# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S279 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) HIGHER EDUCATION 279 present a brief historical review of the Lay Ministry Colloquy Board. The board was authorized by Resolution 6-10 of the Mil- waukee convention, was duly elected by the Council of Presi- dents, held its organizational meeting in St. Louis in January 1972, and has been operational since that time. Current membership of the board is: Dr. Theodore Nickel, chairman: Dr. Emil Jaech, secretary: Dr. Henry Eggold: Mr. Dale Korth: and Dr. Joseph Lavalais. Dr. Arthur M. Ahlschwede, executive secretary of the Board for Higher Education, is an advisory member of the board, and Prof. W. C. Koester, former director of the Lutheran Lay Training Institute, now director of admissions for lay ministry at Concordia College, Milwaukee, has been appointed by the Colloquy Board as resource person and executive staff member (part time). Eight meetings were held, four in St. Louis and four in Milwaukee. Operationa: Procedures The enabling resolution at Milwaukee instructed the Col- loquy Board to work in harmony and cooperation with the Lutheran Lay Training Institute, since it is to function as an extension of this institution. The Lutheran Lay Training Institute is now fully incorporated into the accredited program of Concor- dia College, Milwaukee, as the Lay Ministry Program at this college. Fully cooperative plans between Concordia College, Milwaukee, and the Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers were worked out accordingly. For operational purposes, the board found it necessary to define the term “lay minister.” The board has, therefore, made a distinction between auxiliary church staff workers and synod- ically licensed lay ministers. Auxiliary workers are staff mem- bers engaged by congregations and agencies to render specified services and to work under their supervision. Formal licensing by the Synod is not necessary in these cases. However, the Colloquy Board and Concordia College, Milwaukee, stand ready to serve in an advisory and resource capacity in these cases. Licensed lay ministers are trained workers who are Officially certified for Synodwide service. They may serve either full time or part time. Church staff workers aspiring to become licensed lay ministers may receive temporary authorization for such ministry with the approval of the congregation or agency, the pastor, and the District President involved, to render clearly delineated limited service to a specific place for a specific time. The Synod reserves for itself the sole right to license all lay ministers, and acts in this area through the Placement Com- mittee of the Synod upon the recommendation of the Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers, or Concordia College, Milwaukee. Candidates for the Lutheran lay ministry are placed into service by the Synod’s Council of Presidents upon certification by either the faculty of Concordia College, Milwaukee, or the Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers. All inquiries from the field regarding lay ministry training or the use of lay ministers are channeled for processing through Concordia College. The Colloquy Board uses programs of screening, testing, require- ments for certification, placement, guidelines for supervision, service review, and in-service training developed by Con- cordia College, Milwaukee. The board works through Concordia in gathering the necessary information on which to base a de- cision and to determine a course of action. Details of the working arrangement between the board and Concordia College are set forth in a document entitled Lutheran Lay Ministry (a monograph of some 60 pages), covering the historical background, functional assumptions, objectives, and procedures involved. The document was prepared, revised, approved, and presented to the Council of Presidents. The Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers and Concordia Col- lege have established minimum academic, theological, and practical requirements for licensing lay ministers. Readiness for admission to the licensed lay ministry of the Synod is demon- strated by: 1. An acceptable level of achievement in the area of general education (beyond high sehool), as demonstrated by acceptable testing or experience, and 2. An acceptable level of academic achievement in the area of theological education, as demonstrated by standardized test or other examination, and 3. An acceptable level of achievement in the area of practi- cal theological training, as demonstrated by acceptable testing or record of experience. The Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers and Concordia Col- lege, Milwaukee, have prepared appropriate Bylaws for inclu- sion in the Handbook. These are being submitted to the conven- tion for approval. Lay ministry conferences, in-service, and programs are in process of development. extension Review of Activities Two circulars, “You Asked About Lutheran Lay Ministry?” and, “Would You Like to Have Your Most Dedicated Layman on Your Staff Full Time?” were prepared and distributed to all congregations in the Synod. More than 500 inquiries about lay ministry and applications for services of lay ministers have been dealt with since the board was organized. A number of persons have been certified for service as lay ministers by the Colloquy Board. Thirty-eight persons are presently enrolled in the lay ministry program at Concordia, Milwaukee (31 full time, 7 part time). A survey of 258 lay ministry students between 1963 and 1974 reveals that 96 are presently in service, 12 were not placed, 74 are no longer in service, 7 are currently continuing their education (most of them for the pastoral ministry), 66 did not finish the program, and 3 are deceased. Prof. Royal Natzke of Concordia College, Milwaukee, is director of placement. Recommendations The Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers respectfully recom- mends: 1. Synodical endorsement of its procedures and activities. 2. Adoption of the following proposed Handbook regulations: 4.101 Board for Lay Ministers a. Membership. The Board for Lay Ministers shall consist of one District President, one parish pastor, one member of a synodical seminary faculty, one member representing the lay ministry program at Concordia College, Milwaukee, a Vice-President of the Synod, who shall serve as chairman, and the Executive Secretary of the Board for Higher Educa- tion or his representative in an advisory capacity. Full-time or part-time staff may be engaged by the board as conditions may warrant and require, with the approval of the Board of Directors. b. Election. The voting members of this board shall be elected with overlapping terms by the Council of Presidents. c. Function. The Board for Lay Ministers shall: 1. Direct the colloquy program for lay ministry according to regulations adopted by the Synod. 2. Serve as the Advisory Council to Concordia College, Milwaukee, in its lay ministry program. 3. Work in harmony and cooperation with the lay ministry program of Concordia College, Milwaukee, of which it is an extension. 4. Establish the academic and theological standards for admission to the lay ministry by colloquy, in con- sultation with the faculty of Concordia College, Milwaukee. 5, Approve for admission to the colloquy program for lay, ministry those applicants who meet the pre- liminary requirements. 6. Examine applicants as to readiness for accep- tance into the lay ministry of the Synod, recommend approved candidates to the Board of Assignments for placement, and provide guidelines for their super- vision. 7. Make a full report of its activities to every convention of the Synod. 4.102 Eligibility Applicants shall be at least 20 years old, or have