# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S236 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 236 HIGHER EDUCATION survey of the doctrine and practice of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod; and be it further Resolved, That each seminar approach topics from the view- point of the teacher in a Lutheran school; and be it further Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education work in concert with the District education executives strongly to encourage con- gregations and schools to require enrollment in this program when contracting teachers ineligible for the regular teacher colloquy pro- gram; and be it finally Resolved, That upon completion of the program the teacher be awarded a “record of completion,” which designates the education received but affords no official status in the Synod. Board of Regents, Concordia University, River Forest, IL; Faculty, Concordia College, Bronxville, NY; Missouri District; Faculty, Concordia University, Irvine, CA; Peace, Conway, AR; Board for Higher Education/Concordia University System; Trinity, Bend, OR; Christ, Costa Mesa, CA; Board of Directors, Florida-Georgia District; Concordia University, Portland, OR 5-40 To Provide Incentive to Encourage Completion of Lutheran Teacher Diploma or Colloquy Programs WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod continues to place extremely high value on the education of children in the Word of God and doctrine of the church; and Wtereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has created higher education programs, including both the Lutheran Teacher Diploma Program for students attending a Concordia college or university and the Teacher Colloquy Program for students unable to attend a Concordia campus, to prepare ministers of religion— commissioned to teach the children enrolled in the parochial school classrooms of our congregations in a manner consistent with the doctrine of our church; and WHEREAS, At least 11,000 educators are teaching in LCMS schools without benefit of a complete and formal training in the doctrine and practice of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, Research reveals that congregations have in large measure failed to provide incentives great enough to motivate non-Synod-certified teachers to finish the education required to be- come certified in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as min- isters of religion—commissioned; therefore be it Resolved, That congregations be encouraged immediately to take steps to come into compliance with Bylaw 2.45 c, which states that congregations shall call only Synod-certified teachers for their classrooms; and be it further Resolved, That congregations look to the Synod’s colleges and universities to provide teachers wherever possible; and be it fur- ther Resolved, That when a Synod Lutheran Teacher Diploma grad- uate is not available, the congregations of the Synod require their noncertified elementary, junior high school, and high school teach- ers to finish the Teacher Colloquy Program of the Synod, even if these teachers choose not to be listed on the roster of the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod encourage their early childhood educators to finish the Teacher Colloquy Program of the Synod, even if these same teachers choose not to be listed on the roster of the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That District salary guidelines include an incentive increase as a way of encouraging congregations to recognize their teachers who have completed the Lutheran Teacher Diploma or the Teacher Colloquy Program; and be it finally Resolved, That congregations be encouraged immediately to in- troduce a salary adjustment that recognizes the additional and vital education received by the Synod-certified teacher. Concordia University, Portland, OR; Faculty, Concordia College, Bronxville, NY; Missouri District; Faculty, Concordia University, Irvine, CA; Peace, Conway, AR; Board for Higher Education/Concordia University System; Trinity, Bend, OR; Christ, Costa Mesa, CA; Board of Directors, Florida-Georgia District 5-41 To Emphasize Mission Focus and Leadership Development in Professional Church-Worker Preparation WHEREAS, The mission and ministry of congregations, schools, and institutions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod require well-prepared professional church workers; and WHEREAS, The need for such workers to reach diverse peoples and cultures with the eternal truth of the Gospel calls us to contin- ually evaluate our present methods of preparing workers for the church today; and WHEREAS, The Synod has entrusted this preparation of profes- sional church workers to our colleges/universities of the Concor- dia University System; and WuerEAS, The Mission 21st Century Task Force has identified reasons for strengthening professional church-worker preparation; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod commend the colleges and universities of the Concordia University System for their dedicated work in preparing men and women for service in the church; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, desiring to expand the skills of professional church workers in the LCMS, require the cur- ricula of all the colleges and universities of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod to include at least one mission-focused required course such as these: + Evangelism, with a practicum requiring students to Practice ¢ evan- gelism in the field * Outreach strategies in the parish today « Contemporary United States culture * Urban ministry outreach strategies; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod, acting in convention, require the fac- ulties of the colleges/universities in the Concordia University Sys- tem to meet at least once every two years with a representative group of North America mission executives and the national mis- sion office of the Board for Mission Services to review what they perceive congregations need in professional church workers and other students in the schools, as it relates to the mission of the church; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, require that all of the colleges and universities 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 col- leges and universities of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod develop and offer courses of study in the area of leadership devel- opment, 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- lation be presented at the 2007 LCMS convention by the Concordia University System. Board of Directors, lowa District West; Board of Directors, Southeastern District