# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S85
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SYNODICAL REPORTS 85

lation that in the case of any current “licensed layman” who does

not become an ordained deacon by 31 December 1999, his license
shall be allowed to lapse, and finally that

6. The Secretary of the Synod be authorized to bring the syn-

odical Handbook into conformity with the above actions as needed.

John W. Meyer, Chairman

Board for Higher Education/

Concordia University System

William F. Meyer

Executive Director

Board for Higher Education/

President

Concordia University System

R5-02
Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support

The mission of the Commission on Ministerial Growth and
Support is to promote and facilitate the professional growth and
personal well-being of LCMS church workers for faithful, compe-
tent, and joyful ministry.

Central to this growth of professional church workers is the pro-
vision of continuing education experiences and the development of
a continuous learning culture which focus on the practice of min-
istry, care, and service. Learning is lifelong and takes advantage of
the rich experiences given by God, our Creator. The worker en-
gages the creation guided by God’s Holy Word and fortified by the
reception of the Holy Communion in the context of the body of
Christ as that is made visible in the parish community.

Triennium Goals
The triennium goals for the CMGS were as follows:

1. Continue to develop and administrate the Growth in
Excellence (GEM) program.

2. Participate in the development of a strategic plan for
continuing post-seminary education.

3. Develop resources to be used in the service of the mission of
the CMGS.

4. Promote a culture among professional church workers and
congregational leaders which values and supports continuous
learning.

All goals were achieved in whole or in large part. But they also
serve as ongoing markers for continuing direction.

Abundant Volunteer Participation

Vital to the offering of continuing education experiences has
been the Growth in Excellence in Ministry (GEM) program. It con-
tinues both to promote and to make available continuing education
opportunities which are designed to promote and facilitate the pro-
fessional growth of our workers. Through these opportunities, pro-
fessional church workers are encouraged and helped to develop and
maintain faithful, competent, and joyful ministries. Funding for the
GEM program is made possible through the financial support of
our fraternal partner, Lutheran Brotherhood.

Important to the facilitation of continuing education events is
the presence of strong and well-functioning continuing education
committees in the Districts. Each of the 35 LCMS Districts has a
volunteer Continuing Education Committee chairperson who de-
velops programs, encourages sensitivity for and commitment to
continuing education, and champions congregational support of
continuing education resources to be made available to workers.

These representatives are as follows:

Atlantic District
Allan Kebschull

CA-NV-HI District
Fred Stennfeld

Central Mlinois District
Wayne Hoffman
Eastern District
Otto Struckman
English District
Peter Mealwitz
Florida-Georgia District
Thomas Dohrman
Indiana District
Paul Rupprecht
Iowa East District
Harold Block
Iowa West District
Richard Osslund
Kansas District
Ken Lueders
Michigan District
David Hakes
Mid-South District
Harlan Heiserman
Minnesota North District
Richard Bolling
Minnesota South District
Steve Delzer
Missouri District
Donald Fraker
Montana District
Mark Grunst
Nebraska District
Daniel Myers
New England District
Robert Beinke
New Jersey District
Andrew Nelson
North Dakota District
Bill Sharpe
North Wisconsin District
Jonathan Vogel
Northern Illinois District
Tony Davison
Northwest District
Norm Metzler
Ohio District
Dale Kern
Oklahoma District
Mark Carter