# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S192 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 192 RESOLUTIONS has always been zealous and enthusiastic in promoting and supporting the colleges and seminaries that it established to provide training for professional workers; and WHEREAS, The synodical support for the St. Louis seminary declined from 62.5 percent in 1969—70 to 39.6 percent in 1979—80, with a projected drop to 32.1 percent in 1980—-81, and the Fort Wayne seminary experienced a similar decline, from 55 percent in 1969— 70 to 38.1 percent in 1980—81; and WHEREAS, There has been a substantial increase in tuition and fees paid by the students, which has caused genuine hardship on many of them; and WHEREAS, The solicitation of individuals and con- gregations by the seminaries may well impinge on the stewardship activities of the Synod and its Districts; and WHEREAS, Such solicitations have imposed an ad- ditional drain on the seminary’s resources of time, talent, and treasures, which had to be divided to the raising of funds rather than to more appropriate needs; and WHEREAS, History teaches that seminaries tend to become independent in their planning when they are forced to provide more and more of their own support; and WHEREAS, The reduced subsidies have limited the seminary’s ability to call the necessary faculty mem- bers, to hire badly needed staff people and to pay adequate salaries; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod instruct the Board for Higher Education to provide 40 percent of the educa- tional and general budget of the two seminaries for the 1982—1983 fiscal year; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod instruct the Board for Higher Education to increase the support granted to the PRESENT WORDING 4.61 Program of Instruction b. After admission to the pastoral colloquy pro- gram, up to 2 full academic years of instruction at one of the Synod’s theological seminaries, including not less than one full year in residence, as well as a vicarage under synodical auspices, shall be expected of: 1. ministers, or candidates for the ministry, in good standing in non-Lutheran Christian church bodies; 2. graduates of anon-Lutheran seminary in good standing in a synodical congregation; 3. graduates of the Synod’s teachers colleges who have had at least 5 years of successful experience as a Lutheran teacher or director of Christian education. seminaries by no less than an additional 5 percent per year until the Synod is providing at least 65 percent support for the educational and general budget of the two seminaries; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod authorize and instruct the Board of Directors to allocate the necessary funds to make this level of support possible for the two seminaries without decreasing the funds needed to provide for the present level of support for the preparation of full-time church workers at synodical colleges; and be it finally Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod be urged to commit themselves to greater financial support of the Synod so that these resolutions may be carried out. Action: Adopted (10). (The committee changed ‘‘1981—1982” to “1982-1983” in the first resolved.) To Strengthen Colloquy Program RESOLUTION 6-19 Report 6-02 (CW pp. 232—233); Overtures 6-17— 6-18 (CW, pp. 255—256) WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has traditionally maintained higher standards for entrance into the pastoral ministry; and WHEREAS, The shortage of pastors brings pressure to hasten the certification of workers for the field; and WHEREAS, The Synod in its eagerness to provide workers for a wide variety of ministries might be inclined to seek shortcuts by lowering the standards for certification; and WHEREAS, Such a lowering of standards would not benefit the Kingdom and the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That Bylaw 4.61b be changed to read: PROPOSED WORDING 4.61 Program of Instruction b. After admission to the pastoral colloquy pro - gram, not less than 2 full and up to 3 full academic . years of instruction at one of the Synod’s theological seminaries, including not less than one full year In - residence, as well as a vicarage under synodical . auspices, shall be expected of: 1. ministers, or candidates for the ministry, 0 good standing in non-Lutheran Christian church bodies; ‘ 2. graduates of a non-Lutheran seminary in good standing in a synodical congregation; 3. graduates of the Synod’s teachers colleges who have had at least 10 years of successful experience a8 a Lutheran teacher or director of Christian education. Action: Adopted as amended (10). (Amendment: 10 years’ service required instead of 5. A motion to reconsider Res. 6-19 in Session 11 was defeated.)