LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 154

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DISTRICT AND CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES 155

2-37
To Revise Bylaw 3.821, “Board for District
and Congregational Services Membership”
Rationale

An examination of the composition of elected and appointed
boards and commissions in the 2001 Handbook indicates that
nearly 50 percent of ordained/commissioned ministers are required
to be actively serving in parish-based ministries.

Furthermore, since the Board for District and Congregational
Services exists to serve Districts and congregations in their various
ministries, it is desirable that the Board members are actively in-
volved in one or more of these ministry areas in their own congre-
gations, understand the issues congregations face, and have worked
within their Districts to address these issues.

In addition, it would be extremely beneficial to insure that
membership on the Board for District and Congregational Services
be limited to ordained and commissioned ministers who are ac-
tively parish-based and, therefore, in the best position to contribute
to the work of DCS.

The present wording of Bylaw 3.821 does not specifically ad-
dress whether the ordained and commissioned ministers must be
parish-based and active in congregational ministry.

Resolved, That the following revision of Bylaw 3.821 be
adopted:

PRESEMF/PROPOSED WORDING
The Board for District and Congregational Services shall con-
sist of 8 eight members to be elected by the Synod in convention: 2

snembers two ordained ministers who are parish pastors, two com-

missioned ministers who are parish-based, and four laypersons.
Hope

High Ridge, MO

2-38

To Hire Staff Person for Church Worker Recruitment

WHEREAS, The need has continued to surface for hiring a full-
time staff person, for recruiting and nurturing church workers for
ministry and to aide our colleges, universities, and seminaries; and

WHEREAS, The intentions of our church and synodical schools
are to educate and train church workers for full-time ministry, and
to fill the growing vacancies in our church body with pastors and
leaders; and

WHEREAS, The Great Commission of our Lord in Matt.
28:19-20 commands us to proclaim the Good News about Jesus
Christ, the Gospel in truth and purity; and

WHEREAS, Our church has trained many to serve in the profes-
sional roles of pastor, teacher, and other church workers; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the 2002 Black Ministry Family Convocation
directs the Board for Black Ministry Services to hire a full-time
staff person for the recruitment of professional church workers; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Black Ministry Services be di-
rected to seek funding for this endeavor.

Black Ministry Convocation

2-39

To Create Position
of National Hispanic Lutheran Counselor
WHEREAS, In the past the function of National Hispanic Coun-
selor was provided by the person who served as Facilitator for New
Missions under the Board for Mission Services—North America;
and

WHEREAS, The function of “counselor” has been eliminated
from the position description of the Facilitator for New Missions,
and the Board for Mission Services has not as its main goal and
objective the support and service of existing congregations, and

Wuereas, The Districts of our church body many times lack the
sufficient knowledge and background to counsel the Hispanic pas-
tors, congregations, and ministries in their midst; therefore be it

Resolved, That the President and Board of Directors of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod secure the funds to establish
the position of National Hispanic Counselor; and be it further

Resolved, That the President and Board of Directors consult and
work with the leaders of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
the Hispanic Roundtable, and the Hispanic Missionary Society to
find the proper place within our Synod structure to place the posi-
tion of National Hispanic Counselor; and be it finally

Resolved, That we work out as soon as possible a position de-
scription for the National Hispanic Counselor and the best possi-
ble suitable candidate be called to serve in this position.

Our Redeemer, Irving, TX; Faith, Cicero, IL; Christ the Life,
San Jose, CA; Principe De Paz, Lorain, OH; Prince of Peace,
Hollywood, FL; Miramar, Miramar, FL; Christ Our King,
Morgan Hill, CA; Iglesia Luterana Nazaret, Philadelphia,
PA; First Immanuel, San Jose, CA; St. Matthew, Miami, FL

2-40

To Establish Board for School Ministry Services

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in its By-
laws especially counsels congregations that “the most effective ed-
ucation agencies available to the church for equipping children and
youth for ministry are the Lutheran early childhood centers and
full-time Lutheran elementary and secondary schools, so that the
Gospel of Jesus Christ may become even more effective in the life
of the individual Christian and of the congregation” (Bylaw 3.823);
and

WHEREAS, Some 4,700 of the 6,000 congregations of the Synod
participate in the operation of a Lutheran early childhood
(preschool), elementary, or high school; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 17,000 full-time and part-time teach-
ers serve in 91 Lutheran high schools, 1,085 elementary schools,
and 1,600 freestanding preschools/early childhood centers, minis-
tering in the name of the Master Teacher to some 240,000 students;
and

WHEREAS, A decreasing percentage, approximately half in
2002, of teachers have been certified for ministry by the Synod,
and the half who have been certified are minimally represented at
the conventions and on the governing and program boards of the
Synod; and

WHEREAS, The close identity of congregations of the Synod
with Lutheran schools, the large number of teachers serving in, and
families being served by Lutheran schools demonstrate the need
more intentionally to connect the schools with the identity of the
Synod; and

WHEREAS, The close identity of congregations with schools also
indicates a growing need to provide support services, networking,
advocacy, and representation in the planning, teacher database
maintenance and relocation services, curriculum development, and
governance of the Synod; and

WuereaS, Funding for the Synod departments has been indi-
cated to be a problem and could result in cutting department posi-
tions; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Southern District of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod memorialize the Synod at its 2004 con-
vention to establish a separate Board for School Ministry Services,
representing early childhood (preschool) through grade 12 schools
and teachers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for School Ministry Services be re-
sponsible for providing support services, networking, advocacy,
and representation for preschool through grade 12 schools and