# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S215 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) HIGHER EDUCATION 215 Wuereas, A large debt can prevent some from serving the church in a professional way and cause others difficulty in their service to the Lord; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con- vention seek to lower the tuition expenses for those who seek to serve their Lord through professional church work; end be it further Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con- vention reaffirm its support for our Concordia colleges, universi- ties, and seminaries through a pledge of cooperation; and be it fur- ther Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con- vention reaffirm its support for our Concordia colleges, universi- ties, and seminaries through an increase of financial support to each synodical institution; and be it finally Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod seek to eliminate all tuition and book fees with due considerations and stip- ulations for those who desire to serve our Lord through His church on earth within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Fergus Falls Circuit Forum Minnesota North District 5-19 To Study Preseminary Curriculum WHEREAS, All of the colleges and universities of the Concordia University System offer preseminary curricula to prepare men for entrance to the seminaries of The Lutheran Church——Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, This preseminary education provides a valuable component in the theological and spiritual formation of future pas- tors in the church; and WuerEAS, Graduates of Concordia University System presemi- nary programs often have taken courses and participated in activi- ties which are duplicated at Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod seminaries; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention instruct the Board of Directors of the Board for Higher Education/Concordia University System to convene a working group of educators from Concordia University System schools and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod seminaries to study how the preseminary curricula of the Concordia University System schools can be structured to maxi- mize preparation for seminary study; and be it further Resolved, That this working group develop a program to give advanced academic standing at the seminaries for qualified gradu- ates of Concordia University System preseminary programs; and be it finally . Resolved, That this program be implemented for the class en- tering the seminaries in the fall of 2000 and that the Board of Di- rectors of the Board for Higher Education/Concordia University System report to the convention in 2001 on the structure and im- plementation of this program. Faculty Concordia College Ann Arbor, MI 5-20 To Require Study of Luther’s Small Catechism by Students Preparing for Ordination WueREAS, The Small Catechism of Dr. Luther is intended to be used, not only in the home and family, but also in the church as a handbook of instruction in Christian doctrine; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions regard the ability to recite from memory the text of the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Our Father, and the words of institution for Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, as well as an intelligent mastery of the meaning as a minimum requirement for admission to the blessed Sacrament of the Altar (SC Introduction 7-11); and WHEREAS, Some of the students entering our seminary have never studied Luther’s Small Catechism; and WHEREAS, Pastors of the Lutheran Church are instructed by blessed Martin Luther to “ . . . take these tables and forms (the Cat- echism) and impress them, word for word, on the people, ...” (SC Introduction 6); and WuerEAs, Children and young people, especially, are to be taught the Catechism by their parents and pastor; and WHEREAS, Pastors who have not themselves been taught the Catechism have difficulty teaching it to their congregation; there- fore be it Resolved, That the seminaries provide a required course in Luther’s Small Catechism for first-, second-, and fourth-year stu- dents; and be it further Resolved, That such a course shall not be less than three semes- ter hours. Pastoral Conference Montana District 5-21 To Direct Seminaries to Conduct Courses on Catechism WHEREAS, The Catechism is the basic tool by which people are trained in the Christian faith; and WHEREAS, Some men who enter the seminaries do not know the Catechism; and WHEREAS, Luther himself admitted that he daily needed to re- view the Catechism; and Wuereas, The Catechism should be an integral part of each pastor’s life; therefore be it Resolved, That Concordia Seminary and Concordia Theologi- cal Seminary conduct at least one three-hour course during each of the first, second, and fourth years of the seminarian’s training to not only familiarize the men with the Catechism but also to cate- chize them in the essentials of the Christian faith; and be it further Resolved, That the seminaries expand the study of the Cate- chism to include the study of the catechumenate by the faculty and students. Mt. Olive Billings, MT 5-22 To Continue to Teach Future Pastors Importance of Practicing Close(d) Communion Wuereas, God the Holy Spirit has stipulated in His Word that pastors and congregations, out of sincere love for blood-bought souls, are to watch over carefully those who come to receive the very body and blood of God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that they may receive the rich blessings of this Holy Sacrament and not for various reasons run the dreadful risk of receiving its judgment through unbelief, misbelief, impenitence, or a mere external show of unity where none exists, Acts 20:28-31; 1 Cor. 10:1-22; 1 Cor. 11:27-29; Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; 2 John 8-11; 1 John 4:1; etc.; and WuereEAs, The church from the earliest days has taken these holy words very seriously and therefore has taught and practiced close(d) Communion; and WHEREAS, All churches until a recent. time have practiced close(d) Communion; and WHEREAS, The majority of Christian churches continue to teach and practice close(d) Communion; and Wuereas, All Lutheran churches except for those of “mixed confession,” (Constitution, Art. VI 2 b) taught and practiced close(d) Communion until the mid-20th century; and