# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S187
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

A person whois not eligible to receive a solemn call is
o be engaged as a “noncalled” person. It is inappro-
priate to refer to such a person’s relationship to the
’ organization as a “contract” relationship because those
who havea “call” also have a contract. Undergraduates
and graduates from nonsynodical colleges are ineligible
to receive calls.

A candidate is a person, male or female, who is
eligible to receive or be assigned an initial solemn call
and thus receive placement into an educational min-
istry. For the purpose of this document also, all current
senior class synodical-education and colloquy students
eligible for entrance into the church’s educational
ministry are referred to as candidates. This designation
assumes that such persons will complete their programs
successfully and receive faculty approval. Some can-
didates, usually those in the colloquy program, may
have had teaching or other educational experience prior
to their eligibility for candidacy.

An open call or a designated call may be submitted
for a candidate. An open call describes the details of the
position to which a candidate is being called, but it does
not identify which candidate is to receive the call. A
designated call is a call extended by a calling body toa
specific candidate. The offical call document is designed
so that the calling body can clearly indicate its
preference for a specific candidate.

An assignment or placement is the result of the
action of the Synod’s Board of Assignments working
together with directors of placement of the synodical
teachers colleges in placing specified candidates into
their official initial positions in an educational minsitry
of the church.

The director of placement is the official of a synodical
teachers college charged with the responsibility of
recommending candidates for placements under the
policies and procedures approved by the Board of
Assignments (Council of Presidents).

Establishing Educational Personnel Lists

The District Presidents are charged with the respon-
sibility of peronnel accountability for each District’s
varied ministries. Most Districts engage an education
executive who assists in that responsibility, especially
for the educational ministries.

As congregations and other calling bodies seek to
identify qualified new personnel, they will begin to
construct a list of names for possible consideration. The
calling body is well advised to solicit the help of the
District office also to suggest persons for consideration.

When seeking new educational personnel, calling
bodies have access to educators from four categories:

(1) (2) (3) (4)
Candidates Synodically Nonsynodi- Nonsynodi-

available trained cally cally

from the educators trained edu- trained edu-
synodical already en- cators with cators with
teachers gaged in professional no profes-
colleges ministry experience sional

experience

RESOLUTIONS 187

Those in categories one
and two are eligible to re-
ceive solemn calls into
the church’s public minis-
tries and be placed on the
roster of the Synod.

Those in categories three
and four can be engaged
on an other-than-a-call
basis and are classified
as “lay educators.” They
may become eligible for a
call by completing a
synodical colloquy
program.

District officers have access to names and back-
ground information regarding many qualified people,
especially those from categories one and two. Some
names may also be available from categories three and
four. A clear job description is very helpful in attempting
to identify appropriate personnel.

Personnel from all four categories may be considered
simultaneously. But calling bodies are encouraged to
call synodically trained personnel whenever possible.
Consideration should be given to qualified persons of
multicultures, both sexes, and from a variety of back-
grounds and experiences. Staff diversity is a strength.
However, background in theology and Lutheran doc-
trine and an understanding of the philosophy of
Christian education is of prime importance for programs
of Lutheran education.

District personnel may request aid in compiling
personnel lists from college placement officers and the
Synod’s Board of Parish Education. When calling bodies
seek direct help from these same sources, District
officers are informed of the names and information
provided by college placement officers and the Board of
Parish Education.

Calling bodies are ultimately responsible for their
choice of educational personnel. Every effort should be
made to contact references, check with the most recent
employer(s), etc. The calling body may wish to schedule
interviews with persons under final consideration.
Prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit is essential.

Procedure for Calling a Candidate

Asa member of the Synod, each calling body has the
assurance that the placement officers and District
officials, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will
provide assistance in the identification of appropriate
candidates. All candidates have the assurance that
they will receive sincere consideration so that they may
be available for potential calls in keeping with their
capabilities.

Calling bodies will be able to receive adequate
information about viable candidates, have access to
available candidates throughout the year, and utilize
their options of extending open calls for or designated
calls to candidates of category 1.

Option: Extending an Open Call

Acalling body extending an open call for a candidate
prepares the solemn call document and forwards it to its
District President for his signature. A cover letter may
be attached indicating that the asssigned candidate
should be from a specific college. The District office will