LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 326

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326

PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES

academic programs as compared with residential students; therefore
be it
Resolved, That the district in convention encourage the
seminaries to award the same tuition assistance as residential
students to their nonresidential students; and be it further
Resolved, That the district hereby memorializes Synod to adopt
this, or similar resolutions, at its next convention.
Minnesota South District
Ov. 6-09

To Encourage and Expand Support
for Immigrant and Non-Anglo Pastoral Formation
through Learning in Ministry, Non-Residential,
Distance Programs that Lead to Ordination
WHEREAS, Jesus said, “The Harvest is plentiful, but the laborers
are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send
out laborers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37–38); and
WHEREAS, Jesus set an example of what a robust theological
education looks like by teaching His disciples theology while they
were, at the exact same time, engaged in real-world, real-time,
hands-on ministry with Him; and
WHEREAS, The Apostle Paul educated and raised up new pastors
and leaders by inviting them to join him and assist him and work
alongside him in real-world, real-time, hands-on ministry; and
WHEREAS, God is bringing thousands of new immigrants to our
communities and thereby providing our congregations with new and
vast harvest fields; and
WHEREAS, Our Pacific Southwest District pastors and
congregations are identifying new potential pastoral leaders in and
among these immigrant, non-Anglo communities; and
WHEREAS, The pool of men who are interested in and gifted for
pastoral ministry and who are, at the same time, able to give up jobs,
sell homes, and relocate their spouse and children to either St.
Louis, Mo. or Fort Wayne, Ind. continues to get smaller; and
WHEREAS, An unintended consequence of Synod promoting
residential seminary education as the preferred option for the
preparation of men for pastoral ministry (2019 Res. 6-02,
Proceedings, 158) is that non-residential, immigrant students
receive, proportionally, a lower percentage of tuition aid from the
seminary to cover the costs of their academic programs than do
residential students; and
WHEREAS, Pastors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
are retiring in larger numbers than ever before (an estimated 1/3 of
our congregations will be without a pastor by 2035) and the number
of men entering our seminaries is less than what is needed to replace
these faithful servants and expand further mission and ministry;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the district in convention encourage its pastors,
leaders, and congregations to continue to cultivate, from our
immigrant, non-Anglo communities, new leaders who are
intentionally engaged in the mission of God; and be it further
Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize the 2023
Synod convention to encourage the seminaries to maintain and
strengthen their non-residential, learning-in-ministry, distance
programs, and to award financial aid more equitably toward the
students in these programs.

2023 Convention Workbook

Pacific Southwest District
Ov. 6-10

To Encourage and Support Existing
Learning-In-Ministry, Non-Residential,
Distance Programs Leading to Ordination
WHEREAS, Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers
are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send
out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2); and
WHEREAS, Jesus set an example of what a robust theological
education looks like by teaching His disciples theology while they
were, at the exact same time, engaged in real-world, real-time,
hands-on ministry with Him; and
WHEREAS, The apostle Paul educated and raised up new pastors
and leaders by inviting them to join him and assist him and work
alongside him in real-world, real-time, hands-on ministry; and
WHEREAS, God is bringing thousands of new immigrants to our
communities and thereby providing our congregations with new and
vast harvest fields; and
WHEREAS, Synod pastors and congregations are identifying new
potential pastoral leaders in and among immigrant, non-Anglo and
Anglo communities; and
WHEREAS, The pool of men who are interested in and gifted for
pastoral ministry and who are, at the same time, able to give up jobs,
sell homes, and relocate their spouse and children to either St.
Louis, Mo., or Fort Wayne, Ind., continues to get smaller; and
WHEREAS, Our Synod seminaries have established a successful
track record of providing distance (non-residential) theological
education through the Specific Ministry Pastor, Ethnic Immigrant
Institute of Theology, Cross Cultural Ministry Center, and Center
for Hispanic Studies programs; and
WHEREAS, These non-residential, learning-in-ministry seminary
programs support our districts and their congregations in our joint
efforts to cultivate leaders who are intentionally engaged in the
mission of God; and
WHEREAS, An unintended consequence of Synod promoting
residential seminary education as the preferred option for the
preparation of men for pastoral ministry (2019 Resolution 6-02,
Proceedings, 158) is that non-residential students receive,
proportionally, a lower percentage of tuition aid from the seminary
to cover the costs of their academic programs than do residential
students; and
WHEREAS, The demographics of the Synod reveal a reduced pool
of men to recruit for the ministry, which is estimated to result in a
50 percent reduction in the number of active pastors by 2032;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks for the new
pastors and leaders that God has been, and still is, raising up among
us from our immigrant, non-Anglo and Anglo communities; and be
it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage the
seminaries to maintain and strengthen their non-residential,
learning-in-ministry, distance programs; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage the
seminaries to award financial aid more equitably to its nonresidential, learning-in-ministry students.
Florida-Georgia District