# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1986_S196 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 196 RESOLUTIONS sider the CWDF to be an added burden at a time when they can least afford it; therefore be it Resolved, That the Church Worker Deposit Fee shall no longer be required from church work students in the Syn- od’s schools after the 1986-87 school year; and be it further Resolved, That the Treasurer of the Synod maintain an account from current accumulations large enough to re- fund the $100 per year to those who are eligible, where- upon this account is to be closed; and be it finally Resolved, That the remainder of the fund be transferred to the participating colleges’ endowment funds for student scholarships in the proportion in which they contributed to the fund during the last five academic years. Action: None. To Thank God for 25 Years of Lay-Ministry Training RESOLUTION 6-21 Overture 6-90 (CW, p. 327) Wuereas, The lay ministry program began on the cam- pus of Concordia College, Milwaukee, Wis., in September 1961 to prepare mature lay people for full-time service in the church; and Wuereas, Since 1961, 450 lay persons have completed the training and have been certified for service in the church; and Wuereas, The church has continued to call lay minis- ters to serve in team ministries in parishes and institutions under pastoral supervision; and Wnereas, A recent survey of all district presidents and supervising pastors indicates that lay ministers are serv- ing effectively in the church; therefore be it Resolved, That we thank the Lord of the church for send- ing workers into His harvest and trust that He will con- tinue to do so; and be it further Resolved, That we thank The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod for its far-sighted action which established this training program at the 1959 San Francisco conven- tion and encourage it to continue to support this and all other church-work training programs; and be it further Resolved, That we thank the faculty and staff of Con- cordia College Wisconsin and the Lay Ministry Program for their diligence in preparing these kingdom workers, and pray that our Lord will continue to empower them for this task; and be it further Resolved, That we thank the congregations, institu- tions, supervising pastors, and district presidents of the LCMS for calling and supporting the lay ministers on their staffs, and encourage them to continue to do so; and be it finally Resolved, That we thank the dedicated, mature people who have left their former professions, pursued additional training, and served faithfully in the church these 25 years, and ask that they and many others continue to serve the Lord with joy. Action: None. To Assign Placement of Certified Professional Church Worker, Lay RESOLUTION 6-22 Overture 6-89 (CW, p. 327) Wuereas, The 1983 synodical convention clearly de- fined Ministers of Religion, Ordained and Commissioned, and created a separate category of Certified Professional Church Worker, Lay, with clear distinctions between them (Res. 5-09A); and Wuereas, The Committee on Concern for the Church and Its Workers and the Board for Professional Education Services have raised questions about the advisability of colloquizing Certified Professional Church Worker, Lay personnel; therefore be it Resolved, That the matter of colloquy for Certified Professional Church Worker, Lay for deaconess personnel be referred to the Board for Professional Education Ser- vices for further study, clarification, and recommendation; and be it further Resolved, That the Council of Presidents be responsible for the first placement of Ministers of Religion Ordained and Commissioned and not lay church workers (third cat- egory), and that appropriate changes in the Handbook be made to reflect this change of responsibility; and be it fi- nally Resolved, That all graduates of our synodical colleges who are classified as Certified Professional Church Work- ers, Lay, be assigned their first positions by the certifying college. Action: Withdrawn by committee in view of Res. 5-02, To Discontinue Colloquy for Lay Ministry Program RESOLUTION 6-23 Overtures 6-89, 6-113 (CW, pp. 327, 333-35) Wuereas, The Committee on Concern for the Church and Its Workers urges the Synod to reserve colloquy pro- grams as alternate routes only for entrance into the profes- sional ministry; and Wuereas, The Council of Presidents and the Board for Professional Education Services also concurs; therefore be it Resolved, That completion of a two-year associate of arts degree, approved jointly by the Committee for Lay Min- istry and Concordia College Wisconsin be required for cert- ification as a lay minister; and be it further Resolved, That there be no colloquy provisions for cert- ification as a lay minister; and be it finally Resolved, That the following Bylaw changes be made: