# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2010_S197 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) Seminary and University Education Resolved, That the 2010 LCMS convention commend the Creation Research Society and express agreement with its statement of belief; and be it further Resolved, That the 2010 LCMS convention declare that all of the professors in LCMS colleges and seminaries must teach that evolution is contrary to the Bible and true science and that God created the world in six 24-hour days and not millions or billions of years; and be it further Resolved, that the LCMS thank CPH for publishing In Search of the Genesis World—Debunking the Evolution Myth and Dr. Erich von Fange for his decades-long defense of creation and opposition to evolution; and be it further Resolved, that the 2010 convention ask all science teachers in the LCMS to promote the work of the Creation Research Society and Answers in Genesis; and be it finally Resolved, that the 2010 convention recommend that members of the LCMS consider visiting the Creation Museum. The entire letter was published in the September 8, 2009, Christian News. 2 Lutheran Study Bible was reviewed in the March 23, 2009, Christian News. 3 Storms over Genesis was reviewed in the September 7, 2009, Christian News. 4 The August 4 & 11, 2008, Christian News on creation and evolution featured the Creation Museum. Trinity New Haven, MO 1 5-24 To Provide Deaconess Colloquy at Seminaries Whereas, The LCMS Board for Human Care Ministries is encouraging more LCMS church workers to serve in the specialized pastoral ministries of institutional chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, and supervision of specialized pastoral ministry training programs; and Whereas, To become a certified member of professional pastoral care organizations, a person must have current ecclesiastical endorsement from their church body and have completed a graduate-level theological degree; and Whereas, Deaconesses who serve in specialized pastoral ministries such as hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, prisons, congregational counseling centers, and LCMS Recognized Service Organizations need this ecclesiastical endorsement and professional certification; and Whereas, The Synod has a deaconess colloquy program to prepare non-Synod-trained deaconesses for Synod certification at the under-graduate level; and Whereas, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis train deaconesses at the level of Master’s Degree, needed for professional certification; therefore be it Resolved, That the LCMS deaconess colloquy process additionally be offered at the Synod’s seminaries so that deaconesses with graduate-level degrees can go through the process at the seminaries. Circuits 20, 21, 30 Texas District 197 5-25 To Revise Bylaw 3.8.3.5 re Commissioned Ministry Colloquy Rationale: It is proposed that the bylaw on commissioned minister colloquy should be revised to achieve three purposes. 1. Replacing the two college presidents with a representative from CUEnet and two faculty members will bring the committee membership into closer contact with the actual students and their instructional program. 2. Specifying two-year terms of service for committee members brings the committee into alignment with the proposed fouryear convention cycle (two years will be an appropriate rotation of faculty members). 3. Specifying that the program policies and procedures are to be maintained by the committee and publicized by the Concordia University System places the responsibility upon the entities that manage the program and deliver the instruction. Therefore be it Resolved, That Bylaws 3.8.3.5.1–3.8.3.5.10.1 be revised to read: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 3.8.3.5.1 The Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry shall consist of the First Vice-President of the Synod, the executive director of the Board for University Education, and two college/university presidents. The President of the Synod shall appoint the vice-president of the Synod and the two college/university presidents serving on the committee. the president of Concordia University System or a representative , a representative from CUEnet, and two Concordia University System faculty : one member of a theology department and one member of an education department, appointed to two- year terms by the president of the Concordia University System. The First Vice-President appointed by the President shall be the chairman of the committee. (a) The committee shall direct the Synod activity in matters of colloquies for commissioned ministries. (b) The committee shall also establish and monitor academic and theological standards for each of the colloquy programs. The procedures and standards shall be documented by the Concordia University System and made available through its publications. (c) The committee shall consult the directors of the various programs offering colloquy at the Synod’s colleges and universities when establishing or reviewing the standards, application and curriculum requirements, and procedures. (d) The committee , in its sole discretion, shall decide whether an objection to a colloquy candidate is valid. (c) (e) The committee shall render a report on commissioned-minister colloquy activities to each convention of the Synod. Application and Certification 3.8.3.5.2 Each individual college or university shall be responsible for acting upon applications and for establishing a prescribed program of study (including the requisite courses in theology) for each person admitted. (a) Each of the Synod’s colleges and universities shall have a colloquy examining committee. (b) The institution’s president shall appoint the committee, and it shall include the directors of the commissioned-ministry programs. 3.8.3.5.2.1 Persons seeking membership in the Synod through a colloquy program for commissioned ministry shall submit an application to one of the Concordia campuses offering the desired colloquy program or to Concordia University Education Network (CUEnet) when applicable. Determination of the applicant’s eligibility to begin a course of study shall rest with each institution and/or with CUEnet. The student 2010 Convention Workbook 2010 Convention.indb 197 4/15/10 2:39 PM