LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 236

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236 HIGHER EDUCATION

survey of the doctrine and practice of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That each seminar approach topics from the view-
point of the teacher in a Lutheran school; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education work in concert
with the District education executives strongly to encourage con-
gregations and schools to require enrollment in this program when
contracting teachers ineligible for the regular teacher colloquy pro-
gram; and be it finally

Resolved, That upon completion of the program the teacher be
awarded a “record of completion,” which designates the education
received but affords no official status in the Synod.

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

5-40

To Provide Incentive to Encourage Completion
of Lutheran Teacher Diploma or Colloquy Programs

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod continues to
place extremely high value on the education of children in the
Word of God and doctrine of the church; and

Wtereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has created
higher education programs, including both the Lutheran Teacher
Diploma Program for students attending a Concordia college or
university and the Teacher Colloquy Program for students unable
to attend a Concordia campus, to prepare ministers of religion—
commissioned to teach the children enrolled in the parochial school
classrooms of our congregations in a manner consistent with the
doctrine of our church; and

WHEREAS, At least 11,000 educators are teaching in LCMS
schools without benefit of a complete and formal training in the
doctrine and practice of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod;
and

WHEREAS, Research reveals that congregations have in large
measure failed to provide incentives great enough to motivate
non-Synod-certified teachers to finish the education required to be-
come certified in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as min-
isters of religion—commissioned; therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations be encouraged immediately to
take steps to come into compliance with Bylaw 2.45 c, which states
that congregations shall call only Synod-certified teachers for their
classrooms; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations look to the Synod’s colleges and
universities to provide teachers wherever possible; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That when a Synod Lutheran Teacher Diploma grad-
uate is not available, the congregations of the Synod require their
noncertified elementary, junior high school, and high school teach-
ers to finish the Teacher Colloquy Program of the Synod, even if
these teachers choose not to be listed on the roster of the Synod;
and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod encourage their
early childhood educators to finish the Teacher Colloquy Program
of the Synod, even if these same teachers choose not to be listed
on the roster of the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That District salary guidelines include an incentive
increase as a way of encouraging congregations to recognize their
teachers who have completed the Lutheran Teacher Diploma or the
Teacher Colloquy Program; and be it finally

Resolved, That congregations be encouraged immediately to in-
troduce a salary adjustment that recognizes the additional and vital
education received by the Synod-certified teacher.

Concordia University, Portland, OR; 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

5-41
To Emphasize Mission Focus
and Leadership Development

in Professional Church-Worker Preparation

WHEREAS, The mission and ministry of congregations, schools,
and institutions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod require
well-prepared professional church workers; and

WHEREAS, The need for such workers to reach diverse peoples
and cultures with the eternal truth of the Gospel calls us to contin-
ually evaluate our present methods of preparing workers for the
church today; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has entrusted this preparation of profes-
sional church workers to our colleges/universities of the Concor-
dia University System; and

WuerEAS, The Mission 21st Century Task Force has identified
reasons for strengthening professional church-worker preparation;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod commend the colleges and universities
of the Concordia University System for their dedicated work in
preparing men and women for service in the church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, desiring to expand the
skills of professional church workers in the LCMS, require the cur-
ricula of all the colleges and universities of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod to include at least one mission-focused required
course such as these:

+ Evangelism, with a practicum requiring students to Practice ¢ evan-
gelism in the field

* Outreach strategies in the parish today
« Contemporary United States culture
* Urban ministry outreach strategies;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod, acting in convention, require the fac-
ulties of the colleges/universities in the Concordia University Sys-
tem to meet at least once every two years with a representative
group of North America mission executives and the national mis-
sion office of the Board for Mission Services to review what they
perceive congregations need in professional church workers and
other students in the schools, as it relates to the mission of the
church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, require that all of the
colleges and universities 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 col-
leges and universities of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
develop and offer courses of study in the area of leadership devel-
opment, 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-
lation be presented at the 2007 LCMS convention by the Concordia
University System.

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