Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1981 · 54th Convention › Page 270
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 270

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

270 HIGHER EDUCATION

WHEREAS, A significant obstacle in recruiting young
persons in the mid- and deep Southeast for full-time ministry is
the geographical and cultural distances between our area and
the nearest synodical schools; and

Wuereas, A Lutheran four-year college with a multitrack
curriculum would provide a positive means for the witness and
identity of the Lutheran Church in the Southeast; therefore be
it

Resolved, That the Synod instruct the Board for Higher
Education to make an extensive study during the next
biennium of the need for establishing four-year training
programs in the Southeast for full-time church workers in
addition to the significant program of Alabama Lutheran
Academy in Selma.

Pastoral Conference
Mid-South District

Carl Stapf, Chairman
Barry Pfanstiel, Secretary

6-58

To Study Feasibility
for Synodical School in Atlanta

WHEREAS, The Southern Growth Policies Board projects an
average annual rate of population growth for the South from
the year 1976 to the year 2000 as 1.21 percent compared to .80
percent for the nation; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Board for Higher Education conduct a
feasibility study regarding the establishment of a four-year
college in Atlanta, Ga.

Board of Directors
Southeastern District
Richard T. Hinz, President
Paul L. Kettner, Secretary

6-59

To Give Special Attention
to Evangelism Training at Seminary

WHEREAS, The goal of the Christian church given by its
Lord is to ‘‘make disciples” (Matt. 28:19); and

WHEREAS, Pastors are called by God to equip the church for
this ministry (Eph. 4:11-12); and

WHEREAS, The work of an evangelist is to be a part of this
ministry, as Paul encouraged Timothy (2 Tim. 4:3); and

WHEREAS, The LCMS has established seminaries to train
men to lead congregations in the ministry of evangelism; and

WHEREAS, Contact with pastors indicates that many pastors
fee] unprepared for this evangelism ministry after completing
their educational requirements at the seminary; and

WHEREAS, In the interests of good stewardship, there is a
constant need to evaluate the effectiveness of every area
of ministry and training for those areas of ministry; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the seminaries employ an outside objective
consultant to study this issue; and be it further

Resolved, That this study include a wide random sampling
of all parish pastors in the LCMS; and be it further

Resolved, That special attention be given to seminary
curricula regarding the effectiveness of such curricula for
preparing men for the ministry of evangelism; and be it further

Resolved, That the results of this study be shared with the
Synod through one of its major publications; and be it finally

Resolved, That seminaries reevaluate and restructure their
curricula on the basis of this report.

Zion Lutheran Church
Valley Park, Mo.

Joel Heck, Pastor

Diana Walker, Secretary

6-60
To Reassess Foreign Language Programs

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is on
record aggressively to rededicate itself to carrying, out the
Great Commission (e.g., Forward in Remembrance drive),
especially in its world mission outreach; and

WHEREAS, Nosuch ambitious effort can be effective without
reliance upon personnel with appropriate linguistic back-
ground; and

WHEREAS, Foreign languages play a vital role in providing
personnel with appropriate linguistic skills as well as in
developing a high degree of sensitivity toward other cultures
and civilizations; and

WHEREAS, The congregations together with their elementary
and secondary agencies are becoming increasingly multi-
lingual and multicultural; and

WHEREAS, Present programs and current offerings fostering
the development of foreign language skills at institutions of
our church are in grave danger of curtailment or of succumbing
to financial exigencies; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod recognize the value of a coordi-
nated effort of its educational institutions to meet the demand
for adequately trained personnel in language and linguistics in
its mission outreach; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education and the
institutions fostering language programs undergirding our
mission outreach (in consultation with the Board for Missions
and the Board of Parish Education) assess present and future
needs, streamline offerings to avoid unnecessary duplication
and fragmentation, promote a unified approach, and provide
the necesary supportive elements to coordinate multilingual
activity; and be it finally

Resolved, That adequate funds be made available to support
such programs.

Faculty

Concordia College

River Forest, Il.

Lila M. Kurth, Secretary

6-61

To Reintroduce the Study of Catechetics
in the Seminaries

WHEREAS, The Scriptures note that pastors are to be good
teachers (1 Tim. 3:2); and

WHEREAS, The pastor is called upon to teach confirmation
class, adult instruction class, Bible classes, Sunday school
teachers, etc.; and

WHEREAS, This teaching must rightly divide God’s Word,
using the Law to show sins, and the Gospel to show forgiveness
and the comfort sinners have in Jesus Christ; and

WHEREAS, The proper methods of Christian teaching must
be taught; and

WHEREAS, Neither of our seminaries requires any training
in the area of catechetics; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod and the Board for Higher Educa-
tion take the proper steps necessary to reintroduce training in
catechetics (methods, material, resources, etc.) as a regular
part of the seminary curriculum.

Christ Lutheran Church
Highland, Wis.

Ralph A. Meyer, Chairman
Martin J. Poppe, Secretary

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
Muscoda, Wis.

Walter K. Wolf, Chairman
James W. Eastman, Secretary