# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S196
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

196 STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION

2. establish academic and theological standards
for admission to the teaching ministry by colloquy,
and in the establishment of these standards the
board shall consult the faculties of the synodical
colleges offering a bachelor degree in teacher
education;

3. approve for admission to the colloquy program
for the teaching ministry those applicants who meet
the preliminary requirements;

4. make a full report of its activities to every
convention of the Synod.

Q. Standing Committee—BPES—Lay Ministry
(Bylaws 5.131, 5.13 , 3.73)

Bylaws 5.131 through 5.143 in the 1981 Handbook give
extensive treatment to the role and function of lay ministers in
the Synod and prescribe the function of a larger committee
concerned with the training, placement, and supervision of all
lay ministers, whereas the corresponding paragraphs in this
section of the Handbook deal only with the colloquy commit-
tees for other church workers. The program for the training of

PRESENT WORDING
H. LAY MINISTERS

5.131 Committee for Lay Ministers

a. Membership. The Committee for Lay Ministers
shall consist of one District President, one parish
pastor, one member of a synodical seminary faculty,
one member representing the lay ministry program
at Concordia College, Milwaukee, a Vice-President of
the Synod, who shall serve as chairman, and the
Executive Secretary of the Board for Higher Educa-
tion or his representative in an advisory capacity.

Full-time or part-time staff may be engaged by the
board as conditions may warrant and require, with
the approval of the Board of Directors.

b. Election. The voting members of this commit-
tee shall be elected with overlapping terms by the
Council of Presidents.

c. Functions. The Board for Lay Ministers shall:

1. direct the colloquy program for lay ministry
according to regulations adopted by the Synod;

2. serve as the Advisory Council to Concordia
College, Milwaukee, in its lay ministry program;

3. work in harmony and cooperation with the lay
ministry program of Concordia College, Milwaukee,
of which it is an extension;

4. establish the academic and theological stan-
dards for admission to the lay ministry by colloquy,
in consultation with the faculty of Concordia College,
Milwaukee;

5. approve for admission to the colloquy program
for lay ministry those applicants who meet the
preliminary requirements;

6. examine applicants as to readiness for accep-
tance into the lay ministry of the Synod, recommend
approved candidates to the Board of Assignments for
placement, and provide guidelines for their
supervision;

7. make a full report of its activities to every
convention of the Synod.

5.133 Eligibility

Applicants shall be at least 20 years old, or have 2
years of college, and agree to have administered
prescribed aptitude, achievement, personality, and
vocational entrance tests. Personal interviews may
be required.

2. establish and monitor academic and theologi-
cal standards for admission to the teaching ministry
by colloquy ...

lay ministers is now an integral] part of the curriculum and
administration of Concordia College, Milwaukee, is included
in the budget of Concordia College, and is under the super-
vision of that college’s Board of Regents and the Synod’s Board
for Professional Education Services. The Commission on
Structure therefore believes that a special committee for lay
ministers is no longer necessary and recommends the following
Handbook revisions to provide only for the establishment and
functions of a Colloquy Committee for Lay Ministers:

PROPOSED WORDING

H. ADMISSION OF LAY MINISTERS
BY COLLOQUY

5.131 Colloquy Committee for Lay Ministers

The Colloquy Committee for Lay Ministers shall
consist of amember of the executive staff of the Board
for Professional Education Services appointed by the
board, a District President appointed by the President
oftheSynod, and the president of Concordia College,
Milwaukee. The staff executive shall serve as
chairman.

5.133 Functions

The Colloquy Committee for Lay Ministers shall:

a. direct the synodical activities in matters of
colloquies for lay ministers, according to regulations
adopted by the Synod;

b. establish academic and theological standards
for the admission of lay ministers by colloquy, and in
the establishment of these standards the committee
shall consult the Board for Professional Education
Services and the faculty of Concordia College,
Milwaukee;

c. approve for admission to the colloquy program
for lay ministers those applicants who meet the
preliminary requirements;

d. examine colloquy candidates as to readiness
for acceptance as lay ministers in the Synod, and
recommend those who are approved to the Board of
Assignments for placement;

e. make a full report of its activities to every
convention of the Synod through the Board for
Professional Education Services.

5.133 Eligibility

(Eliminate present 5.133 since this section will
now be limited to colloquy procedures.)

5.135, 5.137, 5.139, 5.141
(Retain present wording)