LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 215

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HIGHER EDUCATION 215

Resolved, That we encourage all professional church workers
to take advantage of existing opportunities for continuing educa-
tion in these cases.

Mid-South District

5-28

To Develop Plan for Education, Training,
and Certification of Lutheran Counselors

WHEREAS, Lutheran Child and Family Services suffers from a
shortage of Lutheran counselors; and

WHEREAS, Such a shortage is not unique to LCFS but is present
in other Recognized Service Organizations of the LCMS that pro-
vide counseling services; and

WHEREAS, A group of theologically trained Lutheran counselors
who know the importance of the proper distinction between Law
and Gospel, the means of grace, God’s Word, and Sacraments
would be invaluable in helping clients deal with issues of sin and
grace; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS operates the Concordia University Sys-
tem for the purpose of providing the church with theologically
trained workers to serve in the church; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Central Illinois District in convention in
Springfield, IL, memorialize the synodical convention in 2001 to
recommend that the Board for Higher Education in cooperation
with the Concordia University System develop and implement a
plan for the education, training, and certification of Lutheran coun-
selors.

Central Illinois District

5-29

To Encourage Congregation/Synodical Schools
Sabbatical Consortia

WHEREAS, There is an ongoing need in our Synod’s churches to
provide specialized training for varied ministries (urban, rural,
youth, inner-city, leadership in mega-churches, chaplaincies, etc.);
and

Wuereas, Such training already exists in various areas in our
United States; and
WHEREAS, There is a perceived need to apply the expertise of

our Synod’s professors of*both seminaries and universities as a ve-
hicle to enhance these ministries; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Boards of Regents of the LCMS seminaries
and universities be directed to strongly encourage professors to
have an active participation in parish life (locally, sabbaticals, etc.);
and be it further

Resolved, That the Boards of Regents be strongly encouraged
to employ parish pastors as guest professors at synodical seminar-
ies/universities; and be it finally

Resolved, That we wholeheartedly encourage this endeavor as
an opportunity for expanding ministries of professional church
workers within our Synod.

Greenfield Park
West Allis, WI

5-30

To Expand Colloquy Opportunities and Participation
WHEREAS, There is a tremendous shortage of synodically
trained teachers; and
WHEREAS, Many of our Lutheran early childhood centers and
elementary and secondary schools are growing and require more
teachers; and

WHEREAS, It is of tremendous benefit to LCMS schools to em-
ploy teachers who understand Lutheran doctrine and procedures for
teaching the faith; and

WHEREAS, Many individuals who have not received their edu-
cation at a Concordia university wish to serve as directors of Chris-
tian education, directors of youth ministry, deaconesses, and direc-
tors of music; and

WHEREAS, Many of these nonsynodically trained people would
like to go through the colloquy process but find the process to be
long, difficult, complicated, and expensive; therefore be it

Resolved, That the convention ask the synodical Board for
Higher Education to change the procedures for colloquy; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education make it a prior-
ity to find creative ways—use of the Internet, retreats, credit by ex-
amination, mentoring, etc.—to speed up the process and reduce the
cost of the colloquy procedure; and be it further

Resolved, That every effort be made to maintain and/or improve
the present high quality of trained professionals who are using the
colloquy program to prepare themselves for service to the church;
and be it finally

Resolved, That the congregations and schools of the Synod con-
tinue to encourage their nonsynodically trained people to go
through this new colloquy procedure so that the benefits of such
training can be realized by the workers themselves and the schools
and congregations they serve.

Pacific Southwest District; Zion, Anaheim. CA

§-31

To Implement a CUENet Delivered Colloquy Program

WHEREAS, It has long been a value of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS) that teachers certified for the teaching
ministry be engaged to teach in schools operated by congregations
of the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, Over the past decade, the number of synodically
trained teachers within LCMS schools and early childhood centers
has declined by LO percent, so that in 1999, only 13 percent of
teachers in LCMS early childhood centers, 61 percent of teachers in
LCMS elementary schools, and 59 percent of teachers in LCMS
secondary schools were synodically certified Ministers of Religion,
Commissioned, and

WHEREAS, Over the past several years the Synod has only been
able to replace through placement, colloquy, and reinstatement be-
tween one half and two thirds of the teachers who leave the min-
istry each year; and

WHEREAS, District and synodical leaders point to the inaccessi-
bility of colloquy, education as a critical factor in the failure of
large numbers of uncertified educators in Lutheran schools to be-
come certified; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Michigan District send an overture to the
2001 convention of the Synod to empower the Concordia Univer-
sity System to manage and deliver technology-mediated colloquy
modules/courses through the Concordia University Education Net-
work (CUENéet) or an accessible alternative delivery system for
colloquy courses; and be it further

Resolved, That the interview for graduates of the technol-
ogy-mediated colloquy program as Commissioned Minister of the
LCMS be conducted by no less than one university President or his
designec, a representative of the District office from which the can-
didate comes, and others as determined by the governing body of
the Concordia University System; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Michigan District request the LCMS in con-
vention in 2001 to make appropriate changes to the synodical
Handbook to implement the technology-mediated colloquy pro-
gram.

Michigan District; Florida-Georgia District; New England
District; Nebraska District

2001 Convention Workbook