LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 220

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220 HIGHER EDUCATION

5-40

To Expand DELTO to Include Candidates
from Multi-Staff Congregations

WHEREAS, The existing DELTO program (Distance Education
Leading to Ordination) of the LCMS offers a creative opportunity
to provide Lutheran seminary education to men currently involved
in ministry without leaving that ministry to move to the seminary
campus: and

WuereEaSs, The DELTO program is presently designed to serve
only men with at Jeast ten years of service in a Lutheran congrega-
tion who have at least an associate’s degree, who arc at least 35
years old, and who are serving in a Word and Sacrament ministry
that has no other pastor available on a regular basis; and

Wuereas. Men who meet the personal qualifications but are
serving as pastoral assistants/licensed deacons in multi-staff con-
gregations do not qualify for the DELTO program; and

WHEREAS, Multi-staff congregations that desperately need these
gifted candidates to continue to serve as pastoral assistants but also
that sincerely desire that these men receive Lutheran seminary ed-
ucation are faced with the choice of curtailing ministry while ask-
ing a man to go away to the seminary campus for an extended pe-
riod of time or of asking the man to forego seminary education in
order to continue serving as a pastoral assistant simply because the
DELTO program parameters do not include multi-staff congrega-
tions; and

Wuereas, DELTO course work that is to be offered in the same
geographic area in which potential candidates serve in multi-stafft
congregations may actually be offered sooner and more economi-
cally with the addition of these multi-staff pastoral assistants; and

WIIEREAS, One of the concerns about DELTO course work for
those who fit within the current DELTO parameters, namely the
lack of opportunity for frequent theological discussion in the sem-
inary setting. is indeed addressed by regular real-ministry discus-
sions in DELTO study groups and, for those in a multi-staff set-
ting, also by staff discussions in response to the real-life issues of
congregational ministry; and

WHEREAS. The LCMS, at a time of increasingly severe pastoral
shortage, is missing the opportunity to train these men as ordained
pastors; and

WHEREAS, The frequently expressed reservation about extend-
ing the parameters of DELTO to include these multi-staff pastoral
assistants is that the Synod, in previous convention action, did not
include them; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS extend the parameters of DELTO to
include these multi-staff pastoral assistants and any other similarly
qualified men currently serving in ministries that will be harmed
by their departure tor an extended period of study on a seminary
campus; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education direct the semi-
naries to use the latest technology to make distance education avail-
able to DELTO students; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education continue to
work on alternate methods for training the number of pastors
needed for our Synod to reach its full potential in spreading the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Royal Redeeiner, North Royalton. OH; Ohio District

5-4]
To Support DELTO and Other Programs

WHEREAS, The numbers of pastoral vacancies and mission
start-up opportunities continue to grow in the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, The DELTO program has proven itself a useful tool
in preparing pastoral candidates who would not be available for
study in a resident seminary program; and

WHEREAS, The seminaries are proving to be both capable of and
adept at supplying the resources and strategies for effective teach-
ing and learning in the DELTO format; therefore be it

2001 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That the LCMS continue to encourage and support
the DELTO program through the utilization of the strategies of the
two U.S. seminaries: and be it further

Resolved, That other programs that lead to ordination be ex-
plored and impicmented under the supervision of the seminaries so
that the ministry of Word and Sacraments can be extended by pas-
tors of the church.

St. Peter, Brooklyn, NY; Circuit 9. Atlantic District; St.
Matthew, Brooklyn, NY; Circuit 8. Atlantic District

5-42
To Abandon DELTO Program

WHEREAS, One of the objectives of the Synod is to “recruit and
train pastors” (Art. LL, 3); and

WHEREAS, There is a need for faithful, articulate pastors who
can preach the Gospel in all its truth and purity; and

WuHeREAS, The Distance Education Leading toward Ordination
program (DELTO) does not allow men to experience and be
shaped by daily conversation with scminary faculty and fellow stu-
dents, the rich worship life on our seminary campuses, and the in-
tensive mentoring program involved in a full-time vicarage pro-
gram; and

WHEREAS, DELTO does not require men to learn the Hebrew
language so that its graduates will be unable to access the majority
of Sacred Scripture in its original language; and

Wuereas, DELTO, contrary to Augustana XIV, allows men to
conduct Word and Sacrament ministry for six years without being
regularly called; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod abandon DELTO; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations currently being served by men in
the DELTO program be encouraged to joyfully thank these men
for their faithful service. release them from further service so that
they can pursue seminary training, and obtain a vacancy pastor; and
be it finally

Resolved, That the men currently enrolled in the DELTO pro-
gram be encouraged to enroll in the M.Div. program at one of our
seminaries, with credit being applied for DELTO classes already
completed.

Prince of Peace
Hartford City. IN

5-43

To Encourage Recognized Service Organization Status
for Pastoral Leadership Institute

WHEREAS, The Pastoral Leadership Institute was born out of a
necd in the church to provide continuing education for men desir-
ing to acquire skills to provide pastoral leadership to larger con-
gregations in our Synod; and

WHEREAS, The PLI has already provided training for sixty men
in its one year of existence: and

WHEREAS, PLI participants are enthusiastic about the blessings
they sec resulting from their training; and

WHEREAS, The PLI board wishes to apply for synodical Recog-
nized Service Organization (RSO) status as quickly as possible;
and

WHEREAS, The District Board of Directors has extended a call
on an interim basis to Rev. Dr. Norbert Oesch to serve as executive
director; and

WHEREAS, The PLI has fulfilled all of the requirements for re-
ceiving RSO status; therefore be it

Resolved, That the District Board of Directors and the conven-
tion assembly commend and thank the PLI for the contribution it is
making to the continuing education of LCMS pastors; and be it fur-
ther