LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 192

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192 RESOLUTIONS

has always been zealous and enthusiastic in promoting
and supporting the colleges and seminaries that it
established to provide training for professional workers;
and

WHEREAS, The synodical support for the St. Louis
seminary declined from 62.5 percent in 1969—70 to 39.6
percent in 1979—80, with a projected drop to 32.1
percent in 1980—-81, and the Fort Wayne seminary
experienced a similar decline, from 55 percent in 1969—
70 to 38.1 percent in 1980—81; and

WHEREAS, There has been a substantial increase in
tuition and fees paid by the students, which has caused
genuine hardship on many of them; and

WHEREAS, The solicitation of individuals and con-
gregations by the seminaries may well impinge on the
stewardship activities of the Synod and its Districts;
and

WHEREAS, Such solicitations have imposed an ad-
ditional drain on the seminary’s resources of time,
talent, and treasures, which had to be divided to the
raising of funds rather than to more appropriate needs;
and

WHEREAS, History teaches that seminaries tend to
become independent in their planning when they are
forced to provide more and more of their own support;
and

WHEREAS, The reduced subsidies have limited the
seminary’s ability to call the necessary faculty mem-
bers, to hire badly needed staff people and to pay
adequate salaries; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod instruct the Board for
Higher Education to provide 40 percent of the educa-
tional and general budget of the two seminaries for the
1982—1983 fiscal year; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod instruct the Board for
Higher Education to increase the support granted to the

PRESENT WORDING

4.61 Program of Instruction

b. After admission to the pastoral colloquy pro-
gram, up to 2 full academic years of instruction at one
of the Synod’s theological seminaries, including not
less than one full year in residence, as well as a
vicarage under synodical auspices, shall be expected
of:

1. ministers, or candidates for the ministry, in
good standing in non-Lutheran Christian church
bodies;

2. graduates of anon-Lutheran seminary in good
standing in a synodical congregation;

3. graduates of the Synod’s teachers colleges who
have had at least 5 years of successful experience as a
Lutheran teacher or director of Christian education.

seminaries by no less than an additional 5 percent per
year until the Synod is providing at least 65 percent
support for the educational and general budget of the
two seminaries; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod authorize and instruct the
Board of Directors to allocate the necessary funds to
make this level of support possible for the two seminaries
without decreasing the funds needed to provide for the
present level of support for the preparation of full-time
church workers at synodical colleges; and be it finally

Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod be
urged to commit themselves to greater financial support
of the Synod so that these resolutions may be carried
out.

Action: Adopted (10).

(The committee changed ‘‘1981—1982” to “1982-1983” in
the first resolved.)

To Strengthen Colloquy Program
RESOLUTION 6-19

Report 6-02 (CW pp. 232—233); Overtures 6-17—
6-18 (CW, pp. 255—256)

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
has traditionally maintained higher standards for
entrance into the pastoral ministry; and

WHEREAS, The shortage of pastors brings pressure to
hasten the certification of workers for the field; and

WHEREAS, The Synod in its eagerness to provide
workers for a wide variety of ministries might be
inclined to seek shortcuts by lowering the standards for
certification; and

WHEREAS, Such a lowering of standards would not
benefit the Kingdom and the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 4.61b be changed to read:

PROPOSED WORDING

4.61 Program of Instruction

b. After admission to the pastoral colloquy pro -
gram, not less than 2 full and up to 3 full academic .
years of instruction at one of the Synod’s theological
seminaries, including not less than one full year In -
residence, as well as a vicarage under synodical .
auspices, shall be expected of:

1. ministers, or candidates for the ministry, 0
good standing in non-Lutheran Christian church
bodies; ‘

2. graduates of a non-Lutheran seminary in good
standing in a synodical congregation;

3. graduates of the Synod’s teachers colleges who
have had at least 10 years of successful experience a8
a Lutheran teacher or director of Christian education.

Action: Adopted as amended (10).

(Amendment: 10 years’ service required instead of 5. A
motion to reconsider Res. 6-19 in Session 11 was defeated.)