LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 227

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

HIGHER EDUCATION 227

workers and other students in the schools, as it relates to the mis-
sion of the church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, require that all of the
seminaries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod develop and
promote a United States mission track as a major course of study
available to students desiring certification in such a course of study;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, require that all semi-
naries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod develop and offer
courses of study in the area of leadership development, inclusive of
¢ theory of leadership development,

* strategies of developing leaders in the congregational setting,
* understanding and developing team ministry, and

* a practicum requiring students to work on a project as a team;
and be it finally

Resolved, That a report outlining the compliance with this reso-
lution be presented at the 2007 LCMS convention by the two sem-
inaries.

Board of Directors, lowa District West; Board of Directors,
Southeastern District

5-17

To Establish Seminary at Concordia, Selma

WHEREAS, The primary purpose of the Church is clearly stated
by Christ Jesus Himself: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature;” and

WHEREAS, The Word of God is still the Means of Grace through
which the Spirit of God works as He builds the Kingdom; and

WHEREAS, The age-old observation of the Savior, “The harvest
truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few” is multiplied today;
and

WHEREAS, The passionate plea “Pray ye therefore the Lord of
the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest” has
also become our cry in black ministry today; and

WHEREAS, In the LCMS this lack of laborers is painfully obvi-
ous with over 350 congregations in black ministry with less than
100 active black pastors; and

WHEREAS, If this present trend continues, this critical shortage
will become much worse; and

WHEREAS, When the seminary for training black pastors in
Greensboro was closed, more than 40 years ago, it was often said
that the “Concordias” could do a better job of recruiting and train-
ing of black pastors, yet the opposite result is painfully obvious;
and

WHEREAS, Concordia College, Selma, historically through the
years, was an effective feeder school for Immanuel Lutheran Sem-
inary, Greensboro, N.C.; and

WHEREAS, Concordia College, Selma, is setting new enrollment
records every year with over 2,000 students within our vision and
our Lutheran enrollment increasing; and

Wuereas, U.S. News and World Report has declared Concordia
College, Selma, to be among the top 100 colleges in quality educa-
tion at a reasonable cost; and

WHEREAS, The establishment of an LCMS seminary on the
campus of Concordia College, Selma, would allow pastoral recruits
to complete their theological training at Concordia College, Selma;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we give thanks to God for giving us this historic
black college which is acutely attuned to the black culture in our
church; and be it further

Resolved, That the 2002 Black Ministry Family Convocation,
through the Board of Black Ministry Services, request the estab-
lishment of an LCMS seminary on the campus of Concordia Col-
lege, Selma; and be it finally

Resolved, That we continue to pray for our college, recruit stu-
dents for it, and give all the moral and financial support that God
enables us to give.

Black Ministry Convocation

5-18

To Direct BHE to Restore Funding
for Hispanic Institute of Theology

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus has called us to disciple all language
groups; and

WHEREAS, The United States Hispanic population now numbers
over 36 million people, accounts for over 13 percent of the U.S.
population, and continues to grow and therefore represents a very
large mission field for the LCMS; and

Wuereas, The LCMS currently only serves approximately
10,000 Hispanics representing about 0.4 percent of the LCMS
membership; and

Wuereas, The Hispanic Institute of Theology is the only de-
partment of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis specifically mandated
(1977 Res. 10-09A) to equip people whose dominant language is
Spanish for service in parish and ordained ministries; and

WuerEAS, The Hispanic Institute of Theology has been an ef-
fective agency preparing more than 235 workers for parish and or-
dained ministry since 1994; and

WueEREAS, The synodical Board for Higher Education (BHE)
eliminated its funding for the institute; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Texas District memorialize the Synod in
convention to direct the BHE to restore its funding of the Hispanic
Institute of-Theology.

Texas District

5-19
To Clarify Vicarage Requirement

Rationale

Bylaws 2.09 c and 6.85 require that an academic year of super-
vised internship (vicarage) is required of all seminary students be-
fore graduation, ordinarily in the second year before graduation.

Because alternate educational routes are now offered by the
seminaries of the Synod that include requirement expectations
other than “‘academic years” and that result in other than “gradua-
tions,” the Commission on Structure proposes the following bylaw
changes to Bylaws 2.09 and 6.85'to reflect the practice of the
Synod.

PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING
Resolved, That Bylaw 2.09 c be amended as follows:

c. Candidates who may be declared qualified for first calls
are those who before the effective date of the first calls will have
satisfactorily completed the prescribed courses of studies and
will have received diplomas from their respective institutions or
have fulfilled the requisites of an alternate route of study or a
colloquy. In addition, they must have indicated complete dedi-
cation to the ministry and evidenced a readiness for service in
the church. Finally, to be declared qualified and recommended
by the faculties or colloquy committees for their specific types
of service in the church, the appropriate faculty or colloquy
committee must be satisfied that the individual will meet all per-
sonal, professional, and the theological requirements of those
who hold the office of ministry to which the individual aspires.
In addition, a® aeademie calendar year of supervised internship
(vicarage) is required of all seminary students before graduation

completion of their study program, ordinarily in the second year
before graduation.

and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 6.85 be amended as follows: