LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 146

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146

RESOLUTIONS

(Synod) Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry
and campus program directors.
Director of Family Life Ministry Colloquy
Curriculum [new]
a. Students shall complete eight courses in biblical interpretation, church history, the Lutheran Confessions,
doctrine, the beliefs of other religious bodies, and the ministry of the director of family life education. The courses
shall be taken in a traditional classroom setting from a
Synod college/university, with faculty of a Synod
college/university teaching via CUEnet, or in another setting with the prior approval of the Board for Higher Education.
b. Students shall complete an internship under the supervision of a Synod institution offering a bachelor’s degree
leading to family life ministry certification or one year of
successful family life ministry in an LCMS congregation.
Action: Adopted (8)
(After extensive introductory comments by the committee, an
amendment was offered to insert the words on site or off site after
the words traditional classroom setting in the teacher and director of Christian education curriculum paragraphs. After discussion, the amendment failed and the resolution was adopted as
presented [Yes: 997; No: 117].)

To Equip Teachers Ineligible
for Teacher Colloquy
RESOLUTION 5-24
Overture 5-39 (CW, pp. 235−236)
Preamble
The professional training of a Lutheran teacher is similar in its objective to the training of a Lutheran pastor in
that the Lutheran teacher is also to be an instructor of the
doctrine, practice, and heritage of the Lutheran Church to
children. Yet, while congregations reserve their pulpits exclusively for men trained in the seminaries of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, these same congregations are
frequently forced by circumstances beyond their control to
engage teachers virtually untrained in Lutheran theology
for their school classrooms. Where congregations are intent
upon offering a Lutheran education, as distinguished from
a generically Christian education, the matter is highly significant.
Research by the Next Generation Task Force reveals
that 3,800 teachers in LCMS schools are not members of
Missouri Synod congregations. Another 2,700 teachers did
not stipulate their denominational affiliation. This repre-

2004 Convention Proceedings

sents up to 36 percent of Lutheran schoolteachers. Approximately half of these teachers serve in elementary schools
or high schools, while the remainder serve at the level of
early childhood education.
WHEREAS, The Next Generation Task Force understands
the extreme difficulties faced by congregations in securing
Synod-certified teachers for their schools and yet remains
cognizant of the congregations’ desire faithfully to transmit
the faith and heritage of the Lutheran Church to their
pupils; and
WHEREAS, The Board for University Education is currently delivering a full Teacher Colloquy Program via the
Internet that has been field tested by more than 500 teachers; therefore be it
Resolved, That from the full Concordia Online Teacher
Colloquy Program a short series of professional development seminars be prepared by the Board for University Education in consultation with District education executives
for delivery online; and be it further
Resolved, That this program be directed toward those ineligible for enrollment in the regular teacher colloquy program; and be it further
Resolved, That the professional development seminars
include, at a minimum, the Lutheran school’s role in the
Great Commission, a review of the Old Testament, a review
of the New Testament, a survey of the history of the Christian Church, and a survey of the doctrine and practice of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That each seminar approach topics from the
viewpoint of the teacher in a Lutheran school; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations’ pastors be encouraged to
work with teachers as they proceed through the seminars;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Board for University Education work
in concert with the District education executives strongly
to encourage congregations and schools to require enrollment in this program when contracting teachers ineligible
for the regular teacher colloquy program; and be it finally
Resolved, That upon completion of the program teachers
be awarded a “record of completion,” which designates the
education received but affords no official status in the
Synod.
Action: Adopted (4)
(After the committee called attention to changes necessitated
by a previous convention action, changing references to Board for
Higher Education to Board for University Education, and after
debate was ended, the resolution was adopted as presented [Yes:
1,031; No: 160].)