# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S138 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 138 CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES and two officers of the Synod to make a factual finding of synodi- cal and District operations, specifically relating to staffing; and be it further Resolved, That within one year of the appointment of said Task Force, the Task Force will provide a report to the President and the Board of Directors of the Synod, together with its recommenda- tions for operational modifications; and be it finally Resolved, That the President of the Synod and the Board of Di- rectors of the Synod implement the majority opinion of the Task Force as enunciated in its report within a two-year period from the date the report is presented formally to the President and the Board of Directors of the Synod. Lamb of God Pleasant Prairie, WI 2-14 To Give Consideration to Persons Other than Pastors for District and Synod Positions WHEREAS, The number of pastors in the LCMS has decreased over the last ten years (1987 to 1997, figures taken from the 1999 Lutheran Annual) from 5,812 to 5,215 (a decrease of 10 percent); and WuerEAS, The number of pastors serving in synodical or Dis- trict positions has increased from 247 to 422 (an increase of 71 percent); and WuerEAS, The number of vacant pulpits has increased from 457 to 981 (an increase of 115 percent); and WHEREAS, If the trend does not change, in ten more years the LCMS could have 1,200 fewer pastors then we have now; and WHEREAS, Our church body has a tremendous number of very capable laypeople and commissioned ministers willing to do what- ever service our Lord calls them to fulfill; therefore be it Resolved, That the Rocky Mountain District in convention memorialize the Synod when the job description does not require or prefer an ordained pastor to make full use of qualified laypeople and commissioned ministers in the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That our congregations be strongly encouraged to speak well of the vocation of pastor to our male youth at every opportunity, Rocky Mountain District 2-15 To Remove Clergy Requirement for Some Synod Offices WHEREAS, There is in the Synod and almost always has been a shortage of pastors who are serving the Lord in parish ministry; and WHEREAS, There are many highly qualified pastors who have been in the parish ministry, but who at the present time are holding a full-time position in ether a synodical or District office; and WHEREAS, The positions that these men are holding do not, ex- cept for the present Constitution or Bylaws, require that the posi- tion be held by an ordained pastor. Many of these positions could be better handled by laymen with training and experience in the business world; therefore be it Resolved, That many of the subordinate District and synodical positions be reevaluated and reclassified and the appropriate changes be made in the Constitution or Bylaws, and thus release more experienced pastors for service in parish ministry. Mount Hope Casper, WY 2001 Convention Workbook 2-16 To Provide for Pastoral Severance and Second Placement WHEREAS, Nearly 30 percent of all Christian ministers in the United States have been involuntarily terminated or “forced out” of their congregations; and WHEREAS, The number of pastoral resignations is currently occurring at a projected rate which, combined with retirements and other factors, will result in a decrease of pastors from 5,230 in 1997 to 2,200 in 2017 (Reporter, January 2000, p. 1); and WHEREAS, Those who have resigned are not eligible for unemployment benefits and often have no provisions for severance pay; and WHEREAS, The Constitution of the LCMS states that it is an objective of the Synod to provide “for the welfare of pastors” (Art. IIL 8-10); therefore be it Resolved, That congregations be urged to provide appropriate care, concern, and support for their pastors; and be it further Resolved, That in times of pastor-congregational conflict, congregations and pastors seek and utilize all means possible for effective healing, growth, and a continued healthy Christian partnership between pastor and congregation; and be it further Resolved, That in such cases when, despite all efforts, such is not possible, congregations be urged to provide adequate and reasonable severance compensation to support the pastor and his family through the difficult transition to a new parish or up to twelve months, whichever is sooner; and be it finally Resolved, That the Council of Presidents develop an alternate placement system which would allow for immediate placement of eligible candidates (e.g., active clergy, CRM) into eligible congregations. Such alternate placement would require consent of all parties involved in the placement—pastor, congregation, and respective District President. St. John Midland, MI 2-17 To Encourage Call of CRM Pastors WHEREAS, God has given Christ’s church the pastoral office to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments; and WHEREAS, The Districts and the Synod have noted an increase in vacancies and the need for more pastors; and WHEREAS, In order to help alleviate the shortage of pastors both of our LCMS seminaries offer free tuition; and WHEREAS, We have ordained men who are on CRM status and in synodical and District offices or college and seminary positions that could well be served by qualified laypersons; therefore be it Resolved, That we, the pastors and congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, encourage more men to enter the pastoral office; and be it further Resolved, That we support efforts and campaigns to raise fund- ing to develop new strategies to recruit more pastors; and be it fur- ther Resolved, That we encourage congregations to offer financial support for candidates for the pastoral office; and be it further Resolved, That we, the pastors and congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, encourage men on CRM status to go back into the parish ministry, which is the reason for their or- dination; and be it further Resolved, That we encourage calling congregations to actively seek out men who are on CRM status to be their pastor; and be it further Resolved, That we encourage ordained pastors who are serving in positions other than a parish ministry to prayerfully consider seeking to serve our Lord in a position of Word and Sacrament ministry; and be it finally