# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2013_S105
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SYNOD REPORTS
However, recognizing that there would be benefit to having the
Council of Presidents and both faculties together, the thought came
up concerning the possibility of meeting together electronically
on occasion. This possibility should be referred to the Program
Committee of the Council of Presidents along with the Faculty
Planning Committees.
6. Report Observation:
“Consideration should be given to offering formal continuing education opportunities, including granting CEUs, at official conferences.”
Proposed Convention Action:
This is addressed in Recommendation 5 (Report, p. 103).
Proposed Interim Action:
• The Council of Presidents should develop guidelines for official
district conferences which make provision for formal continuing
education opportunities, including the granting of CEUs. Such
guidelines may consider the 12 “Themes for Pastoral Education”
affirmed by 2010 Res. 5-05A. The Council of Presidents should also
begin working with the seminary faculties to determine continuing
education modules that may be incorporated.
7. Report Observation:
“Congregations or other calling entities do well to review information
about a pastor’s attitude and involvement in continuing education when
considering candidates for their call. They should also make ample
provision both in providing financial assistance and nonvacation time
for the pastor’s involvement in continuing education if he accepts
their call. Moreover, reflecting the encouragement of 2007 Res. 5-05,
districts should revise their district salary guidelines available to congregations, providing incremental adjustments to the salaries of pastors
who actively participate in some form of continuing education.”
Proposed Convention Action:
None
Proposed Interim Action:
• This should be referred to the Council of Presidents and specifically
to its Clergy Call and Roster Committee.
◦ A preliminary document on continuing education should be
drafted for immediate use, then modified following the 2016
convention to incorporate any changes concerning continuing
education that are adopted.
◦ The Council of Presidents’ Manual should be updated to include continuing education information.
• Initially, district presidents should do the following:
◦ Incorporate information about continuing education in their
pre-call/call process with congregations
◦ Involve the circuit counselors in promoting continuing education with both pastors and congregations
◦ Work to modify their district salary guidelines to account for
continuing education
8. Report Observation:
“Every pastoral candidate and pastor should develop a personal continuing education portfolio, including a long-term plan of action and
goals for continuing education. The pastor’s official membership file
at the district should include a summary record of the pastor’s portfolio
tracking his continuing-education endeavors. This portfolio summary,
like the current SET, could be incorporated into the placement process
for a candidate’s first call, with intentional direction begun for continuing education beyond the seminary. An expected part of this portfolio
would be formal participation in the PALS program (or a comparable
district program) for the first three years following graduation from the
seminary. A summary of this continuing education portfolio should be
included along with the pastor’s PIF and SET information to calling
congregations. Moreover, district presidents and/or circuit counselors, as the district presidents’ representatives, should, as a part of their
official visits, consult with each pastor concerning his continuing education plans and progress, providing evangelical encouragement to the

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end that pastors will be equipped with the best and strongest theological and confessional foundations to serve faithfully in their calling.”

Proposed Convention Action:
None
Proposed Interim Action:
• This should be referred to the Council of Presidents and specifically
to the Clergy Call and Roster Committee.
◦ A preliminary document on continuing education should be
drafted for immediate use, then modified following the 2016
convention to incorporate any changes concerning continuing
education that are adopted. This would include a standardized
form (in addition to the PIF and SET) which will track workers’
participation in continuing education.
◦ The Council of Presidents’ Manual should be updated to include continuing education information.
• Initially, district presidents should do the following:
◦ Encourage each pastor to develop his continuing education
portfolio (see “Proposed Interim Action in no. 4 above)
◦ Begin using the continuing education standardized form as part
of the information provided in the calling process

5-05A Task Force
R6-01-01

First Vice-President
The vice-presidents of the Synod are elected to advise the
President of the Synod, to serve on the Council of Presidents, and
to form, under the President, the Praesidium of the Synod. Upon
his request or as provided by the Synod, the vice-presidents assist
the President in carrying out his responsibilities and represent him
as needed.
The First Vice-President serves as a full-time executive and a nonvoting member of the Synod’s Board of Directors. He is responsible
to the President at all times for the performance of his duties.
During this past triennium, the undersigned has been given opportunity to work with many individuals and groups throughout the
Synod. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
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President of the Synod and his staff as a member of the President’s
team
Secretary of the Synod
Council of Presidents
Board of Directors of the Synod
Corporate Synod executives and Administrative Team
Task Force on Restructuring (as we transitioned from the old structure to the new)
President’s Church Relations Cabinet
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly
Committee on Lutheran Cooperation
Res. 8-07 Task Force
Convention Planning Committee
Commission on Theology and Church Relations
Commission on Constitutional Matters
Boards for National and International Mission
Presidents and members of the faculties of both seminaries
Praesidium of the Synod
PALS Steering Committee
Several ad hoc task forces at the International Center

2013 Convention Workbook