# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1986_S188 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) LOE MN ite anne A een net AMA i ibe Seve Mind PRR: a RAO tal AY AAAI has BAM SEE SALONGA Tn A na anh hiv ane ene ee HIGHER EDUCATION 189 6. HIGHER EDUCATION To Provide Direction and Goals for Synodical Higher Education in the Next Triennium RESOLUTION 6-01A Appendix III, Report 6-01 (CW, pp. 418-40, 285-91) Overture 6-38A-B, 6-59, 6-62, 6-67, 6-75, (CW, pp. 312, 318, 320, 322) Resolved, That the Synod celebrate its commitment to its historic purpose and high priority of preparing pastors and teachers for service to the congregations of the Synod by means of quality academic programs at its colleges and seminaries; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod recognize the varying needs of congregations for specialized services from other profes- sional church workers such as lay ministers, parish assis- tants, deaconesses, parish workers, directors of Christian education, and directors of evangelism; and be it further Resolved, That the colleges and seminaries of the Synod be encouraged to use every available tool and resource to prepare and equip all future workers in God’s vineyard with the skills, attitudes, and understandings to help them serve congregations more effectively in our complex and pressure-filled contemporary society; and be it further Resolved, That the BPES continue to plan and develop ways and means to prepare more people as lay church workers for ethnic ministry who can minister in languages other than English to the vast number of immigrants who are entering our country and who are in need of hearing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in their native tongues; and be it further Resolved, That we recommit ourselves to support our seminaries and colleges in their tasks of preparing laborers for God’s vineyard by intensifying our recruitment efforts in our local congregations, increasing both our contribu- tions for this purpose as well as our fervent prayers for God’s blessings on our Synod’s system of colleges and sem- inaries; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod commit itself to the devel- opment, implementation, and support of a continuing ed- ucation program for professional church workers; and be it further Resolved, That the campus facilities of the Synod also be utilized more effectively wherever possible for the Chris- tian higher education of the laity of the church and for their preparation for service as Christians in a secular world as well as for their development as lay leaders in local congregations; and be it finally Resolved, That the synodical convention adopt the fol- lowing specific emphases for the next triennium antici- pating either completion of the objective or a progress report at the 1989 convention of the Synod. 1. To develop a national image of synodical colleges and seminaries as institutions of quality Lutheran higher ed- ucation that prepare lay leaders and professionals for min- istry and active participation in the church and also strive for a goal of increasing enrollments by 200 students per Chairman Albin Stanfel of Committee 6 year. (Goal 1 of the Higher Education Planning, CW, p. 142, and BPES major goal I b, CW, pp. 290-91.) 2. To assist congregations in assuming greater respon- sibilities for recruiting students for synodical colleges and seminaries supported by revitalized district recruitment committees, personnel from colleges and seminaries, BPES, and other synodical entities. (Goal 3 of the Higher Education Planning Unit, CW, p. 142.) 3. To develop by 1990 under the auspices of three syn- odical colleges, regional synodical schools for Hispanics and Asians which will serve as centers for preparation of ethnic paraprofessionals in appropriate languages for lay ministry among various ethnic groups. (Goal 2 of the Higher Education Planning Unit, CW, p. 142 and BPES major goal VI a, CW, p. 291). 4. To develop new approaches at all our institutions by 1990 to the admissions and student evaluation process for church-work programs. (Goal 4 of the Higher Education Planning Unit, CW, p. 142.) 5. To further develop “Criteria for Excellence” produced by the President’s Commission on Higher Education and implement in all the colleges by 1989. To work with all schools attempting to meet at least four of the five criteria for fiscal viability. By 1989, to review the financial viability of all programs at synodical colleges which do not meet at least four of the five criteria. (Report of the President’s Commission on Higher Eduction, CW, pp. 429, 424.) 6. To establish objectives for pastoral education and con- sultation with the Standing Committee on Pastoral Min- istry. (Report of the Standing Committee on Pastoral Ministry, CW, pp. 291-92.) 7. To increase by 10% the number of first-year semi- narians who are graduates of the Synod’s colleges. (BPES major goal V c, CW, p. 291.) 8. To develop strategies for articulation with Lutheran elementary schools, Lutheran secondary schools, synodical colleges, and synodical seminaries and to promote the con-