# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S246 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 246 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION to . The revisions more clearly and accurately reflect the commis- sion’s current responsibilities for the vocational growth and per- sonal well-being of the church’s workers, and for meeting the changing and increasing needs of the church in the care and sup- port of its workers. 3. The revisions make more effective use of advisory tnput and use better stewardship of time by not requiring advisory members to sit through entire commission meetings but by calling upon their advisory function when their area of expertise comes into view and by allowing flexibility to solicit advice as the needs dictate. 4. The revisions incorporate a specific function of coordination (ob- rare jective “e’’) to fulfill the goal of coordination previously envi- sioned as taking place through advisory members. Rationale for Restructuring Board Membership 1. The revisions incorporate a reduction in the total number of members from fourteen (nine voting and five advisory) to thir- teen (thirteen voting and no advisory) members. Ww . The revisions increase the active decision-making power and representative character of the commission by increasing the number of voting members through restructuring without in- creasing the total number of commission members. 3. The revisions increase the representative character of the com- mission by matching the number of lay members (three) to the number of parish pastors (three) and to the number of commis- sioned ministers (three) through restructuring without increasing the total number of commission members. 4. The revisions strengthen congregational involvement in the sup- port of church workers by increasing the number of lay mem- bers through restructuring without increasing the total number of commission members. 5. The revisions conform more closely to the other commissions and boards which do not designate particular advisory members. 6. The revisions assume a modified way of using advisory input which accomplishes a better stewardship of time by not requiring advisory personne] to sit through entire commission meetings but which calls on their advisory function when their area of ex- pertise comes into view, and which allows flexibility to solicit advice as the needs dictate. 7. The revisions incorporate a specific function of coordination (ob- jective “e’’) to fulfill the goal of coordination previously envi- sioned as taking place through advisory members. Bylaw Recommendation CURRENT WORDING 3.913 Membership The Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support shall consist of nine members, who shall be appointed by the Presi- dent of the Synod: three ordained ministers, two commissioned ministers, one layperson, one college representative, and one representalive from each of the two seminaries. At least two of the above shall be parish pasiors, one of the above a District President or executive. The executive director of the Board of Higher Education (or his designee), lhe executive director for the Board for Congregational Services (or his designee), the President of the Synod (or his designee), the director of Human Resources of the Synod, and Director of Ministerial Health/ Health and Healing Ministries shall be advisory members. 3.915 Functions The commission shall assist the mission and ministry of the Synod and its congregations by a. providing opportunities and settings for all professional church workers to continue growing in Christ and in the knowl- edge, attitudes, skills, and personal well-being they need to serve Him in His church; b. helping professional workers develop personal and pro- fessional growth plans on a continuing basis for more satisfy- ing and effective ministry; 2001 Convention Workbook c. building a local and regional support system through the Districts for the care and growth of professional workers; d. assisting congregations and professional workers to as- sess needs in the area of professional care and growth and enlist the aid of appropriate synodical institutions, boards, and agen- cies in meeting those needs; e. developing and supervising a system of granting Continu- ing Education Units (CEUs) and encouraging the Synod through its Districts to monitor the credits of individuals and record such credits as reported by the individual worker for inclusion in the personnel file; f. developing a system for reporting and evaluation of min- isterial-growth programs in the Synod; g. assisting Districts in building an ongoing structure for ministerial growth, providing them with resources and support services, and helping them establish liaisons with centers of ed- ucation as wel] as with the commission; h. developing programs of ministerial growth and well being through the Districts; i. encouraging the development of continuing-education models in Districts and other appropriate entities and agencies that have potential for synodwide use; j. seeking out, identifying, coordinating, and publicizing the current programs of ministerial growth offered by the schools, Districts, boards, and agencies supported or sponsored by the Synod; k. assisting colleges, universities, seminaries, boards, and agencies by supporting effective existing programs and in their planning of new ministerial-growth programs; 1. developing and sponsoring ministerial-growth programs of general value to the Synod, using the resources of the Synod, including Concordia Publishing House; m. seeking grants from outside sources for continuing edu- cation funding and the Continuing Education Endowment Fund; n, encouraging Disiricts and congregations to make full use of available preventive and therapeutic care for professional church workers and their families. PROPOSED WORDING The Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support exists to provide opportunily for the continuing educational and voca- tional growth of the church’s workers, to advocate and facilitate care and counsel for the church’s workers to support them in the performance of their official duties, and to advocate and facili- tate support for the personal well-being of the church’s workers and their family members. The Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support shall consist of thirteen members: three ordained ministers who shall be parish pastors, three commissioned ministers (two teachers, one other than a teacher), three laypersons (one of whom shall be a parish pastor’s wife), one District President, two seminary faculty members (one from each seminary), and one Concordia University System faculty member. The members shall be ap- pointed by the President of the Synod. The members shall be active in their designated vocations. The Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support shall fulfill the following objectives: a. It shall assist and encourage the church's workers in the planning of their continuing educational and vocational growth and the personal well-being of them and their family members. b. It shall assist and encourage congregations in assessing and promoting the continuing educational and vocational growth of the church’s workers and the personal well-being of them and their family members. c. It shall assist and encourage Districts in the development of support systems for the continuing educational and vocational growth of the church’s workers and the personal well-being of them and their family members. d. It shall provide opportunities and settings for the church’s workers to continue to grow in Christ and in the knowledge, at- titudes, skills, and personal well-being they need to serve Him in His church.