LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 220

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220 HIGHER EDUCATION

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 is/has an exten-
sive program in recruiting men for the Lutheran ministry (or-
dained).

Concordia
South Haven, MN

5-36

To Disallow Women in Preseminary Programs

WHEREAS, In keeping with the unanimous testimony of the Holy
Scriptures and the tradition of the church, The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod does not ordain women into the office of the holy
ministry; and

Wuereas, To imply in any way that we approve of this sectar-
ian practice in other church bodies would be a denial of our own
confession of faith; and

WHEREAS, Several Concordia University System schools cur-
rently allow women into their preseminary programs (e.g., Ann
Arbor, St. Paul, and Portland); and

Wuereas, The LCMS is not in the business of preparing indi-
viduals for the holy ministry in other church bodies; and

WHEREAS, The purpose of a preseminary program is training for
the pastoral office; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention instruct the Board for
Higher Education and the Board of Regents of the various Concor-
dia University System schools that women are not allowed to be
enrolled in the preseminary programs of the Concordia University
System; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage women who wish to study the
biblical languages and Lutheran theology to do so, and urge them
to use their talents in other vocations to edify the body of Christ.

St. John, Topeka, KS; Bethany, Fort Wayne, IN; Grace,
Paris, TX

5-37

To Mandate That College Theology Professors
Teaching Males Be Males

WHEREAS, The apostle Paul wrote by inspiration that a woman
should neither teach nor exercise authority over men in church
(1 Tim. 2:11-15); and

WHEREAS, A college professor teaching theology to male stu-
dents both “teaches’’ and “has authority’’ over those males; and

WHEREAS, Whether this college professorship is held to be a
function of the pastoral office, or an auxiliary office in the church,
it cannot be exercised by a woman without violating apostolic and
scriptural injunction; therefore be it

Resolved, That in the colleges and universities of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod all professors whose responsibility it is to
teach theology to male students will be males graduated from a
synodical seminary or colloquized into the Synod.

Salem
Taylorsville, NC

5-38

To Require That Synodical College and University
Presidents Be Male

WHEREAS, The Synod has traditionally insisted that a president
of one of its institutions of higher education is the “spiritual, aca-
demic, and administrative head’’ of the institution; and

WHEREAS, Scripture assigns headship in both home and church
(of which synodical colleges and universities are extensions) to the
male; therefore be it

Resolved, That those who are elected to be presidents of
Synod’s colleges and universities are male.

Salem
Taylorsville, NC

5-39

To Request Evaluation of Source of Negative Attitudes
of Teacher Graduates re Catechism
Lutheran Hymnals, Liturgy, and Hymnody

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has repeatedly emphasized
the importance of the Small Catechism relative to the formation of
the piety of youth; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has repeatedly stated in convention its
strong intent that the LCMS be marked by a vibrant worship life
involving primarily the time-honored and approved hymnals of the
church and the liturgies contained therein; and

WHEREAS, Lamentably there are scores of LCMS grade schools
and high schools where children are not taught Lutheran hymnody,
hymnals in some cases are not present, numerous synodically
trained teachers frown upon the use of the hymnals with children,
children are unfamiliar with the basic liturgies of the church, and
many teachers see little or no relevance in the Small Catechism for
the life of faith, and even oppose the mildest efforts to introduce
such liturgy and hymnody and Catechism use; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education and Concordia
University System conduct an in-depth study of its teacher gradu-
ates, instructors, and chapel practices, to ascertain the precise
source of these unfortunate attitudes, and forthwith take the neces-
sary action to improve the Lutheran habitude of the Concordia Uni-
versity System teacher graduates and training programs; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention clearly state that the
teachers, teacher candidates, and teacher-training institutions are to
be marked by a strong appreciation for the hymnals of the church,
and Luther’s Small Catechism, which the Synod intends to be fun-
damental and primary tools for the shaping of the piety of our chil-
dren; and be it finally

Resolved, That Lutheran Worship (LW) and/or The Lutheran
Hymnal (TLH) be the primary sources of liturgy and hymnody in
the daily chapel life of all the schools of the Concordia University
System.

St. John, Topeka, KS; Bethany, Fort Wayne, IN; Our
Saviour, Evansville, IN

5-40

To Engage Faculty in Discussion
of Tenure and Rollover Contracts

WHEREAS, Questions relating to the tenure of university and col-
lege faculty continue to be raised; and

WHEREAS, Academic freedom relating to tenure is limited by
Art. [I of the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod, which obligates one to honor, uphold, and teach in accor-
dance with synodically accepted doctrinal statements; and

WHEREAS, The granting of tenure does not protect faculty from
dismissal on the grounds of incompetence or the absence of a need
for one’s services; and

WHEREAS, The nature of academic work includes the possibility
and perhaps even the necessity of an individual expressing a
prophetic voice and dissent in addressing issues; and

WuereaS, Media reports of the demise of academic tenure are
speculative, with no top-tier university in this country reporting to