LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 162

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162

be substituted for the proposed resolve was declined. It would

have reduced the two on-campus course requirement to one.)

To Establish Deaconess Colloquy
Program

RESOLUTION 6-07
Overtures 6-31—32 (CW, pp. 277—78)
1. Purpose of Deaconess Colloquy

The Synod desires to equip professional servants of
the chureh. One such vocation is the deaconess ministry.
itis a unique, historically rich office in which competent

women with a caring heart serve the Lord and His

ple. To facilitate admission to this professional office,

the Synod provides the deaconess colloquy.

I. ADMISSION TO THE DEACONESS MINISTRY .

BY COLLOQUY

“6.125 Colloquy Committees

a. The Colloquy Committee for the Deaconess Min-
istry shall consist of a Vice-President of the Synod, the
president of the synodical institution offering a bache-
lor’s degree leading to deaconess certification and any
advisory members deemed necessary. All members shall
be appointed by the President of the Synod. The Vice-

President shall be chairman of the committee.

b. The synodical institution offering a bachelor’s de-.

&ree leading to deaconess certification shall have a col-
loquy examining committee consisting of the director of
deaconess colloquy, the chairman of. the theology de-
partment, the dean of the College of Continuing Edu-
cation, a member selected by its faculty and two active
deaconesses appointed, to two-year terms, by the syn-

odical institution president.

When a nonsynodically certified deaconess is the ap-
plicant, a representative of the applicant's agency shall
be appointed by the synodical institution president,as

an advisory member to the committee.

c. The Colloquy Committee for the Deaconess Min-
istry and the institution’s colloquy examining committee
shall have the authority and responsibilities described

below.

6.127 Functions of the Committees

a. The Colloquy Committee for the Deaconess Min-

istry shall

1. direct the synodical activity in matters of colloquy

for the deaconess ministry. .

2. establish and monitor academic and theological
standards for admission to the deaconess ministry by
colloquy, and in the establishment of these standards;
the committee shall consult the faculty of the institution
offering a bachelor’s degree leading to deaconess

certification,

3. approve for admission to the deaconess colloguy
progrom those applicants who have been recommended
for admission by the institution’s colloquy examining
committee and to which no valid objection is made pur-

suant to 6.133.

b. The institution's deaconess colloquy examining

committee shall

1. initially receive and review applications to the dea-

coness colloquy program as described in 6.131C.

2. set a specific course of study for each colloquy stu-

dent as described in 6.135.

3. upon completion of the student’s course of study,
conduct a written and an oral examination of compe-
tency and readiness for admission to the deaconess

ministry.

4, recommend to the institution’s faculty for endorse-
ment those colloquy students who have satisfactorily
completed the program and passed the written and oral

examinations.

RESOLUTIONS

6.129 Eligibility

The applicant shall be a communicant member in
good standing of a congregation of the Synod and shall
be able to meet the following academic and theological
requirements, comparable to the regular synodical dea-
coness program, before her final examination: '

a. The satisfactory completion of certain required
courses or their equivalent in deaconess ministry, doc-
trine, biblical interpretation, biblical studies, church
history, and churchly practice so as to meet the academic

and theological standards established by the Colloquy
+ - Committee, of which normally a minimum of eight reg-

ular program courses shall be‘taken with the faculty of
‘a synodical institution which offers a bachelor’s degree
leading to deaconess certification.

b. Internship under the supervision of a synodical
institution offering a bachelor's degree leading to dea-
coness certification or one year of successful eaconess
ministry in a church or agency recognized by the Synod.

c. A college program culminating in a bachelor’s de-
&ree; or in the case of an applicant who has-a college-
level education and considerable experience in church
work and who-has successfully.completed a and b above
but has no bachelor's degree, the institution: colloquy
committee, in'accord with the committee's good judgment *
and after consultation with the Colloquy Committee for
Deaconess Ministry, is authorized to grant two-year re-
newable approval for deaconess ministry, contingent
upon the applicant actively seeking to obtain a bachelor’s

degree. ;
6.131 Applications for Admission to the Program

» a. Applications for admission to the deaconess col-
loquy program shall be directed to the deaconess colloquy
examining committee of the synodical institution offer-
ing a bachelor’s degree leading to deaconess certification.

4. The application shall be accompanied by the
following:

An autobiographical statement setting forth clearly
the applicant's background, religious affiliation, edu-
cation, and reason for wishing to qualify for the dea-
coness ministry in the Synod.

2. Official transcripts of the applicant’s collegiate
education.

3. A recommendation from the District President (or.
his designee) of the District in which the applicant holds
communicant membership.

4. Testimonials to Christian character and life, per-
sonality, ability, and ‘previous service from the appli-
cant’s pastor and two references from previous employers
or people who have known and observed the applicant
for at least two recent years,

c. The institution's deaconess colloquy examining
committee shall determine whether an applicant meets
the requirements for admission and shall forward the
application, together with all required documents and
its recommendation for disposition, to the following: the
president of that institution, the President of the District
in which the applicant holds communicant membership,
and the chair of the Deaconess Colloquy Committee of
the Synod. . ” .

6.133 Publication of Notice

After the Deaconess Colloquy Committee has received
an application, the committee shall publish notice of the
application in an official periodical of the Synod. If no
valid objection is received by the Deaconess Colloquy
Committee within four weeks after the publication of
such notice, the applicant shall be accepted into the pro-
gram. The committee, in its sole discretion, shall decide
whether an objection is valid. Its decision shall not be
subject to any appeal.

6.135 Program of Instruction

a. The institution's deaconess colloquy examining
committee shall determine the course of study for each
colloquy student on the basis of her needs and eccle-
siastical background, determined by the student's ap-