# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S212 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 212 HIGHER EDUCATION wherewithal of individual candidates for ordination and placement in the ministerium of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, In-depth interviews by trained theologians in a vari- ety of academic subjects and practical applications enjoyed a long and fruitful history in the certification and placement of pastoral candidates in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and greater Christendom; therefore be it Resolved, That psychological profiling of students and candi- dates for ordination at our seminaries be ended: and be it further Resolved, That a program of theological interviews of candi- dates by faculty of our seminaries prior to graduation and place- ment be restored; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod will stipulate that any psychological testing at the seminaries of the LCMS be limited to those persons who request such evaluation for themselves or to those whose be- havior suggests that they pose a direct physical threat to themselves or to others. Zion Tomball, TX 5-18 To Restore Theological Interviews at Seminaries WHEREAS, Seminaries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have the responsibility to certify candidates for the Holy Ministry and have used the theological interview as a tool in that process; and WHEREAS. This practice was discontinued at Concordia Semi- nary, St. Louis to “reduce the amount of stress” placed on the stu- dents: and WHEREAS, Stress and stressors are a significant part of the life of a pastor; and WHEREAS, Many other professional masters degree programs include oral examinations; therefore be it Resolved, That seminaries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod reconsider their decision to eliminate the theological inter- view: and be it further Resolved, That faculties of those seminaries make proper use of the results of the theological interviews in their deliberations to- ward certification of pastoral candidates; and be it finally Resolved, That this resolution be effective with the academic year 2001-2002. St. John Aliceville, Westphalia, KS To Involve Congregations in Certification for Ordination WHEREAS, The biblical qualifications for a bishop (elder/pastor) focus primarily on the personal character of the man (1 Tim. 3:1—7; 2? Tim. 2:24.-25:; Titus |:5—-9); and WHEREAS, This presupposes that the congregation selecting the pastor/elder is acquainted with his personal life and therefore able to determine whether or not he meets the biblical requirements; and WHEREAS, Pastors are not to be imposed upon congregations without their approval] and consent: and WHEREAS, For these reasons, congregations ought to be in- volved in determining whether or not a certain individual ought to be ordained into the pastoral ministry; and WHEREAS, Under the present circumstances, a seminary faculty does not have the opportunity to observe the personal life of stu- dents preparing for the pastoral ministry; and WHEREAS, Seminary faculties are, therefore, unable to deter- mine whether or not the individual meets the biblical requirements given in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5—9; therefore be it 2001 Convention Workbook Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education, through its Committee on Pastoral Education, together with the Council of Presidents, who are charged with the oversight of pastors and con- gregations, prepare and submit to the Synod a way of certifying men for ordination to the pastoral ministry which would include the following: I. The seminaries continue to certify the academic and doctrinal fitness of their graduates. 2. Graduates of the seminaries serve a congregation for a period of one year or more, during which time the congregation may ob- serve the graduate’s personal life to determine whether he mects the biblical requirements as given in | Tim. 3:17 and Titus 1:5-9. 3. This year of in-service training replaces the present vicarage pro- gram. 4. This year of training is under the supervision of a mentoring pas- tor, together with the Circuit Counselor and the District Presi- dent. 5. At the completion of the period of in-service training, the candi- date is ordained only after having received the endorsement of the congregation he has served, and following an examination by a colloquy committee composed of pastors of the Circuit, the Circuit Counselor, the District President, or his appointed repre- sentative. 6. Upon the call of the congregation his ordination is authorized. and be it further Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education submit its rec- ommendations to the next synodical convention for approval. Montana District 5-20 To Make Financial Counseling Available to Seminary Students WHEREAS, It is often necessary for most of our seminary stu- dents to borrow money in order to pay for their seminary educa- tion; and WHEREAS, Students may acquire substantial indebtedness, which they may not be able to repay unless they receive financial assistance or a large salary; and Wuereas, A number of graduates from our seminaries are re- sorting to bankruptcy in order to find relief from their creditors’ demands; therefore be it Resolved, That the Montana District ask the Synod, in conven- tion assembled, to require seminaries to make available financial credit counseling to all seminary students annually; and be it further Resolved, That the seminaries provide training in personal bib- lical stewardship for all seminary students; and be it finally Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded by the Secretary of the Montana District as an overture to the 2001 con- vention of the Synod. Montana District 5-21 To Include Clinical Pastoral Education in Seminary Curriculi WHEREAS, The ministry of Jesus Christ is expressed in the Gospels as one of teaching, preaching, and healing; and WHEREAS, The healing dimension of ministry incorporates many of the skills of interpersonal relationships and thoughtful awareness of self and others; and Wuereas, Many of the difficulties in ministry and the large church are related to inadequacies in interpersonal relationships and insensitivities to people’s emotional and personal needs: and