LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Sheet 420

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412 LATE SUBMISSIONS

Staff diversity is a strength. However, background in theology
and Lutheran doctrine and an understanding of the philosophy
of Christian education ts of prime importance for programs of
Lutheran education.

District personnel may request aid in compiling personnel
lists from college placement officers and the Synod’s Board of
Parish Education. When calling bodies seek direct help from
these same sources, District officers are informed of the names
and information provided by college placement officers and
the Board of Parish Education.

Calling bodies are ultimately responsible for their choice of
educational personnel. Every effort should be made to contact
references, check with the most recent employer(s), etc. The
calling body may wish to schedule interviews with persons
under final consideration. Prayer for the guidance of the Holy
Spirit is essential.

Procedure for Calling a Candidate

As a member of the Synod, each calling body has the assu-
rance that the placement officers and District officials, under
the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will provide assistance in the
identification of appropriate candidates. All candidates have
the assurance that they will receive sincere assistance so that
they may be considered for potential calls in keeping with their
capabilities.

Calling bodies will be able to receive adequate information
about viable candidates, have access to available candidates
throughout the year, and utilize their options of extending open
calls for or designated calls to candidates of category 1.

Option: Extending an Open Call

A calling body extending an open call for a candidate pre-
pares the solemn call document and forwards it to its District
President for his signature. A cover letter may be attached
indicating that the assigned candidate should be from a spe-
cific college. The District office will forward the call to the
Synod’s Board for Higher Education. If an open call cannot be
filled, itis returned to the calling body. The candidate receiving
the call will respond directly to the calling body. A declined call
may be submitted again as an open or designated call.

Option: Extending a Designated Call

Call List Development. A call list may include the names of
candidates any time during the year. Candidates’ names may
be submitted by any individual and/or secured through the
District office. The District also has the option of referring the
calling body to one or more of the directors of placement for
names of qualified candidates.

If even more information is required the credentials of spe-
cific candidates may be requested. However, a placement office
can provide a set of credentials only with the consent of the
candidate. Credentials may contain student-teaching
reports, recommendations, and related materials. Credentials
may neyer be passed on to a third party.

Calling bodies may make direct contact with a placement
director. The appropriate District official will be advised of the
inquiry and the information shared.

Contacts Between Candidates and Calling Bodies. Direct
contacts generally are not encouraged. A candidate may be
contacted only through the placement director at a given col-
lege. Contact may be made by telephone at the location of the
calling body (preferably), on the college campus, or other loca-
tions, with all expenses to be borne by the calling body.

Candidates and calling bodies may request information
directly from each other. They may discuss the details of a
specific call and determine if there would be any unusual
circumstances which would prevent prayerful consideration of
the call. A promised acceptance may not be solicited or given
prior to the extension of a call.

Delivery of a Designated Call. After prayerful deliberation,
the calling body may agree to call a specific candidate. Names
should not be entered on documents. The documents are sent to
the District President for his signature. The District office
forwards the call to the Board for Higher Education. The Board
for Higher Education sends the call to the appropriate college.
Calls are not to be sent to the candidate.

The director of placement delivers the call to the candidate
and discusses its details, as well as the ethics of handling a call.
Candidates will not be allowed to play several calls against
each other, nor will they be allowed to decline a call which they
have previously accepted in order to accept a subsequent call
which they feel they may receive. After accepting a call a
candidate will not be eligible to receive another call. The
accepting of a call actually removes the candidate from the
listing of available candidates.

After the placement director delivers the call, the District
office and calling body are notified that the call has been
extended. The candidate will notify the calling body directly
regarding his/her decision. Appropriate information will also
be communicated to the District office. All assignments are
approved by the Council of Presidents acting as the synodical
assignments committee.

Initial Entrance into the Educational Ministry. All initial
calls to candidates are subject to successful completion of a
synodical college program, faculty approval for entrance into
the teaching ministry of LCMS, and ratification by the Board
of Assignments. After these conditions have been met, place-
ment directors inform District Presidents of the candidates’
eligibility for installation. Calling bodies are subsequently
granted permission to install by the District President.

After accepting a call, the candidate applies to the District
President for membership in the Synod and admission to the
teacher roster of the Synod. Upon installation by the calling
body and admission to the roster, the candidate has officially
entered the church’s public educational ministry.

Procedure for Extending a Call
to Synodically Trained Educators
Already in Ministry

Should the educator chosen be synodically trained (or
colloquized) and already engaged in a ministry (category two),
a solemn call should be extended directly to the person. A
solemn call is to be extended by the voters assembly of a
congregation, which may, however, authorize the board of
education to carry out this function on behalf of the total
parish, especially when extending nontenured calls. Other
designated calling bodies may be boards of directors, college
electors, delegates of school associations, etc.

Calls extended to men and women may be permanent
(continuous, with tenure) or temporary (noncontinuous, with-
out tenure). Thecalling body should notify the District office to
whom the call was extended and its resulting acceptance or
declination. The person accepting the call should request a
peaceful release from the current position and also request the
District office for a transfer to the District of the calling body.
The newly arrived educator should be installed into the new
position of ministry after authorization has been requested
and received from the the District President.

Procedure for Extending a Contract
to Nonsynodically Trained Educators

In the event a nonsynodically trained person (categories
three or four) is selected, a contract with or without tenure is to
be extended directly to the person. Most congregations author-
ize the board of education to extend such contracts upon the
advice of the principal and their own considered judgment.

Upon acceptance of a contract the new employee is classi-
fied as a lay educator (teacher, director of education, etc.) and
may be publicly installed into office. The District office should
be notified of the acceptance and installation by the contract-
ing body. Lay educators should be encouraged to complete a
colloquy program at one of the synodical teachers colleges.

“And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building
up the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12 RSV).

Wilbert E. Griesse, Chairman
Council of Presidents