LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 219

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STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION 219

5-26

To Grant Synodical Membership
to Lay Ministers

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod estab-
lished the lay ministry program at the San Francisco conven-
tion in 1959 and has trained lay ministers as professional
church workers since the first class of students in 1961; and

WHEREAS, Since 1969 the Synod has referred to the gradu-
ates of this program as “lay ministers” (Res. 6-25 in 1969, and
Res. 6-10 in 1971) and the graduates prefer that title to any
other designation; and

WHEREAS, The training program increasingly culminates in
a four-year B.A. degree with a major in theology; and

WHEREAS, The graduates enter full-time professional po-
sitions in the church and are placed there through the Board of
Assignments; and

WHEREAS, A consistency of practice for reception into office
is desired for graduates of the Synod’s professional church
work programs; and

WHEREAS, Inclusion of lay ministers on the synodical roster
would bring them more directly under the pastoral supervision
of the District Presidents; therefore be it

Resolved, That the term ‘‘lay minister” continue to be used
for graduates of the Concordia College—Wisconsin program;
and be it further

Resolved, That the synodical definition of ‘‘minister of
religion” include graduates of the lay ministry program; and
be it further

Resolved, That holders of this auxiliary office be com-
missioned and installed into office; and be it finally

Resolved, That lay ministers be listed on the roster as
members of the Synod.

Faculty

Concordia College
Milwaukee, Wis.

Walter Jennrich, Secretary

5-27

To Establish Uniform Requirements and
Practices in Teacher Colloquy Programs

WHEREAS, The number of synodical colleges having a
colloquy program for teachers has risen rapidly in the past
decade; and

WHEREAS, Colloquy requirements and practices are not
uniform and consistent among synodical colleges with teacher
colloquy programs; and

WHEREAS, Uniformity and consistency in colloquy pro-
grams are desirable to prepare well-qualified teachers for
Lutheran schools; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board for Professional Education Ser-
vices appoint a committee to study present teacher colloquy
requirements and practices and to recommend uniform guide-
lines for this program to participating synodical colleges.

Faculty

Concordia teachers College
Seward, Nebr.

M. J. Stelmachowicz, President
William Billow, Secretary

5-28
To Classify Female Teachers in the Synod

WHEREAS, Female and male teacher training students at the
Synod’s colleges receive identical training and follow an
identical course of study; and

WHEREAS, Female and male teacher candidates are placed
into positions of similar responsiblity in the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Synod at the 1973 New Orleans convention

resolved ‘That all teachers, male or female, who have met all
requirements for inclusion in the official roster of theSynod be
considered eligible for membership under the terms of Articles
Vv and VI of the Constitution” (Res. 7-05, Proceedings, p.190);
an

WHEREAS, Male teachers in the Synod are classified as
ministers of religion; and

WHEREAS, The question of ordination to the pastoral office is
distinct and separate from the point of this resolution (male
teachers currently are identified as ministers of religion, but
are not ordained to the pastoral office); therefore be it

Resolved, That female teachers also be classified as minis-
ters of religion in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Faculty

Concordia Teachers College
Seward, Nebr.

M. J. Stelmachowicz, President
William Billow, Secretary

5-29

To Urge Synod to Delineate
Status and Training of Synod’s
Directors of Christian Education

WHEREAS, Directors of Christian education certified by our
synodical schools for director of Christian education ministry
graduate from a synodically approved program; and

WHEREAS, Directors of Christian education from a synodi-
cally approved program receive basic training in classroom
teaching in our schools; and

WuereEas, Although some directors of Christian education
lack sufficient courses for state certification for teaching
secular subjects, all directors of Christian education who have
graduated from a synodically approved program are eligible
for teaching religion in our schools; and

WueEreEas, Directors of Christian education who graduate
from asynodically approved program receive training for their
profession that is at least equivalent to that for classroom
teachers in our schools; and

WuerEas, Directors of Christian education who graduate
from asynodically approved program demonstrate their inten-
tion of devoting their lives to the Christian education of the
people of God in our churches; therefore be it

Resolved:

1. That the convention include in Art. V of the Synod's
Constitution directors of Christian education whoare certified
for their ministry, either through a regular course of study or
through colloquy procedures, by a synodical school authorized
to do so by the Board for Professional Education Services,
thereby making such directors of Christian education eligible
for advisory membership in The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod; and

2. That the Synod instruct those synodical schools offering
a synodically approved director of Christian education train-
ing program to continue to encourage all director of Christian
education students to take sufficient work to become eligible
for certification both as directors of Christian education and as
classroom teachers also of secular subjects in order to provide
these students with more career options in the church.

Board of Directors
Northwest District
D.C. Schroeder, Secretary

5-30
To Grant Directors of Evangelism
Synodical Church Worker Status

WHEREAS, Evangelism is a direct response to our Lord's
Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20): and