LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 218

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218 HIGHER EDUCATION

WHEREAS, 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 University, St. Paul, MN; Concordia
University, Austin, TX; Faculty, Concordia College,
Bronxville, NY

5-29

To Coordinate Theological Education
for Word and Sacrament Ministry

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has
at least eight alternate routes of preparation for ordination; and

WHEREAS, Both seminaries of the LCMS attempt to provide vir-
tually the same programs and services; and

WHEREAS, There is unnecessary duplication, little overall coor-
dination, and significant confusion; and

WHEREAS, Both seminaries wish to make the best use of their
limited resources; therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod convene a summit meeting, inviting the Council of
Presidents, the Standing Committee for Pastoral Ministry, and rep-
resentatives of both seminaries and of the Board for Higher Educa-
tion, to discuss and coordinate the programs of theological educa-
tion for Word and Sacrament Ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That the President of the LCMS report back to the
next synodical convention on this matter.

Faculty
Concordia Seminary
St. Louis, MO

5-30

To Require Seminaries Not to Place Field Workers
at Churches Not in Fellowship with LCMS

WHEREAS, Theological formation of seminary students is not
yet complete when they begin seminary training; and

WHEREAS, Students are now being placed in churches not in
altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS for field work, some as
early as their first quarter of seminary training; and

WuEeREAS, They have not yet been fully grounded in Lutheran
doctrine and lack discernment of the significance of false doctrine
in the church practice of churches not in altar and pulpit fellowship
with the LCMS; therefore be it

Resolved, That the seminaries refrain from assigning seminari-
ans to non-Lutheran churches for field-work experiences and re-
structure their field-education programs to accommodate this
change; and be it further

Resolved, That the seminaries report to the 2001 Synod con-
vention how they have restructured their field-education programs
to deal with this concern.

Memorial
Houston, TX

5-31

To Address Costs of Vicarage Program
WHEREAS, The vicarage program of our Synod is a vital part of
training pastors; and
WHEREAS, It offers vicars practical experience under the super-
vision of an experienced pastor; and

WHEREAS, Many vicars serve in large congregations because of
the congregations’ ability to support a vicar; and

WHEREAS, Few seminary graduates will serve in such large con-
gregations; and

WHEREAS, This does not reflect the experiences they have had
on vicarages in larger congregations, and

WHEREAS, It would seem to be prudent to place vicars in con-
gregations similar in size to what they will experience when they
receive their first calls; and

Wuereas, Many larger congregations use vicars to lighten the
workload of their pastors; and

WuerEAS, The purpose of the vicarage from the seminaries’
viewpoint is to teach, to mentor, and to model the Office of the
Holy Ministry; and

WHEREAS, Pastors in larger congregations often do not have
time to do this necessary and desirable teaching, mentoring, and
modeling to the fullest extent; and

WHEREAS, A model fits with the best educational methodology
in which the teacher spends a good amount of time teaching and
training; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has a vested interest in providing the
most well-trained candidates for the Office of the Holy Ministry;
and

WHEREAS, The seminaries’ vicarage programs often are not able
to utilize the best supervisors and congregations because of the fi-
nancial burden placed upon them; therefore be it

Resolved, That our seminaries be directed to identify “teaching
pastors” and “teaching congregations” so that the Synod may be
assured that this necessary educational activity is carried out to the
best of our ability; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod provide funding to underwrite the ex-
penses involved by those congregations which cannot afford the
vicarage program alone; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod give top priority to this important
matter by securing endowments for this purpose at the earliest pos-
sible time.

Immanuel
Terre Haute, IN

5-32

To Take Action on Seminary Training in Pacific
Southwest District

WHEREAS, The number of pastoral vacancies in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod continues to increase due to retirement
and other reasons; and

WHEREAS, Current recruitment and training of men into the pas-
toral ministry falls short of meeting the current or future need; and

WHEREAS, Finances, especially in relocation of families to sem-
inary and for nonresident students is often a major barrier to some
men who desire to receive training; and