LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 131

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5. Seminary and University Education
To Recruit and Retain Full-Time Church Workers
RESOLUTION 5-01A
Overtures 5-17, 5-19 (CW, pp. 194, 195)
Whereas, When our Lord said, “The harvest is plentiful
but the workers are few . Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,
to send out workers into His harvest field” (Matt . 9:37–38),
He indicated that His disciples were, and are now, to be active
in supporting the recruitment and preparation of pastors and
other full-time church workers; and
Whereas, One of the objectives of the LCMS is to “Recruit
and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers and provide opportunity for their continuing growth”
(Constitution, Art . III 3); and
Whereas, Three subsequent objectives of the Synod
(Constitution, Art . III 8–10) are:
8 . Provide evangelical supervision, counsel, and care
for pastors, teachers, and other professional church
workers of the Synod in the performance of their
official duties;
9 . Provide protection for congregations, pastors, teachers,
and other church workers in the performance of their
official duties and the maintenance of their rights;
10 . Aid in providing for the welfare of pastors, teachers,
and other church workers, and their families in the
event of illness, disability, retirement, special need, or
death .
and
Whereas, The Concordia University System schools;
Concordia Seminary, St . Louis; and Concordia Theological
Seminary, Fort Wayne have programs that provide guidance
and programs for church worker preparation and scholarships
for church work students in the Synod; and
Whereas, The “What a Way” initiative of the Synod provides a positive and joyful approach both to rebuild active
recruitment and retention of church workers as an integrated
part of the LCMS culture and lifestyle at the local congregation
level and to assist local congregations by providing and developing resources to facilitate deliberate activity, dialogue, and
support of church workers (explore vocational guidance and
resources at www .WhataWay .org); therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention thank the Lord of
the Church for having answered the prayers of His people, and
petition Him to continue to bestow the gifts of full-time church
workers on His Church; and be it further
Resolved, That each congregation and district in general
and each pastor and church worker in particular seek to identify, to encourage, and to recruit people within the church to be
full-time workers in the Lord’s harvest field; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations, districts, and individuals be
encouraged to call, support, and provide adequately for pastors, teachers, and other church workers—and their families;
and be it further

Committee 5 Chairman Kurt Schultz

Resolved, That congregations, districts, and individuals be
urged to increase support for church work students by sending offerings to college, university, and seminary endowments
that support the training and education of church workers and
by participating in the For the Sake of the Church and Joint
Seminary Fund efforts and in the adopt-a-student programs
through our Synod’s schools; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention affirm, encourage, and support the “What a Way” initiative to foster active
recruitment and retention of church workers .
Action: Adopted (7)
(Res . 5-01A was adopted as presented, after brief discussion
[Yes: 990; No: 24] .)

To Celebrate and Support For the Sake of the
Church
RESOLUTION 5-02A
Overture 5-18 (CW, pp. 194-95)
Whereas, The “Objectives” article of the LCMS
Constitution includes these: “Recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers and provide
opportunity for their continuing growth” (Art . III 3) and “Aid
congregations to develop processes of thorough Christian
education and nurture and to establish agencies of Christian
education such as elementary and secondary schools and to
support synodical colleges, universities, and seminaries” (Art .
III 5); and
Whereas, The Synod is in need of well-educated pastors,
teachers, other professional church workers, and laypersons
to serve the church and community; and
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2010 Convention Proceedings