LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 221

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HIGHER EDUCATION 221

Resolved, That the District Board of Directors request that the
Board for Higher Education and the Board of Directors of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod act as quickly as possible to
grant RSO status to the PLI; and be it further

Resolved, That when the RSO status is granted, the PLI Board
of Directors extend a call to the executive director to replace the
interim call he now has from the PSW district; and be it finally

Resolved, That the District and the PLI continue to work to-
gether with the vision of providing leadership training for all pas-
tors.

Pacific Southwest District

5-44
To Grant RSO Status to PLI

Rationale

The ministry of the Pastoral Leadership Institute is being of-
fered as a continuing education experience for parish pastors who
seek to add to their seminary training regarding the leading of
larger congregations. After two years of its ministry the Pastoral
Leadership Institute has provided training for some 60 LCMS pas-
tors. As more and more pastors are trained in the building up and
administration of larger parishes, the Synod has the opportunity to
overcome its large numerical losses of the last 10 years; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention express its appreciation
for the ministry of Pastoral Leadership Institute and the contribu-
tion it is making to the continuing education of pastors in the
LCMS; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention request that the Board
for Higher Education and the Board of Directors of the LCMS act
as quickly as possible to take the necessary actions to grant Rec-
ognized Service Organization status to Pastoral Leadership Insti-
tute.

Abiding Savior
Lake Forest, CA

5-45

To Urge Recognition of PLI

WHEREAS, The Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLT) was orga-
nized following the time-honored process of addressing the felt
needs of congregations and pastors and is fully committed to help-
ing the church fulfill the Great Commission; and

Wuereas, PLI leaders from its very inception sought the coun-
sel of the leaders of the Synod, including the President; and

WHEREAS, Experienced pastors serving large and/or growing
congregations have identified the need to give advanced leadership
training to LCMS pastors who are serving in growing congrega-
tions and desire such continuing education; and

Wuereas, Many LCMS pastors have found it necessary to go
outside the Synod for such training; and

WterEAS, PLI is committed to bringing the expertise of experi-
enced LCMS pastors and theologians, and of organizational experts
in areas of leadership and management, in the context of sound
confessional and biblical principles; and

WueREAS, All the mentors and mentoring congregations are
pastors and congregations in good standing in the Synod; and

WHEREAS, PLI is committed to serve pastors in the LCMS and
therefore is seeking to strengthen the relationship with the Synod
through appropriate and official channels; therefore be it

Resolved, That we, the members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
of Houston, TX, urge the Synod in convention to thank God for the
work of the Pastoral Leadership Institute in providing advanced
leadership training to LCMS pastors and encourage the organiza-
tion in its efforts; and be it further

Resolved, We ask the Synod in convention to urge the appro-
priate board of the Synod to give Recognized Service Organization
(RSO) status to PLI or to find an appropriate avenue for adminis-
trative inclusion in the Synod.

Gloria Dei, Houston (Nassau Bay), TX; Abiding Savior,
St. Louis, MO; Grace, Pensacola, FL; Holy Cross,
Mahwah, NJ; Lord of Life. Leawood, KS; Immanuel.
Loveland, CO

5-46

To Encourage RSO or Equivalent Status for PLI

WHEREAS, The Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLD has been es-
tablished by a group of veteran LCMS pastors to provide advanced,
hands on training for pastors with at least five years experience to
improve their leadership skills in many aspects; and

WHEREAS, The seminary curricula does not permit the time for
this type of study and further experience is needed to properly ben-
efit from the PLI studies; and

Wuereas, The PLI training sessions are monitored by members
of the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, to insure that
LCMS values are not distorted; and

Wuereas, Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church’s own Pastor Dennis
Stueve has been in the program since January 2000 and has bene-
fited greatly from the training; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Stueve’s wife, Debra, is also enrolled in the
wives’ program, which is designed to be sure that pastors’ wives
would know and understand the program and in this way enhance
and strengthen the essential husband/wife pastoral partnership, and
has benefited greatly from the experience; and

WHEREAS, The strengthening of church partnership extends to
the personal life of pastors and their wives; and

WuereEAS, The Board for Higher Education (BHE) is consider-
ing the PLI application for Recognized Service Organization (RSO)
status; therefore be it

Resolved, That we, (he members of Mt. Calvary Lutheran
Church, Diamond Bar, CA thank God for PLI and the training
being given to our pastor and his wife; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in this 2001 convention encourage the
Board for Higher Education to move affirmatively to give the Pas-
toral Leadership Institute administrative status as either a Recog-
nized Service Organization or other equivalent status.

Mt. Calvary, Diamond Bar. CA; Grace, Pensacola, FL;
Lord of Life, Leawood, KS

5-47

To Affirm Intentions and Work of PLI

WHEREAS, The Pastoral Leadership Institute was established in
response to the needs for parish pastors to discuss concerns and
gain both insight and skill in the area of pastoral leadership; and

WHEREAS, The PLI sought to pursue such growth and training
from within the context of confessional Lutheran theology; and

WHEREAS, The PL] was established as an alternative for pastors
who otherwise might seek such training outside of a Lutheran con-
text; and

WHEREAS, The PLI explicitly and intentionally sought the sup-
port and assistance of colleagues and institutions within the LCMS,
specifically from both Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Con-
cordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, which have both ex-
pressed the importance of pastoral leadership, Concordia Theolog-
ical Seminary by affirming the role that leadership plays in its
curriculum through existing courses, and Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, by similar courses as well as an additional new required
course in pastoral leadership; and

WHEREAS, PLI has made every effort to work cooperatively
within the structures of the Synod and with both seminaries, peti-

2001 Convention Workbook