) for the various ministries
requested by its member congregations: and

WHEREAS, The Synod has committed itself to ‘‘aid congre-
gations to develop processes of thorough Christian education
and nurture’ (Art. III, 5); and

WHEREAS, The Synod has patiently and thoughtfully sought
to “encourage congregations to strive for uniformity in church
practice” (Art. III, 7); and

WHEREAS, Not all teachers serving in schools within the
Synod are certified by a synodical college to carry out the office
of a minister of religion: and

WHEREAS, The synodically approved teacher education
programs aim to equip teachers for a ministry of Christian
education: therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations and other agencies of the
Synod desiring to add a teacher to their professional staffs be
encouraged to engage synodically certified personnel: and be it
further