Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2001 · 61st Convention › Page 216
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 216

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

216 HIGHER EDUCATION

5-32

To Amend Bylaws re Teacher Colloquy

Wuereas, It has Jong been a value of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod 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 percent of teachers within
LCMS schools and early childhood centers has declined by 10 per-
cent, 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 become
certified; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education/Concordia Uni-
versity System recommends revision of the Bylaws as noted below,
to also include management and delivery of technology-mediated
colloquy modules/courses through the Concordia University Edu-
cation Network (CUEnet) as an accessible alternative delivery sys-
tem for colloquy courses: and be it further

Resolved, That the interview for graduates of the technology-
mediated CUEnet-managed System-wide colloquy program as
Commissioned Ministers of the LCMS be conducted by no less
than one university president or his designee, a representative of
the District office from which the candidate comes, and others as
determined by the governing body of the Concordia University
System; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Synod be directed to make
any changes in the synodical Handbook that are needed to autho-
rize the CUEnet-delivered teacher colloquy program.

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

G. ADMISSION TO THE TEACHING MINISTRY BY
COLLOQUY

6.105 Colloquy Committees

a. The Colloquy Committee for the Teaching Ministry shal]
consist of a Vice-President of the Synod and two presidents of
synodical instilutions offering a bachelor’s degree in teacher ed-
ucation. All members shall be appointed by the President of the
Synod. The Vice-President shall be chairman of the committee.

edrestenshat-heve-t-cotediy exerting committee selected:
by-tts-teentt: The Colloquy Committee for the Teaching Min-
istry shall direct the synodical activity in matters of colloquies

for the teaching ministry.
c. The Colloquy Commitee for the Teaching Ministry end

shall also establish and monitor academic and theological stan-
dards for admission to the teaching ministry by colloquy. and in
the establishment of these standards the committee shall consult
the faculties of the synodical colleges and universities offering

bachelor’s degrees in teacher education.
6.106 Eligibility for Admission to the Program

Applicants for admission to the Teacher Colloquy Program
shall be at least 25 years of age. shall possess a bachelor’s de-
gree, shall have completed student teaching under the supervi-
sion of a synodical institution offering a bachelor’s degree in
teacher education or one year of successful teaching in a school
recognized by the Synod, and shall be individuals for whom no
valid objection is made pursuant to Bylaw 6.107, (Graduates of
the teacher-education program of Valparaiso University need

200! Convention Workbook

not meet the age requirement to appiy for admission to the syn-
odical teacher colloquy program.)

6.107 Funetions-ef the-ConmunitteeP ublication of Notice
: . . Teaching Mini 4

After the Colloquy Committee for lhe Teaching Ministry has
received notification of a student’s admission to the colloquy
program from a Concordia campus or from Concordia Univer-
sity Education Network (CUEnet), the commiltee shall seek the
endorsement of the respective District president for the student
and publish notice in an official periodical of the Synod. If no
valid objection to the applicant is received by the Colloguy
Committee for the Teaching Ministry within four weeks after
the publication of such notice, acceptance into the program shall
be deemed final. The committee, in ils sole discretion, shall de-
cide whether an objection is valid. Its decision shall not be sub-

6.108 Certification

Certification by the faculty of one of the Concordia cam-
puses shall follow satisfactory completion of an oral examina-
tion based upon courses in education, doctrine, biblical inter-
pretation, church history, and church practice, of which a
minimum of four shall be taken in a traditional classroom setting
trom a synodical college or university offering a bachelor’s de-
gree or with faculty of a synodical college or university teaching
via CUEnet, so as to meet the academic and theological stan-
dards established by the Colloquy Commitlee for the Teaching

Ministry.

6.109 Ehigibiity-for-vdmission-te-thePregramPlacement
li Cox adeaian! hine-minisinet

When all requirements have been met, including a final oral

examination, the student shall be declared eligible for the teach-
ing minisiry and shall be assigned his or her first call by the
Council of Presidents acting as the Board of Assignments.

a. Such action shall be reported to the chairman of the Col-

loguy Committee for the Teaching Ministry and the appropriate
District President;