LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 214

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214 HIGHER EDUCATION

Resolved, That the Synod redouble her efforts in the recruitment
of pastors (per Art. I, 3) and implement Res. 5-02A of the 1995
synodical convention.

Zion, Fort Wayne, IN; Bethany, Fort Wayne, IN: St. John.
Hubbard, IA; Our Saviour. Evansville, IN

5-14
To Continue to Support DELTO

WHEREAS, The numbers of pastoral vacancies and mission start-
up opportunities continue to grow in the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, The numbers of candidates preparing for the holy
ministry are not keeping pace with current and projected needs for
pastors; and

WHEREAS, The DELTO program is proving itself as a useful
tool in preparing pastoral candidates who would not be available
for study in a resident seminary program; and

WHEREAS, God has blessed the DELTO pilot projects of the
LCMS so that they have demonstrated to other areas of the U.S.A.
the practical benefits and potentials of the DELTO program toward
providing a reservoir of available clergy for mission start-ups and
for small congregations not able to afford a full-time pastor: and

WHEREAS, The seminaries are proving both capable of and
adept at supplying the resources and strategies for effective teach-
ing and learning in the DELTO format; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS continue to encourage and support
the DELTO program in such parts of the U.S.A. where its need is
demonstrable; and be it further

Resolved, That the seminaries be commended for their devel-
opment and performance of the mission of the DELTO program
entrusted them.

Board of Directors
Atlantic District

5-15

To Require Certain Courses for Seminary Students

WHEREAS, The major responsibility of a pastor is to teach,
“teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you”
(Matt. 28:20); and

WHEREAS, The apostolic qualifications for those who are called
to be pastors in the church include “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2);
and

WHEREAS, The research study “Congregations at Crossroads”
points out that ‘there is a need to develop and implement models of
adult Christian education that are effective in engaging people in
Bible study, theological reflection, and personal discipleship (cate-
chesis)’’; and

WHEREAS, The present seminary curriculum requires only three
semester hours of coursework in teaching or education; therefore
be it

Resolved, That our seminaries require a minimum of nine se-
mester hours of education-teaching courses for all students prepar-
ing for the pastoral ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That at least one of these courses focus on Christian
education as the means by which the baptismal life is given shape
and form.

Pastoral Conference, Montana District; Mt. Olive, Billings,
MT

5-16

To Support Endorsement of Sponsor-a-Seminarian
through Coins for Christ

WuereaS, The spiritual growth and nurture of Christians and
Christ's kingdom is enhanced by the availability of trained pastors;
and

WHEREAS, The cost of training pastors at our seminaries pre-
vents some well-qualified men from entering the seminary and im-
poses a severe financial burden on many of those in training to
serve us and our Lord in the public ministry; and

WHEREAS, Many seminarians incur large debt by the time they
complete their training; and

WHEREAS, Many pastors receive low salaries and carry heavy
financial burdens for too many years after they begin their public
ministry; and

WHEREAS, The congregations of our District are ideally suited to
provide financial assistance to our seminarians; and

WHEREAS, The cost of paying the tuition of one seminarian and
defraying about half of his other expenses is only two cents per
week for each baptized member of a typical Circuit; and

WHEREAS, This approach to supporting seminarians has proven
to be easy, effective, and a great joy in those congregations/Cir-
cuits that have tried it; therefore be it

Resolved, That this convention memorializes The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod at its next convention to urge all the con-
gregations of our Synod to adopt this or a similar method of pro-
viding financial support for our seminaries.

Minnesota South District

§-17

To Establish Educational Fund
for LCMS Church Workers

WHEREAS, Our synodical colleges and universities were estab-
lished for the express purpose of training full-time church work-
ers; and

WHEREAS, The supply of faithful, well-trained pastors and
teachers is indeed threatened by the high cost and rather low
salaries earned by many such workers; therefore be it

Resolved, That on Jan. 12, 2002, an assessment be made of the
percentage of LCMS students enrolled on a full-time basis and the
percentage of students enrolled in programs leading to careers in
LCMS church work in each of the synodical colleges or universi-
ties; and be it further

Resolved, That as of the aforementioned date (and the same sub-
sequent date of Jan. 1) the three institutions with the lowest per-
centage of full-time students enrolled in LCMS career programs
will be put up for sale with the proceeds to be used to support the
church-worker programs and scholarships of the remaining LCMS
colleges and seminaries.

Bethany, Fort Wayne, IN; St. John, Topeka, KS

5-18

To Increase Support for Colleges, Universities
Seminaries, and Especially 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”
(Constitution, Art. ITD); and

WHEREAS, Many who seek to serve the church in a professional
capacity are acquiring large debts; and

WHEREAS, The worker within the church pursues his career “not
greedy for money, but eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2), and