# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S227 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) HIGHER EDUCATION 227 workers and other students in the schools, as it relates to the mis- sion of the church; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, require that all of the seminaries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod develop and promote a United States mission track as a major course of study available to students desiring certification in such a course of study; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, require that all semi- naries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod develop and offer courses of study in the area of leadership development, inclusive of ¢ theory of leadership development, * strategies of developing leaders in the congregational setting, * understanding and developing team ministry, and * a practicum requiring students to work on a project as a team; and be it finally Resolved, That a report outlining the compliance with this reso- lution be presented at the 2007 LCMS convention by the two sem- inaries. Board of Directors, lowa District West; Board of Directors, Southeastern District 5-17 To Establish Seminary at Concordia, Selma WHEREAS, The primary purpose of the Church is clearly stated by Christ Jesus Himself: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature;” and WHEREAS, The Word of God is still the Means of Grace through which the Spirit of God works as He builds the Kingdom; and WHEREAS, The age-old observation of the Savior, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few” is multiplied today; and WHEREAS, The passionate plea “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest” has also become our cry in black ministry today; and WHEREAS, In the LCMS this lack of laborers is painfully obvi- ous with over 350 congregations in black ministry with less than 100 active black pastors; and WHEREAS, If this present trend continues, this critical shortage will become much worse; and WHEREAS, When the seminary for training black pastors in Greensboro was closed, more than 40 years ago, it was often said that the “Concordias” could do a better job of recruiting and train- ing of black pastors, yet the opposite result is painfully obvious; and WHEREAS, Concordia College, Selma, historically through the years, was an effective feeder school for Immanuel Lutheran Sem- inary, Greensboro, N.C.; and WHEREAS, Concordia College, Selma, is setting new enrollment records every year with over 2,000 students within our vision and our Lutheran enrollment increasing; and Wuereas, U.S. News and World Report has declared Concordia College, Selma, to be among the top 100 colleges in quality educa- tion at a reasonable cost; and WHEREAS, The establishment of an LCMS seminary on the campus of Concordia College, Selma, would allow pastoral recruits to complete their theological training at Concordia College, Selma; therefore be it Resolved, That we give thanks to God for giving us this historic black college which is acutely attuned to the black culture in our church; and be it further Resolved, That the 2002 Black Ministry Family Convocation, through the Board of Black Ministry Services, request the estab- lishment of an LCMS seminary on the campus of Concordia Col- lege, Selma; and be it finally Resolved, That we continue to pray for our college, recruit stu- dents for it, and give all the moral and financial support that God enables us to give. Black Ministry Convocation 5-18 To Direct BHE to Restore Funding for Hispanic Institute of Theology WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus has called us to disciple all language groups; and WHEREAS, The United States Hispanic population now numbers over 36 million people, accounts for over 13 percent of the U.S. population, and continues to grow and therefore represents a very large mission field for the LCMS; and Wuereas, The LCMS currently only serves approximately 10,000 Hispanics representing about 0.4 percent of the LCMS membership; and Wuereas, The Hispanic Institute of Theology is the only de- partment of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis specifically mandated (1977 Res. 10-09A) to equip people whose dominant language is Spanish for service in parish and ordained ministries; and WuerEAS, The Hispanic Institute of Theology has been an ef- fective agency preparing more than 235 workers for parish and or- dained ministry since 1994; and WueEREAS, The synodical Board for Higher Education (BHE) eliminated its funding for the institute; therefore be it Resolved, That the Texas District memorialize the Synod in convention to direct the BHE to restore its funding of the Hispanic Institute of-Theology. Texas District 5-19 To Clarify Vicarage Requirement Rationale Bylaws 2.09 c and 6.85 require that an academic year of super- vised internship (vicarage) is required of all seminary students be- fore graduation, ordinarily in the second year before graduation. Because alternate educational routes are now offered by the seminaries of the Synod that include requirement expectations other than “‘academic years” and that result in other than “gradua- tions,” the Commission on Structure proposes the following bylaw changes to Bylaws 2.09 and 6.85'to reflect the practice of the Synod. PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING Resolved, That Bylaw 2.09 c be amended as follows: c. Candidates who may be declared qualified for first calls are those who before the effective date of the first calls will have satisfactorily completed the prescribed courses of studies and will have received diplomas from their respective institutions or have fulfilled the requisites of an alternate route of study or a colloquy. In addition, they must have indicated complete dedi- cation to the ministry and evidenced a readiness for service in the church. Finally, to be declared qualified and recommended by the faculties or colloquy committees for their specific types of service in the church, the appropriate faculty or colloquy committee must be satisfied that the individual will meet all per- sonal, professional, and the theological requirements of those who hold the office of ministry to which the individual aspires. In addition, a® aeademie calendar year of supervised internship (vicarage) is required of all seminary students before graduation completion of their study program, ordinarily in the second year before graduation. and be it further Resolved, That Bylaw 6.85 be amended as follows: