LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 137

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HIGHER EDUCATION 137

for these gifts of additional workers in the church; and
be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod encourage other qualified
persons to avail themselves of this opportunity to enter
the pastoral ministry.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

Nore: The pertinent Handbook sections are reprinted
below. Paragraphs retained unchanged are set in italics.

D. ADMISSION TO THE PASTORAL MINISTRY
BY COLLOQUY

451 Committee on Colloquies

The Committee on Colloquies for the Pastoral Office shall
consist of a Vice-President of the Synod, appointed by the
President of the Synod, and the presidents of the theological
seminaries at St. Louis and Springfield. The Vice-President
shall be chairman of the committee.

453 Functions

The Committee on Colloquies shall —

a. direct the synodical activity in matters of colloquies for
the pastoral office according to regulations adopted by
the Synod;

b. establish academic and theological standards for ad-
mission to the office of the pastoral ministry by col-
loquy;

c. recommend applicants for acceptance into the pastoral
ministry of the Synod to the College of Presidents act-
ing as the Board of Assignments.

4.55 Applications Directed to District President

a. Applications of pastors and candidates for the ministry
shall be directed to the President of the District where the
application originates.

b. Only such applicants shall be considered as have re-
ceived a minimum of two years of theological training in one
of the Synod’s seminaries or have received full theological
training in institutions not affiliated with the Synod. Gradu-
ates of the Synod’s teachers colleges shall have had five
years of teaching experience in addition to at least one year
of theological training in residence. That is, ministers of
churches not affiliated with The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod, and graduates of the Synod’s teachers colleges who
have served five years in the teaching profession, shall be
required to spend at least one academic year at one of the
Synod’s seminaries. All others must spend at least two years
in residence.

4.57 Applications Referred to Committee

a. The District President, on receipt of an application,
shall transmit the application to the chairman of the Com-
mittee on Colloquies. The application shall be accompanied
by the following documents:

1. an autobiographical statement by the applicant, setting
forth clearly his background and his reason for wish-
ing to qualify for the pastoral ministry in the Synod;

2. official transcripts of the applicant’s secondary, col-
legiate, and seminary training and a full description of
noncredit academic work done by the applicant;

3. testimonials as to Christian character and life, per-
sonality, ability, and previous service from no fewer
‘than three competent references who have known and
observed the applicant for at least two recent years.

b. The District President shall assure the Committee on

Colloquies of his sponsorship of the applicant before the com-
mittee can act favorably on the application.

459 Publication of Applicant’s Request

After the District President has furnished the Committee
on Colloquies with the required documents and the commit-
tee has assured itself that the applicant qualifies for the col-
loquy program, the Committee on Colloquies shall publish
the request of the applicant in the official publications of the
Synod. If no valid objection is filed within four weeks after

the notice of the application has been published the Commit-
tee on Colloquies shall proceed with the colloquy program.

461 Requirements for Applicants with Partial Training

a. Applicants with a minimum of two years of theological
training in one of the Synod’s seminaries shall be considered
eligible by the committee for admission to the program of
qualifying for the pastoral ministry by colloquy. Additional
training shall be carried out under the guidance of the com-
mittee.

b. (old c). Readiness for admission to the office of the
pastoral ministry shall be demonstrated according to stand-
ards established by the Committee on Colloquies by:

1. an acceptable level of achievement in the area of gen-

eral education;

2. satisfactory completion of a well-rounded and com-

prehensive training in all major fields of theology;

3. satisfactory completion of a supervised vicarage.

c. Before being declared qualified for the pastoral min-
istry in the Synod, the applicant shall submit satisfactory
theological papers and sermons and pass comprehensive
written and oral examinations in the major areas of theology.

4.63 Requirements for Applicants with Full Standard
Theological Training

a. Applicants who have received a full standard theolog-
ical training in institutions of churches not in fellowship with
the Synod shall be considered as having the quantitative
measure of education for admission to the program of quali-
fying for the pastoral ministry by colloquy. They shall, how-
ever, give evidence that they fully understand and accept
the doctrinal standards of the Synod, are acquainted with its
practice, and have the ability and intention to teach, preach,
and practice in conformity with these standards.

b. Three years of standard theological training or their
equivalent and a supervised vicarage shall be considered the
quantitative minima for admission to the pastoral ministry
by colloquy.

c. Before being recommended by the committee for ac-
ceptance into the pastoral ministry of the Synod, the ap-
plicant shall be held to a minimum of one year of academic
work, or its equivalent, in residence at one of the seminaries
of the Synod and to a supervised vicarage. He shall submit
satisfactory theological papers and sermons and pass com-
prehensive written and oral examinations in the major areas
of theology.

4.65 Certificate of Eligibility

Applicants who have satisfactorily passed their examina~
tion shall be given a certificate of eligibility by the Com-
mittee on Colloquies.

4.67 Placement

Every applicant whom the committee declares qualified
for the pastoral ministry shall be assigned his first place-
ment by the College of Presidents acting as the Board of
Assignments.

469 Report to the Convention

The Committee on Colloquies shall render a full report
on its activities to each convention of the Synod.

4.71 Applicants from Affiliated Church Bodies

Applications from pastors or candidates of theology who
are members of an affiliated church body and who have pre-
viously given satisfactory evidence of their qualifications for
the pastoral ministry may be received without examination
of the applicant.

4.73 South American Committee on Colloquies

a. The Committee on Colloquies for applicants for the
pastoral ministry in the Brazil District shall be the President
of the Brazil District and the president of the seminary in
Porto Alegre.

b. The Committee on Colloquies for applicants for the
pastoral ministry in the Argentine District shall be the Presi-
dent of the Argentine District and the president of the sem-
inary at Buenos Aires.