# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S239 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 6. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION 6-01 Report of Board for Professional Education Services At its meeting in the fall of 1982 the Association of Theological Schools chose as its theme, “Discovering Old and New Imperatives.” That theme is reminiscent of the dynamic motto which became the rallying cry for the Synod during the past biennium. ‘Forward in Remembrance” is a motto which incorporates imperatives both old and new. It is in effect a directive, as well as a statement of determination, not to remain static but to be vibrant and progressive with constant awareness of the blessings, spiritual and temporal, of our triune God who has made us His own and whom we serve. “Him We Proclaim,” our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. To do so has been and is the mission of both the Board for Professional Education Services and the colleges and semi- naries of the Synod as they work together to prepare men and women for service to our Lord, to His Church, and to the world. In its last report to the convention of the Synod, the Board for Professional Education Services, then the Board for Higher Education, expressed the hope that the net loss of pastors and male teachers could soon be overcome. The final reports for 1981 indicate that definite progress has been made in these areas. For the first time since 1976 the number of male teachers showed a net gain of 31. However, the statistics relating to the total number of synodically trained teachers is rather alarm- ing. As the table below indicates, during the past five years, net gains have been registered in only two. ACTIVE SYNODICALLY TRAINED TEACHERS (Accession and Losses) Five-year History * Year Entered Synodica: Service Left Synodical Service i I Res iyaed Total Died fa artice Permanent by Toual Net Gann 5 459 9 44 230329 ID = ES ——— a 1978 | 685} 576s 748 338 292350 | 683 + AS ag7a_{ 615 | 29 5. 649 326 265 | 320 | 604 + ' \ i 7 a | i gs ggo | 567_ 25 7 599 7 5j 316 348 | 696 2 198. i 473 ' 37 5 SUS 24a, 353 | 386 | r65 j = 250 SE el : — : (2782 | 162 28 2970 de 157, 1456 11723 | 3360 | - 390 | * Based on Statistical Yearbooks. 1977—"1 While the total number of teachers. particularly women teachers, active in the schools of the congregations has increased, it is not at all clear that these teachers are synod- ically trained. The increase is attributable to the large number who have reentered the teaching field, a number which includes all who reentered, no matter what the source of their prepara- tion. The reason for this is obvious. It is entirely due to the fact that the supply of graduates is not sufficient to meet the needs. In the past year, for example, 466 calls for teachers were filled while requests received by colleges indicate that a minimum of 150 more could have been placed if they were mobile and had the necessary areas of specialization. Reports from District education executives indicate that the percentage of synodically trained personnel in the schools is decreasing and that congregations are increasingly filling vacant positions with teachers who are available locally, 239 whether or not they are synodically prepared. If this is true, congregations should, at the very least, encourage teachers who do not have this preparation to enroll in the colloquy program and should assist them in acquiring teacher status on the roster of the Synod through this avenue. Unless this is done, congregational schools can quickly move in the direction of merely offering private school education, rather than toward maintaining and improving the quality of a program of Christian education which is a part of their mission. Through the colleges, the Board for Professional Education Services hopes to call this matter of concern to the attention of the congregations so that the trend can be reversed. It will also work closely with the Board for Parish Services in monitoring this situation. While the number of pastors still exhibits a net decrease through 1981, considerable progress has been made in meeting the needs of the Synod. The following table illustrates that progress quite clearly. SUMMARY OF CHANGES IN SYNOD’S PASTORAL MINISTRY Five-year History * Left Synodical Service "Year Entered Synodical Servica on Clergy Died in Oftice tal Retired Colloqatsed 1977 145 7 12 164 = 1? tsa Ch 5 - V1 978 136 1é 29 183 = 3 3 C1 439 - DSA 979 &8 9 40 236 is hi? es aR 32 - 9 1980 188 8 74 27¢ ts 12é 89 3 ~ Af 1981 232 S 43 28° ches 9s AQ 308 ~ 04 = Based on Statistical Yearbooks. 1977 —™1 The 1982 statistics are not yet available. However. if the trend continues. it is quite possible they will demonstrate a balance between the number of pastors entering and leaving synodical service. If so, this circumstance will enable the Synod to move forward vigorously in the establishment of new missions and ministries in order to reach the goals for the 80's adopted by the Synod at its 1979 convention. It may also allow for the filling of some 350 or more pastoral vacancies which exist annually. In the next triennium the Board for Professional Education Services will be working closely with the Board for Mission Services and the Department of Personnel and Statistics to determine the need for specific types of church workers in the next decade. This is especially important since it will require. among other studies, an analysis of the number of positions filled by pastors who may have entered the ministry at a later age through the colloquy program. As can be seen from the table above, this number has grown dramatically in the past five vears with the colloquizing of 198 men, 157 of them in the last three vears. Assuming that a significant number of these were in their 40s or 50s at the time of entering the ministry, it is possible that a larger number of vacancies will develop than would normally be anticipated. The Board for Professional Education Services continues to be grateful for the dedicated faculties and staffs which serve at the Synod’s colleges and seminaries. Their efforts have made it possible to provide for the placement of 1,545 workers of various types within the Synod during the past biennium.