LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 235

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HIGHER EDUCATION 235

part-time and full-time educators, even though our Bylaws state,
“Congregations that are members of the Synod shall call only com-
missioned ministers who have been admitted to their ministries in
accordance with the rules and regulations set forth in these Bylaws
and have thereby become members of the Synod” (Bylaw 2.45 c).

The Synod has designated a teacher colloquy education pro-
gram to prepare non-Synod-trained teachers for Synod certifica-
tion. This program is carried out on the 10 campuses of the Con-
cordia University System. These 10 schools have agreed to deliver
the program via distance learning so as to reach every congrega-
tion and school. The distance-learning format makes it possible for
a person who has not been certified by the Synod for teaching in
one of our Lutheran schools to work toward certification without
leaving the classroom.

With this background of need and opportunity, the Next Gener-
ation Task Force appointed by the President of the Synod offers
the following resolution:

WHEREAS, Full-time Christian education in a Lutheran context
has been a treasured and critical ministry for discipleship and mis-
sion since the formation of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, Part-time and full-time educational ministries have
provided, and continue to offer, strategic opportunities for the
church to pass on to the next generation the valued biblical truths
that are part of the confessional Lutheran heritage; and

WHEREAS, Those who teach in our Lutheran schools occupy a
highly privileged position for disciple nurturing and disciple mak-
ing; and

WHEREAS, Today there are thousands of dedicated educators
who are serving in LCMS schools who have never had the benefit
of formal, university-level courses designed to equip them to teach
to the next generation Lutheran doctrine as based in Holy Scrip-
ture and expressed in the Lutheran Confessions; and

WHEREAS, Available technology and distance learning now
make it possible for non-Synod-trained teachers to work toward
certification while continuing to serve in the classroom; therefore
be it

Resolved, That we, the delegates to the 2004 convention of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, reaffirm the Synod’s historic
commitment to full-time Lutheran education as a most significant
way to pass on to the next generation those valued scriptural truths
that are foundational to the confessional Lutheran heritage; and be
it further

Resolved, That we strongly encourage congregations and asso-
ciations of congregations with schools to demonstrate their deter-
mination to pass on this cherished legacy by doing everything nec-
essary, including offering scholarship assistance, to help Lutheran
school educators not certified by the Synod to work toward certifi-
cation; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations give public recognition and an ex-
pression of thanksgiving to God for those teachers who have satis-
fied the requirements for. Synod certification by having a public
worship service of commissioning and installation; and be it finally

Resolved, That we, as a Synod of congregations that value
Lutheran education as a strategic way for passing on the faith to
the next generation, set a goal of increasing the number of Synod-
certified teachers in our Lutheran schools by 5 percent per year dur-
ing the next three years, with the Director of LCMS District and
Congregational Services—School Ministry reporting progress to the
2007 convention of the Synod.

Board of Regents, Concordia University, River Forest, IL;
Missouri District; Faculty, Concordia College, Bronxville,
NY; Board of Directors, Missouri District; Faculty,
Concordia University, Irvine, CA; Peace, Conway, AR,
Board for Higher Education/Concordia University System;
Trinity, Bend, OR; Christ, Costa Mesa, CA; Board of
Directors, Florida-Georgia District; Concordia University,
Portland, OR

5-38

To Encourage Enrollment
in Lutheran Teacher Diploma Program

WHEREAS, The congregations of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod employ 18,000 full- and part-time teachers in their
Lutheran school classrooms; and

WHEREAS, The turnover rate is approximately 10 percent, mean-
ing that there needs to be 1,800 replacement teachers each year in
addition to teachers required by the opening of new schools; and

WHEREAS, The total number of graduates placed out of the
Lutheran Teacher Diploma programs from the Synod’s colleges
and universities is approximately 300 each year, filling only 16 per-
cent of the annual need; therefore be it

Resolved, That pastors and teachers in our Synod’s congrega-
tions significantly increase their efforts to encourage young men and
women into the teaching ministry of the church; and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod strive to increase
enrollment in the Lutheran Teacher Diploma programs at our
Synod’s colleges and universities.

Board of Regents, Concordia University, River Forest, IL;
Faculty, Concordia College, Bronxville, NY; Missouri
District; Faculty, Concordia University, Irvine, CA; Peace,
Conway, AR; Board for Higher Education/Concordia
University System; Trinity, Bend, OR; Christ, Costa Mesa,
CA; Board of Directors, Florida-Georgia District; Concordia
University, Portland, OR

5-39
To Equip Teachers Ineligible for Teacher Colloquy

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 her-
itage 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 congrega-
tions 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 Chris-
tian 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 de-
nominational affiliation. This represents up to 36 percent of
Lutheran schoolteachers. Approximately half of these teachers
serve in elementary schools or high schools, while the remainder
serves at the level of early childhood education.

WHEREAS, The Next Generation Task Force understands the ex-
treme difficulties faced by congregations in securing Synod-certi-
fied teachers for their schools and yet remains cognizant of the con-
gregations’ desire faithfully to transmit the faith and heritage of the
Lutheran church to their pupils; and

WHEREAS, The Board for Higher Education is currently deliver-
ing 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 Collo-
quy Program a short series of professional development seminars
be prepared by the Board for Higher 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, a review of the Old Testament, a review of the New
Testament, a survey of the history of the Christian Church, and a