# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S373 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) PARISH SERVICES 373 planning for the joint use of a coordinator of Christian education. The synodical Handbook makes no official reference to the director of Christian education. Lutheran liturgies still contain no rituals for the installation of these full-time professional church workers. The Board of Parish Education is convinced that these ministers need to be officially recognized as full part- ners in the public ministry of the Word. Therefore the board's recommendation to the convention calls for the ordination of properly certified and called directors of Christian education. Conclusion As the Board of Parish Education looks back over the past 2 years, it sees much for which to be grateful. God has blessed the Synod with many outstanding Christian educators. Con- sistent, patient nurture in the Word has been happening in many congregations of the Synod. Many fellow members have contributed generously of their time, their money, their skills. their prayers. But so much more needs to be done. The nur- turing function of the church dare not be underestimated. The temptation of current society to become completely secular is very real. The fiscal crisis in the Synod is causing drastic changes in the way in which the Board of Parish Education carries out its functions. The continued availability of funding for highly skilled staff persons is very doubtful. Yet the call to train messengers of the Lord is still sounded by our sending Father. To meet those challenges is the firm commitment of this board as by God's grace it looks to the future. Resolution 1—To Implement Ordination of Teachers and Directors of Christian Education WHEREAS. Male teachers have been called to serve in the public ministry as teachers of the Word in Lutheran congrega- tions since the Synod’s beginning and female teachers since at least 1860. and male and female directors of Christian educa- tion have been engaged in the educational ministry of the church in expanding numbers during the last 15 years: and WHEREAS. Certain conventions of the Synod have declared the following: 1926—Identical synodical teacher education programs should be provided for women and men 1941 Women teachers, as religious instructors. carry out the function of the public ministry as do male teachers 1959— Directors of Christian education are to be considered teachers with the same rights and privileges as those pertaining to the office of teacher 1965—The appointment of a certified woman teacher by the church should properly be regarded as a call: it is also proper to speak of called female teachers as being “in- stalled” 1969— Male and female teacher salaries should be equalized as well as should other factors regarding employment: the uniform call documents which are now in use by the church were requested 1973—Female teachers were approved for placement on the roster of the Synod; and WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Rela- tions in its March 1973 report titled ‘The Ministry in Its Relation to the Christian Church” declared: Since called male teachers in The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod are called to perform certain functions of the Ministry. and are considered clergy, and since, moreover. ordination is an adia- phoron, that is, a custom of the church not divinely commanded, there are no biblical or theological reasons why teachers could not be ordained to perform that function of the Ministry to which they are called. What is said above about called male teachers applies equally to the thousands of consecrated woman teachers in synodical schools. . . They do, however, in many instances perform a part of, the Ministry of the church in teaching the Gospel of Christ. In view of the fact that ordination is not a formula by which a person becomes a pastor, but the church’s declaration that the person ordained has been called to perform cefttain functions of the Ministry, there appears to be no biblical or theological reason why woman teachers could not be ordained to the office of teaching the Word; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod and the federal government consider both the called male teachers and pastors as “clergy.” “ministers of religion,” “self-employed,” and “draft-exempt”; therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod approve the ordination of synodi- cally approved and called male and female teachers and direc- tors of Christian education as ministers of religion: and be it further Resolved. That the scope of activity of a female teacher and female director of Christian education continue to be limited by Scriptural principles and the synodical stand in relation to the position of woman in the church: and be it finally Resolved. That the President of the Synod appoint a com- mittee to consider the implementation of this overture and to report to the President in order that the ordination of teachers and directors of Christian education may be initiated in 1976. (See identical overture elsewhere.) Resolution 2—To Strengthen Sunday Schools for Nurture and Evangelism WHEREAS. The Sunday programs of Christian education for all age levels continue to be primary agencies for evangelism in our modern culture and for the continuing Christian nurture of a large majority of our members as well as many nonmem- bers: and WHEREAS. The sharply declining enrollments in the Sunday programs of our Synod suggest that many congregations may be losing interest in their Sunday schools and that the Sunday pro- grams are not as effective in either evangelism or Christian nurture as they could be: therefore be it Resolved. That The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod de- clare 1977 as a year for devoting major attention to the improve- ment of the quality of our Sunday schools and to the cultivation of their potential for a ministry of evangelism: and be it further Resolved. That every congregation of the Synod be urged during 1977 to study its Sunday school program and take the necessary steps to improve the quality of instruction and to involve more participants both within the congregation and its community: and be it finally Resolved. That the Synod’s Board of Parish Education be instructed and funded to develop District and congregational resources that will attain the above-stated goals. Resolution 3—To Encourage Clusters of Congregations to Employ Coordinators of Christian Education WHEREAS, There is special need and opportunity in the next biennium for the congregations of the Synod to improve the quality of their Christian education ministries; and WHEREAS. Pilot studies by the Synod’s Board of Parish Edu- cation (funded by the Aid Association for Lutherans) in the past biennium have shown the effectiveness of coordinators of Christian education in strengthening the Christian education program of the clusters of congregations they serve: and WHEREAS. The Synod's Board of Parish Education is pro- ducing some fresh materials to assist congregations who want to consider. prepare for, and employ a coordinator of Christian education: therefore be it Resolved. That the congregations of the Synod evaluate their need for professional leadership in Christian education and, where feasible, cooperate in clusters of three or more congregations in employing a person who will serve them as a coordinator of Christian education to help the men, women, and children of the congregations and their community to build each other up in the Christian faith: and be it further Resolved. That the Synod’s Board of Parish Education con- tinue to provide personal and published assistance to those clusters of congregations in the Synod who might profitably engage a coordinator of Christian education. Resolution 4—1977 Synodical Convention to Emphasize Christian Nurture WHEREAS. The Great Commission of the Lord calls His church to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have com- manded you”: and WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has