LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 239

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6. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

6-01

Report of Board
for Professional Education Services

At its meeting in the fall of 1982 the Association of
Theological Schools chose as its theme, “Discovering Old and
New Imperatives.” That theme is reminiscent of the dynamic
motto which became the rallying cry for the Synod during the
past biennium. ‘Forward in Remembrance” is a motto which
incorporates imperatives both old and new. It is in effect a
directive, as well as a statement of determination, not to
remain static but to be vibrant and progressive with constant
awareness of the blessings, spiritual and temporal, of our
triune God who has made us His own and whom we serve.
“Him We Proclaim,” our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier.

To do so has been and is the mission of both the Board for
Professional Education Services and the colleges and semi-
naries of the Synod as they work together to prepare men and
women for service to our Lord, to His Church, and to the world.

In its last report to the convention of the Synod, the Board
for Professional Education Services, then the Board for Higher
Education, expressed the hope that the net loss of pastors and
male teachers could soon be overcome. The final reports for
1981 indicate that definite progress has been made in these
areas. For the first time since 1976 the number of male teachers
showed a net gain of 31. However, the statistics relating to the
total number of synodically trained teachers is rather alarm-
ing. As the table below indicates, during the past five years, net
gains have been registered in only two.

ACTIVE SYNODICALLY TRAINED TEACHERS

(Accession and Losses) Five-year History *

Year Entered Synodica: Service Left Synodical Service
i I

Res iyaed

Total

Died fa artice
Permanent by
Toual

Net Gann

5 459 9 44 230329 ID = ES
——— a
1978 | 685} 576s 748 338 292350 | 683 + AS
ag7a_{ 615 | 29 5. 649 326 265 | 320 | 604 +
' \ i 7 a | i gs
ggo | 567_ 25 7 599 7 5j 316 348 | 696 2
198. i 473 ' 37 5 SUS 24a, 353 | 386 | r65 j = 250
SE el : — :
(2782 | 162 28 2970 de 157, 1456 11723 | 3360 | - 390 |

* Based on Statistical Yearbooks. 1977—"1

While the total number of teachers. particularly women
teachers, active in the schools of the congregations has
increased, it is not at all clear that these teachers are synod-
ically trained. The increase is attributable to the large number
who have reentered the teaching field, a number which includes
all who reentered, no matter what the source of their prepara-
tion. The reason for this is obvious. It is entirely due to the fact
that the supply of graduates is not sufficient to meet the needs.
In the past year, for example, 466 calls for teachers were filled
while requests received by colleges indicate that a minimum of
150 more could have been placed if they were mobile and had
the necessary areas of specialization.

Reports from District education executives indicate that the
percentage of synodically trained personnel in the schools is
decreasing and that congregations are increasingly filling
vacant positions with teachers who are available locally,

239

whether or not they are synodically prepared. If this is true,
congregations should, at the very least, encourage teachers
who do not have this preparation to enroll in the colloquy
program and should assist them in acquiring teacher status on
the roster of the Synod through this avenue. Unless this is
done, congregational schools can quickly move in the direction
of merely offering private school education, rather than toward
maintaining and improving the quality of a program of
Christian education which is a part of their mission. Through
the colleges, the Board for Professional Education Services
hopes to call this matter of concern to the attention of the
congregations so that the trend can be reversed. It will also
work closely with the Board for Parish Services in monitoring
this situation.

While the number of pastors still exhibits a net decrease
through 1981, considerable progress has been made in meeting
the needs of the Synod. The following table illustrates that
progress quite clearly.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES
IN SYNOD’S PASTORAL MINISTRY

Five-year History *

Left Synodical Service

"Year Entered Synodical Servica

on Clergy

Died in Oftice
tal

Retired

Colloqatsed

1977 145 7 12 164 = 1? tsa Ch 5 - V1
978 136 1é 29 183 = 3 3 C1 439 - DSA
979 &8 9 40 236 is hi? es aR 32 - 9
1980 188 8 74 27¢ ts 12é 89 3 ~ Af
1981 232 S 43 28° ches 9s AQ 308 ~ 04
= Based on Statistical Yearbooks. 1977 —™1

The 1982 statistics are not yet available. However. if the
trend continues. it is quite possible they will demonstrate a
balance between the number of pastors entering and leaving
synodical service. If so, this circumstance will enable the
Synod to move forward vigorously in the establishment of new
missions and ministries in order to reach the goals for the 80's
adopted by the Synod at its 1979 convention. It may also allow
for the filling of some 350 or more pastoral vacancies which
exist annually.

In the next triennium the Board for Professional Education
Services will be working closely with the Board for Mission
Services and the Department of Personnel and Statistics to
determine the need for specific types of church workers in the
next decade. This is especially important since it will require.
among other studies, an analysis of the number of positions
filled by pastors who may have entered the ministry at a later
age through the colloquy program. As can be seen from the
table above, this number has grown dramatically in the past
five vears with the colloquizing of 198 men, 157 of them in the
last three vears. Assuming that a significant number of these
were in their 40s or 50s at the time of entering the ministry, it
is possible that a larger number of vacancies will develop than
would normally be anticipated.

The Board for Professional Education Services continues to
be grateful for the dedicated faculties and staffs which serve at
the Synod’s colleges and seminaries. Their efforts have made it
possible to provide for the placement of 1,545 workers of
various types within the Synod during the past biennium.