LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 211

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

HIGHER EDUCATION 211

5-02

To Insert “Lutheran” in Name
of Concordia University System

WHEREAS, Our university system is primarily set up to prepare
pastors, teachers, directors of Christian education, directors of
evangelism, etc., for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

WuereaS, The Concordia University System does not, in any
way, tell anyone as to the affiliation of the university system; and

WHEREAS, It appears we are afraid to identify ourselves as a
Lutheran education system, which we most definitely are; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That we insert the term Lutheran in the Concordia
Lutheran University System, by the year 2000.

King of Kings

San Antonio, TX

5-03
To Amend Membership Bylaws for BHE/CUS

Rationale

The Bylaws governing the Board for Higher Education/Con-
cordia University System Board of Directors state that rostered
members, three ordained and two commissioned ministers, are to
be elected by the convention. Six lay members with financial or
academic expertise are to be elected by the members of the CUS
corporation. In addition, they state that no more than one director
can be from the same District of the LCMS, a limitation which ap-
plies elsewhere only to the Board of Directors of the Synod and no
programmatic board. Beyond the fact that consistency would be
desirable, the need for searching out and identifying persons with
different backgrounds and skills relating to the specific work of this
board which deals with one-third of the undesignated funds remit-
ted to the Synod is of paramount importance.

Resolved, That in the synodical election of rostered members of
the Synod, the limit of the election of no more than one member
from the same District be retained; and be it further

Resolved, That in order to meet the need for specific back-
grounds and skills, no more than one member of the same District
may be elected by the members of the CUS corporation; and be it
further

Resolved, That the limitation of no more than one member from
a District apply to the individual categories of rostered and lay but
not to the entire Board for Higher Education; and be it finally
Resolved, That the necessary Bylaw revision be made in accord
with Bylaw 15.01 2.
Board of Directors
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

5-04

To Restore Original Purpose
of Synodical Colleges and Universities

WHEREAS, The colleges and universities which make up the
Concordia University System were established chiefly and often
solely for the preparation of men and women for service within the
church as pastors, teachers, deaconesses, etc.; and

WHEREAS, The focus and function of these synodical institutions
as training ground for people entering the pastoral ministry, teach-
ing ministry, and parish ministry has become increasingly obscured
and diluted; and

WHEREAS, The percentage of Lutheran students attending these
institutions has declined significantly; and

WHEREAS, There is a serious shortage of full-time church work-
ers; and

WHEREAS, The resources to maintain synodical colleges and
universities are both finite and limited; and

WHEREAS, The resources of the Synod are also finite and limited
and must be distributed to many different activities of mission and
ministry; therefore be it

Resolved, That a special task force be established under the aus-
pices of the President of the Synod to investigate the ways and
means by which synodical universities can become solely focused
on the teaching and training of church workers; and be it further

Resolved, That the task force be charged with developing a plan
to accomplish the same; and be it further

Resolved, That this task force present its findings for review and
input to the District conventions in the year 2000 and its final report
to the Synod at convention in the year 2001.

St. Paul
Lockport, IL

5-05

To Restore Religious Purposes of Schools
of Concordia System

WuerEAS, The schools encompassed in the Concordia Univer-
sity System were established chiefly and often solely for the prepa-
ration of students for the seminary; and

WHEREAS, These students were called preministerial students
already in the first year of high school; and

WHEREAS, The percentage of Lutherans at these schools has sig-
nificantly declined; and

WHEREAS, The percentage of students studying for the ministry
known as the “ordained ministry” in the LCMS at these schools
has also declined; and

WHEREAS, The explicit religious purpose of these schools has
become obscured; and

WHEREAS, These schools are owned and operated by the con-
gregations of the LCMS to preserve the faith of the church and pre-
pare pastors; and

WHEREAS, Pastors are trained to preserve the integrity of the
Lutheran Confessions and identify young men who will become
pastors; therefore be it

Resolved, That only ordained pastors with parish positions be
called to the presidencies of schools in the Concordia University
System; and be it further

Resolved, That each school shall have a separate department of
religion or theology; and be it further

Resolved, That only ordained LCMS pastors be members of this
department and teach these courses; and be it further

Resolved, That each school demonstrate that it has an extensive
program for acquainting non-Lutheran students with the Lutheran
faith; and be it finally

Resolved, That each school demonstrate that it has an extensive
program in recruiting men for the Lutheran ministry (ordained).

Our Redeemer, Peekskill, NY; Faith, Corning, NY; St.
Matthew, Lake Zurich, IL

5-06

To Renew Synod’s Commitment
to Professional Church Workers
WHEREAS, One of the purposes for the creation of Synod was
to “recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church
workers and provide opportunity for their continuing growth” (Art.
III, Constitution); and
WHEREAS, Many who seek to serve the church in a professional
capacity are acquiring large debts; and
Wuereas, The worker within the church pursues his career “not
greedy for money, but eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2); and