# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S79
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PARISH, YOUTH, AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES 79

Resolved, That congregations and other agencies of the
Synod engaging workers not certified by the Synod to serve as
teachers be encouraged to have those individuals seek certifi-
cation as soon as possible through the various teacher colloquy
programs offered by the Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That congregations and other agencies of the
Synod engaging a worker not certified by the Synod to serve as
a teacher be encouraged to help provide the means necessary
(e.g., finances, leave of absence, etc.) to make this additional
preparation feasible.

Faculty

Concordia Teachers College
Seward, Nebr.

M. J. Stelmachowicz, President
William Billow, Secretary

To Urge Congregations
to Have Certified Directors
of Christian Education on Their Staff

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, Only one out of every three DCEs currently
serving a congregation of the Synod is certified by a synodical
school to do that ministry; and

WHEREAS, Uncertified people may be unable to perform as
DCEs because they are not properly prepared; therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations desiring to add a DCE to
their professional staff be encouraged to call a synodically
certified DCE; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations calling a noncertified worker
toserve as a DCE be encouraged to have that person seek DCE
certification as soon as possible through the Seward. River
Forest, St. Paul, or Portland DCE colloquy programs; and be it
finally

Resolved, That congregations engaging a noncertified
worker as DCE be encouraged to help provide the means
necessary (e.g., finances, leaves of absence, etc .) to make this
additional preparation feasible.

Faculty

Concordia Teachers College
Seward. Nebr.

M. J. Stelmachowicz, President
William Billow, Secretary

2-15

To Deal with Procedures
for Calling Teachers

WHEREAS, The teachers in the Lutheran school system
receive their positions through a divine call of the Holy Ghost;
and

WHEREAS, Calls initiated less than four weeks before the
opening of the school year tend to create difficulties and
disruptions which can not be readily resolved: and

WHEREAS, The problems caused by a teacher leaving a
congregation in the weeks just before school opens can create
disharmony between sister congregations; and

WHEREAS, Calls extended to teachers without due considera-
tion to the congregation place an unnecessary burden on the
teacher so called; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod urge all congregations in the
Synod not to extend calls to men and women in the teaching
ministry during the four-week period prior to the opening of
school; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod urge teachers receiving calls
during this limited time period to return them to the issuing
congregation.

Immanuel Lutheran Chuch
Des Plaines, I.

Leonard Frank, Chairman
Evelyn Markworth, Secretary

2-16

To Urge Use of One Version of the Bible
in Worship Services

WHEREAS, There are many good English translations of
God’s Word available for use: and

WHEREAS, Use of one translation for worship services is not
standard practice in congregations of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Standing Committee on Worship has given
us leadership in selecting the New International Version for
Introits, Graduals, Verses, and Psalms in Lutheran Worship:
therefore, be it

Resolved, That this convention of the Synod direct the
Board for Parish Services, through its appropriate commit-
tee(s) and. or commission(s), to give careful study to the
feasibility of using one English translation of the Holy Bible
for worship services in congregations of the Synod; and be it
further

Resolved, That this convention authorize the Board for
Parish Services to make its recommendation known to the
congregations of the Synod as soon as its feasibility study is
completed; and be it finally

Resolved, That congregations of the Synod be urged to
follow the recommendation of the Board for Parish Services.

Zion Lutheran Church
Ogden, Iowa

Lowell Morgan. Chairman
Dean Van Belt, Secretary
George A. Krengel, Pastor

2-17

To Evaluate
the New King James Version (NKJV)
and New International Version (NIV)
for Possible Use in Publishing
Educational Materials

WHEREAS, Many Bible translations are available today; and

WHEREAS, This has contributed to the lack of familiarity of
people with what the Bible says; and

WHEREAS, Both Biblical accuracy and readability are
essential for our effectively communicating the entire Word of
God in all its truth and purity; and

WHEREAS, The preliminary evaluation of the NKJV based
on the New Testament made by our seminary faculties and the
comparative study by the CTCR of the NIV seem to indicate
that they may be more reliable than the RSV, which is now
used for educational materials; and

WHEREAS, The King James Version still outsells all other
English versions of the Bible; and

WHEREAS, The NIV is being used for the new hymnal.
Lutheran Worship; and

WHEREAS, The NKJV and NIV donot have the questionable
reputation in the minds of some relative to the translation of
certain passages that the RSV does; and

WHEREAS, The NIV is experiencing volume distribution and