# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S127
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES 127

teachers, to qualify for the ministry without a satisfactory formal
seminary training.-

._ 5, Synod’s present Handbook has reverted to the original pur-
pose of the colloquy. Its directives read:

Applications by Ministers from Without Synod
4.55 Directed to District President

Applications of pastors and candidates for the ministry coming
from a church body not affiliated with Synod shall be directed to
the President of the District in whose territory the application
originates.

4.57 Information Required

The District President, upon receipt of an application, shall
request a short autobiography, trustworthy credentials, and any
other pertinent information touching upon the qualifications of
the applicant for the office of the ministry. After establishing the
sufficiency and trustworthiness of the information submitted, the
District President shall publish the applicant’s request in the
official organs of Synod. If no valid objection is filed within four
weeks after the notice of the application has been published, the
District President shall submit the application, together with his
findings, to the respective Examining Committee for further action.

4.59 The Examining Committee

The Examining Committee shall consist of the presidents of
the two theological seminaries of Synod and one of the Vice-
Presidents of Synod, designated by the President of Synod. The
Vice-President shall be the chairman of this committee. In excep-
tional cases the chairman shall, with the consent of the other
examiners, be empowered to appoint a substitute committee of
three competent members of Synod to examine the applicant.
The examination shall always be held before competent witnesses.

4.61 The examination shall comprehend the character, general
fitness, theological training, and doctrinal position of the applicant.
The chairman of the Examining Committee shall fix the time and
place of examination and shall, four weeks prior to the examination,
send to the applicant the text on which he is to submit a written
sermon and also the theme for a doctrinal essay. These two
papers shall be submitted to the Examining Committee eight days
prior to the examination. The examination shall be either oral
or written or both and shall comprehend the essentials of the four
departments of Christian theology. The applicant shall preach
the written sermon which he submitted and give evidence of his
ability to conduct a catechization. The examiners shall, above all