# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1989_S102 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 102 RESOLUTIONS To Strengthen Sunday Schools of Synod RESOLUTION 2-01 Overture 2-36 (CW, pp. 163~164) Wuereas, Until recent years 85-95 percent of the in- fants baptized in churches of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod at a later appropriate age received the rite of confirmation; and Wuereas, During the past 20 years this percentage has steadily decreased so that today only 55 percent of infants baptized in our churches either enroll in Sunday school] or later receive the rite of confirmation; and Wuereas, Only 66 percent of our congregations report any kind of infant/toddler program (e.g., cradle roll) to min- ister to recently baptized infants and their parents; there- fore be it Resolved, That the Synod encourage every congregation of the Synod to establish and maintain a well-organized, active infant/toddler ministry to and with every infant bap- tized in our churches and their parents; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod encourage every congregation of the Synod to maintain through its agencies of Christian education an intentional personal ministry with every bap- tized individual in the congregation; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod encourage every congregation of the Synod to evaluate and seek to strengthen its Chris- tian education ministries; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod encourage every congregation of the Synod to strengthen its Sunday school program by enabling its Sunday school teachers to participate in the Tenth North American Sunday School Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in Minneapolis, Minn., July 13-15, 1990; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod during 1990-91 make a con- certed effort through a “Year of the Sunday School” to sup- port its congregations in improving and strengthening their Sunday schools; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod direct, and provide with ad- equate funds, its Board for Parish Services to support and promote this “Year of the Sunday School” during 1990-91 by producing a variety of new administration and pro- motional resources for congregations to use to strengthen their Sunday school ministry. Action: Adopted (9). To Commend and Encourage Lutheran Teachers and Schools RESOLUTION 2-02 Overture 2-20A-D, 2-24A-C (CW, pp. 159-160) Wuereas, “The most effective education agencies avail- able to the church for equipping children and youth for ministry are the full-time Lutheran elementary and sec- ondary schools” (Handbook 3.223a); and Wuereas, Gifted men and women offer themselves to God through service in the teaching ministry of The Lu- theran Church—Missouri Synod; and Wuereas, The 1969 convention (1969 Proceedings Res. 7-07) stated that “Congregations are urged to adopt salary scales comparable to that of other local educators with similar preparation and responsibilities,” and the Board for Parish Services regularly provides a Salary and Benefit Workbook for Congregations and Their Schools to be used for that purpose; and Wuereas, Several LCMS Districts and the BPS make National Lutheran School Accreditation available for all Lutheran schools of all levels as a way to facilitate school improvement; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its support of the ministry of Lutheran schools; and be it further Resolved, that the Synod reaffirm its support of the min- istry of Lutheran teachers and the vital role they serve in telling everyone what He has done; and be it further Resolved, That congregations be urged to make use of the Salary and Benefit Schedule Workbook in setting sal- aries that are worthy of the laborers who serve in the teach- ing ministry of our church; and be it finally Resolved, That all congregations of the Synod which operate a Lutheran school be encouraged to seek District and National Lutheran School Accreditation. Action: Adopted (3). (Following adoption of the resolution, delegates expressed thanks to God for the gift of Lutheran teachers by singing the doxology. The Christus Magister award was granted by the Lu- theran Education Association to Eugene Burger, teacher and prin- cipal of St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Fort Wayne, Ind., for outstanding service.) To Involve Younger Adults in Leadership Positions RESOLUTION 2-03 Report R2-02 (CW, p. 46) Wuereas, Many younger adults (ages 18 to 25) have expressed the desire to serve in significant capacities in the church; and Wuereas, Many younger adults have acquired leader- ship skills by a variety of training experiences; and Wuenreas, Younger adults can provide a perspective and sensitivity easily overlooked by other adults; and Wuereas, Younger adults have served capably on the national Board for Youth Services (BYS) and in many other capacities when given the opportunity; therefore be it Resolved, That all congregations of the Synod be en- couraged to involve younger adults in the life and work of the congregation, including service on congregational boards and committees; and be it further Resolved, That all District and national boards and com- missions seriously consider involving younger adults on their boards, commissions, and committees; and be it finally Resolved, That the BYS be directed to encourage and