# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S217 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SEMINARY AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION 217 members so that they may be more effective in their service to the Lord and His Church; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod resolved in 2004 Res. 5-09, “That for the sake of good order, the Council of Presidents of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the new Board for Pastoral Education with the guidance of the seminary faculties develop a standardized core curriculum for district lay- training programs and coordinate a national listing of participants”; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention support and affirm the training programs of the districts to prepare laity for congregational leadership; and be it further Resolved, That the Board for Pastoral Education (BPE), given authority by the Synod with respect to seminaries and pastoral ed- ucation, give prior approval to all programs leading to Word and Sacrament ministry; and be it further Resolved, That both the residential degree and/or certificate pro- gram of preparation and the blended contextual and residential pro- gram of preparation in the Specific Ministry Pastor Program offer a comprehensive and coherent approach to preparation of pastors; and be it further Resolved, That the wholesome partnership developed between districts and seminaries be supported under the purview of the BPE through the DELTO Oversight Committee, maintaining the role of coordination, with the commitment to working together and build- ing on the districts/seminaries partnership, incorporating the work done with the district courses into the Specific Ministry Pastor cur- riculum, annually reviewing and revising the programs; and be it finally Resolved, That the districts maintain the national listing of par- ticipants trained and in training for congregational leadership and the seminaries continue to number the enrollment of men preparing for Word and Sacrament ministry. Board for Pastoral Education 5-12 To Explore Pastoral Ministry Options and Opportunities WHEREAS, Approximately 20 percent of the congregations in the LCMS, and at least that percentage in the Atlantic District, are unable to afford a pastor; and WHEREAS, There are often impediments to providing pastoral care as well as Word and Sacrament ministry in any other way than with a variety of pastoral and diaconal modes of assistance; and WHEREAS, Congregational vitality and mission and ministry op- portunity are sapped and lost without ongoing spiritual leadership, leading to a growing percentage of congregations that are not vi- able either financially or in terms of membership; and WuereaS, Our Lord has commanded us to practice good stew- ardship as well as to reach the world with the precious Gospel through local congregations; therefore be it Resolved, That the Atlantic District petition the 2007 conven- tion of the LCMS to work expeditiously in conjunction with districts, seminaries, and representatives of challenged local con- gregations to develop theological and practical solutions to effect pastoral care and growth, including the administration of Word and Sacrament, to the end that parishes be empowered for mission and ministry even when challenged in terms of membership and finance. Atlantic District §-13 To Study Health Insurance Coverage for Seminary Students Whereas, Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has given His church the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptiz- ing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has estab- lished and supports seminaries for the purpose of training men to lead in fulfilling this Great Commission; and WHEREAS, The students at these seminaries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have made a commitment to explore their role in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the con- gregations and missions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WuereaS, These students often make this commitment at great financial sacrifice; and WHEREAS, This often makes the cost of health insurance for the students and their families unaffordable or an extreme financial commitment, often putting these men, and their families, at risk during these seminary years due to the lack of affordable health in- surance or group coverage; and WHEREAS, It should be a goal of The Lutheran Church—Mis- sour Synod to prevent or minimize such financial hardships for these students and to minimize their family health risk; therefore be it Resolved, That the Nebraska District memorialize the Synod’s 2007 convention to direct the Board for Pastoral Education to study and make appropriate recommendations regarding possible health insurance coverage for seminary students and their families under the Concordia Health Plan at reduced student rates or such other health benefit plans and programs as may be appropriate. Nebraska District 5-14 To Clarify Membership on Board for Pastoral Education Rationale In the general “Regulations for Corporate Synod and Agencies of Synod,” Bylaw 1.5.4 states: Unless otherwise specified or permitted by the Bylaws, executives, faculty, and staff on either the national or district level shall not be members of the board of the agency under which they serve, nor shall any such executives or staff be members of the board of any other agency of the Synod. In the first half of Bylaw 1.5.4 it states “executives, faculty, and staff on either the national or district level shall not be members of the board of the agency under which they serve,” but in the second half of the statement, “faculty” is omitted. This omission of the word “faculty” leaves open the possibility that a faculty member from one of the colleges/universities/seminaries may serve on the Board for Pastoral Education. A faculty member from another Lutheran higher education entity serving on the Board for Pastoral Education is potentially in a conflict of interest position. To ensure elimination of conflict of interest and potential com- petition from and with other Lutheran institutions of higher educa- tion, a statement specifying ineligibility of certain persons should be included in Bylaw 3.8.2.1; therefore be it Resolved, Bylaw 3.8.2.1 be revised to read: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING The Board for Pastoral Education shall be composed of nine voting and five nonvoting members (no more than one voting member elected by the Synod shall be from the same district, and i f fi And be it further Resolved, That current board members stay in place through their terms and then each is replaced according to this Bylaw. Board for Pastoral Education