LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 215

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HIGHER EDUCATION 215

Wuereas, A large debt can prevent some from serving the
church in a professional way and cause others difficulty in their
service to the Lord; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention seek to lower the tuition expenses for those who seek to
serve their Lord through professional church work; end be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention reaffirm its support for our Concordia colleges, universi-
ties, and seminaries through a pledge of cooperation; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention reaffirm its support for our Concordia colleges, universi-
ties, and seminaries through an increase of financial support to each
synodical institution; and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod seek to
eliminate all tuition and book fees with due considerations and stip-
ulations for those who desire to serve our Lord through His church
on earth within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Fergus Falls Circuit Forum
Minnesota North District

5-19

To Study Preseminary Curriculum

WHEREAS, All of the colleges and universities of the Concordia
University System offer preseminary curricula to prepare men for
entrance to the seminaries of The Lutheran Church——Missouri
Synod; and

WHEREAS, This preseminary education provides a valuable
component in the theological and spiritual formation of future pas-
tors in the church; and

WuerEAS, Graduates of Concordia University System presemi-
nary programs often have taken courses and participated in activi-
ties which are duplicated at Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
seminaries; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention instruct the Board of
Directors of the Board for Higher Education/Concordia University
System to convene a working group of educators from Concordia
University System schools and The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod seminaries to study how the preseminary curricula of the
Concordia University System schools can be structured to maxi-
mize preparation for seminary study; and be it further

Resolved, That this working group develop a program to give
advanced academic standing at the seminaries for qualified gradu-
ates of Concordia University System preseminary programs; and
be it finally .

Resolved, That this program be implemented for the class en-
tering the seminaries in the fall of 2000 and that the Board of Di-
rectors of the Board for Higher Education/Concordia University
System report to the convention in 2001 on the structure and im-
plementation of this program.

Faculty
Concordia College
Ann Arbor, MI

5-20

To Require Study of Luther’s Small Catechism
by Students Preparing for Ordination

WueREAS, The Small Catechism of Dr. Luther is intended to be
used, not only in the home and family, but also in the church as a
handbook of instruction in Christian doctrine; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions regard the ability to recite
from memory the text of the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the
Our Father, and the words of institution for Holy Baptism and Holy
Communion, as well as an intelligent mastery of the meaning as a
minimum requirement for admission to the blessed Sacrament of
the Altar (SC Introduction 7-11); and

WHEREAS, Some of the students entering our seminary have
never studied Luther’s Small Catechism; and

WHEREAS, Pastors of the Lutheran Church are instructed by
blessed Martin Luther to “ . . . take these tables and forms (the Cat-
echism) and impress them, word for word, on the people, ...” (SC
Introduction 6); and

WuerEAs, Children and young people, especially, are to be
taught the Catechism by their parents and pastor; and

WHEREAS, Pastors who have not themselves been taught the
Catechism have difficulty teaching it to their congregation; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the seminaries provide a required course in
Luther’s Small Catechism for first-, second-, and fourth-year stu-
dents; and be it further

Resolved, That such a course shall not be less than three semes-
ter hours.

Pastoral Conference
Montana District

5-21

To Direct Seminaries to Conduct Courses
on Catechism

WHEREAS, The Catechism is the basic tool by which people are
trained in the Christian faith; and

WHEREAS, Some men who enter the seminaries do not know the
Catechism; and

WHEREAS, Luther himself admitted that he daily needed to re-
view the Catechism; and

Wuereas, The Catechism should be an integral part of each
pastor’s life; therefore be it

Resolved, That Concordia Seminary and Concordia Theologi-
cal Seminary conduct at least one three-hour course during each of
the first, second, and fourth years of the seminarian’s training to
not only familiarize the men with the Catechism but also to cate-
chize them in the essentials of the Christian faith; and be it further

Resolved, That the seminaries expand the study of the Cate-
chism to include the study of the catechumenate by the faculty and
students.

Mt. Olive
Billings, MT

5-22

To Continue to Teach Future Pastors
Importance of Practicing Close(d) Communion

Wuereas, God the Holy Spirit has stipulated in His Word that
pastors and congregations, out of sincere love for blood-bought
souls, are to watch over carefully those who come to receive the
very body and blood of God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that
they may receive the rich blessings of this Holy Sacrament and not
for various reasons run the dreadful risk of receiving its judgment
through unbelief, misbelief, impenitence, or a mere external show
of unity where none exists, Acts 20:28-31; 1 Cor. 10:1-22; 1 Cor.
11:27-29; Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; 2 John 8-11; 1 John
4:1; etc.; and

WuereEAs, The church from the earliest days has taken these
holy words very seriously and therefore has taught and practiced
close(d) Communion; and

WHEREAS, All churches until a recent. time have practiced
close(d) Communion; and

WHEREAS, The majority of Christian churches continue to teach
and practice close(d) Communion; and

Wuereas, All Lutheran churches except for those of “mixed
confession,” (Constitution, Art. VI 2 b) taught and practiced
close(d) Communion until the mid-20th century; and