LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 244

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244 PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

complete the supervised ministry and subsequently be called
into a geographical area other than where he served in his
former church body. His name and credentials are to be shared
with neighboring District Presidents. If a District President is
interested in a particular man. a personal interview may be
advisable.

It should be noted that (1) this arrangement supersedes any
previous transfer guidelines applying to any Lutheran body
and (2) no changes in the present Bylaws are needed in order to
implement the recommendation.

For the Teaching Ministry (Including Director
of Christian Education)

This program is designed to assist teachers who are grad-
uates of secular teachers colleges to be certified as teachers on
the Synod's roster and therefore to be made eligible to become
members of the Synod.

The committee consists of a Vice-President of the Synod
and the presidents of the synodical colleges offering a
bachelor’s degree in teaching education. Those presently
serving are Doctors Gerhardt Hyatt, David Schmiel, Michael
Stelmachowicz, Paul Zimmerman, Ray Martens, Ralph
Schultz, John Buuck, E. Weber, and Mr. Gordon Beckler. Dr.
Robert Sauer is chairman of the committee.

During the past biennium 16 men and 14 women were
certified for the teaching ministry after completing the require-
ments of the program. At this time there are 95 enrolled in the
program.

For the Deaconess Ministry

The program is designed for women who are college grad-
uates and who seek certification for the deaconess ministry.

The committee consists of a Vice-President of the Synod
appointed by the President of the Svnod and one representative
from each of the entities preparing deaconesses for the Synod.

At the present time four women are enrolled in the program
at Concordia College, River Forest, Ill. The program has only
been in existance since appropriate Handbook changes were
adopted by the Svnod in convention in the summer of 1981.
Therefore no one has as yet completed this program. which is
generally of a three vear duration. In an effort to act respons-
ibly toward the Synod in this special program for students who
already have a baccalaureate degree in some other field, the
requirements parallel the regular deaconess curriculum.
Students complete the equivalent of a theology major (48
hours), aminor (32 hours), aconcentration area (16 hours), and
the series of deaconess specialization courses (24 hours). The
sequence of specialization courses is designed specifically for
deaconess training. Each course requires fieldwork. Two
courses, Deaconess Work I and II, focus on the skills and the
role of the deaconess. A nine month internship follows in the
sequence, providing valuable experience in a supervised
setting. Finally the student completes her program with two
final specialization courses, Seminar for Deaconesses I and II.
These courses guide the student in constructive evaluation of
the internship experience and in greater understanding of the
ministry of the deaconess. Following completion of these
requirements, the deaconess colloquy student is ready for
placement through the regular placement procedures of
Concordia and the Synod.

Of the four women currently enrolled, two are completing
internships and two are anticipating the beginning of intern-
ship this summer. Since the inception of this program 44
women have inquired about the deaconess colloquy. It provides
an opportunity for women to prepare themselves for service to
the Lord Jesus and the Synod through a rigorous and compre-
hensive program of study and experience. They are consistent-
ly unique and dedicated women, having chosen deaconess
work essentially as a second field of study and career choice.

Deaconess colloquy is not to be confused with the regular
deaconess program. Since the adoption of the 1979 synodical
convention resolution that directed Concordia, River Forest, to
offer deaconess training, over 50 women have enrolled in this
five year program. In May, 1983, the first six graduates of the
Synod’s deaconess program at Concordia, River Forest, will be
available for placement. We give thanks to God for opening

doors to the sparkling, dedicated women who have answered
the call to serve through the avenue of deaconess ministry.

For Lay Ministers

Applicants for the lay ministry colloquy program shall be at
least 20 vears old, or have two vears of college, and agree to
have administered prescribed aptitude, achievement. person-
ality, and vocational entrance tests.

The committee consists of one District President, one parish
pastor. one member of a synodical seminary faculty, one
member representing the lay ministry program at Concordia
College, Milwaukee, Wis., a Vice-President of the Synod, who
shall serve as chairman, and the executive secretary of the
Board for Professional Educaton Services or his representative
in an advisory capacity.

Those presently serving are Dr. Robert Sauer, chairman,
Rev. Wilbert Sallach, secretary, Dr. Paul Spitz. Rev. Royal
Natzke, a seminary faculty member vet to be chosen by the
Council of Presidents, and Dr. Walter Rosin.

During the past biennium five candidates were certified. At
the present time 22 are enrolled in the lay ministry colloquy
program. Academic and field education requirements have
been upgraded and more thoroughly spelled out since the last
synodical convention.

The committee recommends that certain Bylaws governing
the lay ministry program be clarified. The Bylaws are not clear
as to whether this committee is to supervise the entire lay
ministry program or only the lay ministry colloquy program.
Recommendations in regard to this were shared with the
Commission on Structure on Jan. 4, 1983. It is hoped that this
and related problems will be resolved at the forthcoming
convention.

Roughly one third of the lay ministers now serving in the
Synod function, in effect, as pastors, preaching the Word and
administering the sacraments. While these are called “emer-
gency situations,” the matter calls for more study. Also,
because the lay ministers are not “members of the Synod" it is
difficult for District Presidents to supervise their activities or
even effect transfers.

This is also true of others chosen and consecrated for service
in the church who are not “members of the Synod.” Again.
perhaps the Commission on Structure will make recommenda-
tions to correct this situation.

Related Matters

Policy statements that govern the colloquy program for the
pastoral office, in harmony with the Handbook regulations of
the Synod, are utilized by this committee after being approved
by the Board for Professional Education Services. Policy
statements for the teacher, deaconess, and lay ministry
colloquy programs, are presently being developed.

The Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Office also works
in connection with the Synod’s special program for educating
Hispanic pastoral candidates at River Forest, Ill. A compre-
hensive update on this program appears elsewhere in the
report of the Board for Professonal Education Services.

Robert C. Sauer, Chairman

6-02

Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Ind.

God has richly blessed Concordia Theological Seminary
throughout 137 vears. We cannot begin this report without first
expressing our deep thanks to Him for His grace and for His
benevolence to our institution over this long history. Concordia
Theological Seminary is a one-purpose school: our mandate
from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is to prepare men
for the Christian ministry. To carry out this single purpose has
become increasingly complex—but also challenging—in the
radically changing society in which we live and as the
seminary seeks to send out orthodox, well-prepared. and
evangelistic pastors into ourchurch and throughout the world.
The following report will tell the church the story of our
activities during the past two years.