# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1995_S134 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 134 _ RESOLUTIONS To Renew Commitment to Seminary Education RESOLUTION 5-02A Overture 5-01 (CW, p. 201) * WHEREAS, Our Synod, since its formation, has had as one of its main. objectives the education of mén for the-pastoral office; and ; “WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod needs an increasing number of seminary graduates for the pri- mary work of the church, that of spreading the Gospel; and WHEREAS, Many pastors are graduating from seminary with debts that are extremely difficult to repay on starting pastors’ salaries; and.” WHEREAS, This debt puts undue pressure not only ona new pastor’s family, but on his ministry; and WHEREAS, Many men, who have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to study for the pastoral ministry, are appre- hensive of the impending financial burden and the nega- tive impact it may have on their families and their studies; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod renew its commitment to the education of pastors and di- rect the Board for Higher Education and the seminaries to increase the student-aid endowment fund for seminarians; and be it further Resolved, That, in doing so, it also set as a goal the in- gathering of funds sufficient to cover the cost of all tuition for every student enrolled in the seminaries for the purpose of entering the LCMS pastoral ministry. Action: Adopted (5). (In session 3 an amendment to substitute the words #o allevi- ate undue financial burden for to cover the cost of all tuition in the.final resolve was declined. A substitute motion was offered which the delegates declined to consider. An amendment to in- sert the words that no student be denied theological education for financial consideration after the word sufficient and to delete the remainder of the words in the final resolve was declined.) To Respectfully Decline to Act upon Overture 5-25 RESOLUTION 5-03A Overture 5-25 (CW, pp. 207-16) Resolved, That the Synod in convention respectfully de- cline to act on Overture 5-25, with the exception of those sections pertaining to Bylaws 6.87-6.103 (“Admission to the Pastoral Ministry by Colloquy”), which is covered in Res. 5-06; and be it further Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education/Concor- dia University System, during the upcoming triennium, study the concerns raised by various overtures in the 1995 Convention Workbook and additional concerns raised dur- ing the floor committee hearings; and be it finally Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education/Concor- dia University System bring appropriate reports and rec- ommendations to the 1998 convention. Action: Adopted (5). ‘ To Encourage Prior Full-Time Church Service of All College and Seminary Presidents RESOLUTION 5-04A ’ Overture 5-03 (CW, p. 201) WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has recognized the desirability of parish experience for those who serve as presidents of our colleges, universities, and seminaries (1981 Res. 6-23 and 1983 Res. 6-13); therefore be it Resolved, That the electors, when calling a college, uni- versity, or seminary president, be encouraged to give con- sideration to candidates who have had a minimum of .three years called service within The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod prior to their election. Action: Adopted (5). (An amendment to substitute the word required for encour- aged in the resolve was declined.) To Request Report from the Board for Higher Education RESOLUTION 5-05 Overtures 5-15-21 (CW, pp. 204-6) WHEREAS, The historic purpose for maintaining educa- tional institutions in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is to “recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers” (Article III); and WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has resolved that “campus facilities of the Synod also [to] be utilized more effectively wherever possible for the Christian higher ed- ucation of the laity of the church and for their preparation for service as Christians in a secular world as well as for their development as lay leaders in local congregations” (1986 Res. 6-01A); and WueEreEas, The Lord of the church has richly blessed The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod through its edu- cational ministries included in the Concordia University System (see BHE report, Workbook, pp. 79-85); therefore be it Resolved, That we give thanks to God for the creative and visionary leadership the Board for Higher Educa- tion/ConcordiaUniversity System has given in response to earlier convention resolutions (1983 Res. 6-03; 1986 Res. 6-01A; 1992 Res. 6-04); and be it further Resolved, That we ask the Board for Higher Educa- tion/Concordia University System to review its goals and strategic initiatives (1995 Convention Workbook, p. 80) in light of the original purpose for these church-sponsored colleges and universities; and be it further Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education/Con- cordia University System respond to concerns reflected in some of the overtures, such as purpose, capital indebted- ness, percentage of non-Lutheran students enrolled, and costs of education for future church workers; and be it fi- nally Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education/Con-