LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1995, Page 134

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

134 _ RESOLUTIONS

To Renew Commitment
to Seminary Education

RESOLUTION 5-02A

Overture 5-01 (CW, p. 201)

* WHEREAS, Our Synod, since its formation, has had as one
of its main. objectives the education of mén for the-pastoral
office; and ;

“WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod needs
an increasing number of seminary graduates for the pri-
mary work of the church, that of spreading the Gospel; and

WHEREAS, Many pastors are graduating from seminary
with debts that are extremely difficult to repay on starting
pastors’ salaries; and.”

WHEREAS, This debt puts undue pressure not only ona
new pastor’s family, but on his ministry; and

WHEREAS, Many men, who have been prompted by the
Holy Spirit to study for the pastoral ministry, are appre-
hensive of the impending financial burden and the nega-
tive impact it may have on their families and their studies;
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
renew its commitment to the education of pastors and di-
rect the Board for Higher Education and the seminaries to
increase the student-aid endowment fund for seminarians;
and be it further

Resolved, That, in doing so, it also set as a goal the in-
gathering of funds sufficient to cover the cost of all tuition
for every student enrolled in the seminaries for the purpose
of entering the LCMS pastoral ministry.

Action: Adopted (5).

(In session 3 an amendment to substitute the words #o allevi-
ate undue financial burden for to cover the cost of all tuition in
the.final resolve was declined. A substitute motion was offered
which the delegates declined to consider. An amendment to in-
sert the words that no student be denied theological education for
financial consideration after the word sufficient and to delete the
remainder of the words in the final resolve was declined.)

To Respectfully Decline
to Act upon Overture 5-25

RESOLUTION 5-03A
Overture 5-25 (CW, pp. 207-16)

Resolved, That the Synod in convention respectfully de-
cline to act on Overture 5-25, with the exception of those
sections pertaining to Bylaws 6.87-6.103 (“Admission to the
Pastoral Ministry by Colloquy”), which is covered in Res.
5-06; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education/Concor-
dia University System, during the upcoming triennium,
study the concerns raised by various overtures in the 1995
Convention Workbook and additional concerns raised dur-
ing the floor committee hearings; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education/Concor-
dia University System bring appropriate reports and rec-
ommendations to the 1998 convention.

Action: Adopted (5).

‘

To Encourage Prior Full-Time
Church Service of All College
and Seminary Presidents
RESOLUTION 5-04A

’ Overture 5-03 (CW, p. 201)

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
recognized the desirability of parish experience for those
who serve as presidents of our colleges, universities, and
seminaries (1981 Res. 6-23 and 1983 Res. 6-13); therefore
be it

Resolved, That the electors, when calling a college, uni-
versity, or seminary president, be encouraged to give con-
sideration to candidates who have had a minimum of

.three years called service within The Lutheran Church—

Missouri Synod prior to their election.

Action: Adopted (5).

(An amendment to substitute the word required for encour-
aged in the resolve was declined.)

To Request Report from the Board
for Higher Education

RESOLUTION 5-05
Overtures 5-15-21 (CW, pp. 204-6)

WHEREAS, The historic purpose for maintaining educa-
tional institutions in The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod is to “recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other
professional church workers” (Article III); and

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has resolved that
“campus facilities of the Synod also [to] be utilized more
effectively wherever possible for the Christian higher ed-
ucation of the laity of the church and for their preparation
for service as Christians in a secular world as well as for
their development as lay leaders in local congregations”
(1986 Res. 6-01A); and

WueEreEas, The Lord of the church has richly blessed
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod through its edu-
cational ministries included in the Concordia University
System (see BHE report, Workbook, pp. 79-85); therefore
be it

Resolved, That we give thanks to God for the creative
and visionary leadership the Board for Higher Educa-
tion/ConcordiaUniversity System has given in response to
earlier convention resolutions (1983 Res. 6-03; 1986 Res.
6-01A; 1992 Res. 6-04); and be it further

Resolved, That we ask the Board for Higher Educa-
tion/Concordia University System to review its goals and
strategic initiatives (1995 Convention Workbook, p. 80) in
light of the original purpose for these church-sponsored
colleges and universities; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education/Con-
cordia University System respond to concerns reflected in
some of the overtures, such as purpose, capital indebted-
ness, percentage of non-Lutheran students enrolled, and
costs of education for future church workers; and be it fi-
nally

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education/Con-