# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S216 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 216 HIGHER EDUCATION 5-32 To Amend Bylaws re Teacher Colloquy Wuereas, It has Jong been a value of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod that teachers certified for the teaching ministry be engaged to teach in schools operated by congregations of the LCMS; and WHEREAS, Over the past decade, the percent of teachers within LCMS schools and early childhood centers has declined by 10 per- cent, so that in 1999 only 13 percent of teachers in LCMS early childhood centers, 61 percent of teachers in LCMS elementary schools, and 59 percent of teachers in LCMS secondary schools were synodically certified Ministers of Religion, Commissioned; and WHEREAS, Over the past several years the Synod has only been able to replace through placement, colloquy, and reinstatement be- tween one half and two thirds of the teachers who leave the min- istry each year; and WHEREAS, District and synodical leaders point to the inaccessi- bility of colloquy education as a critical factor in the failure of large numbers of uncertified educators in Lutheran schools to become certified; therefore be it Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education/Concordia Uni- versity System recommends revision of the Bylaws as noted below, to also include management and delivery of technology-mediated colloquy modules/courses through the Concordia University Edu- cation Network (CUEnet) as an accessible alternative delivery sys- tem for colloquy courses: and be it further Resolved, That the interview for graduates of the technology- mediated CUEnet-managed System-wide colloquy program as Commissioned Ministers of the LCMS be conducted by no less than one university president or his designee, a representative of the District office from which the candidate comes, and others as determined by the governing body of the Concordia University System; and be it finally Resolved, That the Secretary of the Synod be directed to make any changes in the synodical Handbook that are needed to autho- rize the CUEnet-delivered teacher colloquy program. PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING G. ADMISSION TO THE TEACHING MINISTRY BY COLLOQUY 6.105 Colloquy Committees a. The Colloquy Committee for the Teaching Ministry shal] consist of a Vice-President of the Synod and two presidents of synodical instilutions offering a bachelor’s degree in teacher ed- ucation. All members shall be appointed by the President of the Synod. The Vice-President shall be chairman of the committee. edrestenshat-heve-t-cotediy exerting committee selected: by-tts-teentt: The Colloquy Committee for the Teaching Min- istry shall direct the synodical activity in matters of colloquies for the teaching ministry. c. The Colloquy Commitee for the Teaching Ministry end shall also establish and monitor academic and theological stan- dards for admission to the teaching ministry by colloquy. and in the establishment of these standards the committee shall consult the faculties of the synodical colleges and universities offering bachelor’s degrees in teacher education. 6.106 Eligibility for Admission to the Program Applicants for admission to the Teacher Colloquy Program shall be at least 25 years of age. shall possess a bachelor’s de- gree, shall have completed student teaching under the supervi- sion of a synodical institution offering a bachelor’s degree in teacher education or one year of successful teaching in a school recognized by the Synod, and shall be individuals for whom no valid objection is made pursuant to Bylaw 6.107, (Graduates of the teacher-education program of Valparaiso University need 200! Convention Workbook not meet the age requirement to appiy for admission to the syn- odical teacher colloquy program.) 6.107 Funetions-ef the-ConmunitteeP ublication of Notice : . . Teaching Mini 4 After the Colloquy Committee for lhe Teaching Ministry has received notification of a student’s admission to the colloquy program from a Concordia campus or from Concordia Univer- sity Education Network (CUEnet), the commiltee shall seek the endorsement of the respective District president for the student and publish notice in an official periodical of the Synod. If no valid objection to the applicant is received by the Colloguy Committee for the Teaching Ministry within four weeks after the publication of such notice, acceptance into the program shall be deemed final. The committee, in ils sole discretion, shall de- cide whether an objection is valid. Its decision shall not be sub- 6.108 Certification Certification by the faculty of one of the Concordia cam- puses shall follow satisfactory completion of an oral examina- tion based upon courses in education, doctrine, biblical inter- pretation, church history, and church practice, of which a minimum of four shall be taken in a traditional classroom setting trom a synodical college or university offering a bachelor’s de- gree or with faculty of a synodical college or university teaching via CUEnet, so as to meet the academic and theological stan- dards established by the Colloquy Commitlee for the Teaching Ministry. 6.109 Ehigibiity-for-vdmission-te-thePregramPlacement li Cox adeaian! hine-minisinet When all requirements have been met, including a final oral examination, the student shall be declared eligible for the teach- ing minisiry and shall be assigned his or her first call by the Council of Presidents acting as the Board of Assignments. a. Such action shall be reported to the chairman of the Col- loguy Committee for the Teaching Ministry and the appropriate District President;