# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S224
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

224 ' STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION

WHEREAS, Young people are recipients of our Lord's Great
Commission; and ‘

WHEREAS, The efforts by young people to respond in faith to
our Lord’s love and mercy for them are honest attempts to
carry on their individual ministries; and

WHEREAS, the LCMS has designated a program board to be
in ministry to these young people as they grow in their abilities
to carry on these individual ministries: therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS program board designated to
serve youth in these areas be hereby entitled the Board for
Youth Ministry Services.

Board for Youth Services
Jack Baumgarn, Chairman
Rich Bimler, Executive Secretary

5-46

To Define More Precisely Membership
of Board for Youth Services

WHEREAS, Young people on the Synod's Board for Youth
Services have served faithfully for many years; and

WHEREAS, It is important that high school young people
continue to have involvement in the Board for Youth Services
as plans and policies are formulated: and

WHEREAS, It is vital that the concerns and needs of the
Synod’s youth organization, Lutheran Youth Fellowship, be
retained and heard: therefore be it

Resolved, That the following wording be added to the
Membership section of the synodical Handbook, 2.241, under
Board for Youth Services: “The young people shall be chosen
for a three-year term. They shall not be elected before the age of
15 or after the age of 18” and “that two members of the
Executive Committee of Lutheran Youth Fellowship shall
serve in an advisory capacity.”

Board for Youth Services
Jack Baumgarn, Chairman
Rich Bimler, Executive Secretary

To Revise Wording of Functions
of Board for Youth Services

_ WHEREAS, The functions of the Board for Youth Services
listed in the 1981 synodical Handbook, pages 71—72, are
general and vague: and

WHEREAS, These functions do not fully describe the Board
for Youth Services’ responsibility to all of the youth and adults
working with youth of the Synod; and

_ WHEREAS, The current wording does not talk about equip-
ping and working with youth: and

WHEREAS, The current wording ignores the function of
ministry “by” youth: therefore be it

Resolved. That the functions of the Board for Youth Services
be rewritten as follows:

2.243 Functions

The Board for Youth Services, through its staff
and in cooperation with synodical and District
boards, shall support and serve the congregations of
the Synod in their ministries to and with the youth of
the church.

The board shall—

a. assist congregations in every possible manner
as they seek to develop and maintain a Ministry to
and with vouth, that youth may grow in sound
theology and be equipped for faithful service to God
and His world.

b. prepare materials and develop training pro-
grams for ministry to and with youth, inside and
outside the church;

¢. initiate and direct research activities as neces-
sary to develop, improve, and promote youth
ministry;

d. provide assistance and support to Districts in
developing resources and services for congregational
youth ministry.

Board for Youth Services
Jack Baumgarn, Chairman
Rich Bimler, Executive Secretary

5-48
To Merge Seminary Boards of Regents

WHEREAS, Boards of Regents are primarily responsible for
policy and not administrative decisions regarding faculty,
curriculum, finances, and student affairs: and

WHEREAS, It is desirable that policies relating to these
matters in preparation of candidates for the pastoral ministry
be as uniform as possible; and

WHEREAS, The major concern of the Synod is not where
candidates are prepared but how they are prepared so that the
Synod is assured of a sufficient quantity of qualified pastoral
candidates to meet its future and changing needs: and

WHEREAS, The two seminaries, Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, have
indicated a desire for a separate synodical board for seminary
education; and

WHEREAS, Such action would only add to the administrative
structure of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The concerns of the seminaries in requesting a
separate seminary board can be met through other less costly
and less complicated procedures; and

WHEREAS, The present Board of Regents of each United
States seminary is elected in its entirety by the synodical
convention delegates and is therefore representative of the
entire Synod; and

WHEREAS, It is desirable that preparation of pastoral candi-
dates be carried out with as much cooperation and as little
duplication as possible; and

WHEREAS, Individuality and specialization can still be
maintained by reason of the character and quality of the
faculty and administration at each institution; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Boards of Regents of Concordia Theo-
logical Seminary, Fort Wayne, and Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, be merged into a single Board of Regents for both
institutions, beginning with the induction of members in
September 1983: and be it further

Resolved, That the single Board of Regents consist of nine
members, eight of whom are elected by the convention of the
Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the eight elected members shall consist of
three pastors, one teacher, and four laymen, a proportionate
number to be elected at each convention of the Synod; and beit
further

Resolved, That the remaining member of the Board of
Regents shall be the President of the Synod or his repre-
sentative: and be it further

Resolved, That the functions of the single Board of Regents
for the seminaries shall be those presently outlined in Bylaw
6.03 of the Handbook of the Synod: and be it finally

Resolved, That the necessary Bylaw changes be made to
accomplish the constitution and election of the Board of Regents
for the seminaries.

Board for Professional Education Services
Walter L. Rosin, Executive Secreta ry