# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S456
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

456

PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES

Ov. 6-16

To Authorize the Council of Presidents (Acting as
the Board of Assignments) to Create a System for
the Placement of Inactive—Candidate Members
WHEREAS, There is an increasing deficit in the number of
graduating candidates required to meet the requests of
congregations and other calling entities to fill vacant ordained and
commissioned positions; and
WHEREAS, There is an extensive pool of both ordained and
commissioned church workers on inactive—candidate status, many
of whom are desiring a call; and
WHEREAS, There is currently no system in place for directly
placing
these
educated,
examined,
called,
and
ordained/commissioned candidates into congregations who are
seeking a candidate to fill a vacancy; therefore be it
Resolved, That in accordance with Bylaw 3.10.1.3, the 2019
Synod convention authorize the Council of Presidents (COP),
acting as the Board of Assignments, to develop a system whereby
any congregation or other calling entity that requests a graduating
candidate (either ordained or commissioned) for a vacant position,
but does not receive a graduating candidate might then be able to
receive a member on inactive—candidate status from the Synod
roster placed into that vacant position instead; and be it further
Resolved, That this system shall then be presented to the Board
of Directors (BOD) for final approval and for making any necessary
changes to the bylaws in accordance with Bylaw 7.1.2; and be it
further
Resolved, That this system shall not be used in lieu of the
placement of candidates from the seminaries, universities, and
colleges of the synod, but rather that this system may be used only
after such placements have been made in an effort to fill any
remaining vacancies for which there were no graduating candidates
available; and be it further
Resolved, That due to the urgency both of filling vacancies and
of moving qualified and capable rostered workers from inactivecandidate status to active status, the COP (acting as the Board of
Assignments) and the BOD shall have this system in place and
ready to use following the spring 2020 placements; and be it finally
Resolved, That the 2018 Indiana District convention submit this
overture to the 2019 Synod convention for consideration and action.
Indiana District
Ov. 6-17

To Improve a System for the Placement of
Members on Candidate Status
WHEREAS, There is an increasing deficit in the number of
graduating candidates required to meet the requests of
congregations and other calling entities to fill vacant ordained and
commissioned positions; and
WHEREAS, There is an extensive pool of both ordained and
commissioned church workers on candidate status, many of whom
are desiring a call but for one reason or other have difficulty getting
a call; and
WHEREAS, In accordance with Bylaw 3.10.1.4, the 2016
convention authorized the Council of Presidents (acting as the
Board of Assignments) to develop a system whereby any

2019 Convention Workbook

congregation or other calling entity that requests a graduating
candidate or other candidate from the field for a vacant position but
does not receive a candidate will then receive a list of eligible
members on candidate status from the Synod roster from their
district president for consideration for a call into that vacant position
(2016 Res. 12-02A); therefore be it
Resolved, That this system shall not be used in lieu of the
placement of candidates from the seminaries, universities, and
colleges of the Synod, but rather that this system may be used only
after such placements have been made in an effort to fill any
remaining vacancies for which there were no graduating candidates
available.
Board of Directors
Southeastern District
Ov. 6-18

To Fund a Synod Program of Support
to Promote Increased Enrollment
at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis,
and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne
WHEREAS, The declaration of Jesus, “The harvest is plentiful, but
the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the
harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2), is as true
today as when it was spoken some 2,000 years ago; and
WHEREAS, Despite the best efforts of the seminaries, overall
enrollments have declined in recent years; and
WHEREAS, The current enrollments will not support graduating
classes sufficient to meet the needs of the church in terms of filling
upcoming vacancies for ordained clergy and Lutheran deaconesses;
and
WHEREAS, Additional trained church workers will continue to be
needed for specialized ministries, such as military chaplaincy,
hospital chaplaincy, missions, faith-based ministry, and other
specialized ministries; and
WHEREAS, For the sake of the Gospel in our sinful world it is
essential that more laborers be prepared; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod fund and execute a program to promote
pastoral and diaconal ministry as God-pleasing vocations, as well
as seminary enrollment in pursuit of those vocations to the people
of the Synod, and to identify potential candidates for ministerial
training at various stages of life, but particularly younger people;
and be it further
In the Concordia Theological Seminary version:
Resolved, That as part of this program, all of these identified
individuals be referred to both the respective seminary recruitment
departments for contact and communication.
In the Concordia Seminary version:
Resolved, That as part of this program, these identified
individuals all be referred to both the respective seminary
recruitment departments for follow up.
Faculty, Concordia Seminary;
Faculty, Concordia Theological Seminary