LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 217

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SEMINARY AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION 217

members so that they may be more effective in their service to the
Lord and His Church; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod resolved in
2004 Res. 5-09, “That for the sake of good order, the Council of
Presidents of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the new
Board for Pastoral Education with the guidance of the seminary
faculties develop a standardized core curriculum for district lay-
training programs and coordinate a national listing of participants”;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention support and affirm the
training programs of the districts to prepare laity for congregational
leadership; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Pastoral Education (BPE), given
authority by the Synod with respect to seminaries and pastoral ed-
ucation, give prior approval to all programs leading to Word and
Sacrament ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That both the residential degree and/or certificate pro-
gram of preparation and the blended contextual and residential pro-
gram of preparation in the Specific Ministry Pastor Program offer a
comprehensive and coherent approach to preparation of pastors;
and be it further

Resolved, That the wholesome partnership developed between
districts and seminaries be supported under the purview of the BPE
through the DELTO Oversight Committee, maintaining the role of
coordination, with the commitment to working together and build-
ing on the districts/seminaries partnership, incorporating the work
done with the district courses into the Specific Ministry Pastor cur-
riculum, annually reviewing and revising the programs; and be it
finally

Resolved, That the districts maintain the national listing of par-
ticipants trained and in training for congregational leadership and
the seminaries continue to number the enrollment of men preparing
for Word and Sacrament ministry.

Board for Pastoral Education

5-12

To Explore Pastoral Ministry Options
and Opportunities

WHEREAS, Approximately 20 percent of the congregations in
the LCMS, and at least that percentage in the Atlantic District, are
unable to afford a pastor; and

WHEREAS, There are often impediments to providing pastoral
care as well as Word and Sacrament ministry in any other way than
with a variety of pastoral and diaconal modes of assistance; and

WHEREAS, Congregational vitality and mission and ministry op-
portunity are sapped and lost without ongoing spiritual leadership,
leading to a growing percentage of congregations that are not vi-
able either financially or in terms of membership; and

WuereaS, Our Lord has commanded us to practice good stew-
ardship as well as to reach the world with the precious Gospel
through local congregations; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Atlantic District petition the 2007 conven-
tion of the LCMS to work expeditiously in conjunction with
districts, seminaries, and representatives of challenged local con-
gregations to develop theological and practical solutions to effect
pastoral care and growth, including the administration of Word and
Sacrament, to the end that parishes be empowered for mission
and ministry even when challenged in terms of membership
and finance.

Atlantic District

§-13

To Study Health Insurance Coverage
for Seminary Students

Whereas, Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has given His church the

Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptiz-

ing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit”; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has estab-
lished and supports seminaries for the purpose of training men to
lead in fulfilling this Great Commission; and

WHEREAS, The students at these seminaries of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod have made a commitment to explore
their role in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the con-
gregations and missions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod; and

WuereaS, These students often make this commitment at great
financial sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, This often makes the cost of health insurance for the
students and their families unaffordable or an extreme financial
commitment, often putting these men, and their families, at risk
during these seminary years due to the lack of affordable health in-
surance or group coverage; and

WHEREAS, It should be a goal of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
sour Synod to prevent or minimize such financial hardships for
these students and to minimize their family health risk; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Nebraska District memorialize the Synod’s
2007 convention to direct the Board for Pastoral Education to study
and make appropriate recommendations regarding possible health
insurance coverage for seminary students and their families under
the Concordia Health Plan at reduced student rates or such other
health benefit plans and programs as may be appropriate.

Nebraska District

5-14

To Clarify Membership on Board
for Pastoral Education

Rationale

In the general “Regulations for Corporate Synod and Agencies
of Synod,” Bylaw 1.5.4 states:

Unless otherwise specified or permitted by the Bylaws, executives,
faculty, and staff on either the national or district level shall not be
members of the board of the agency under which they serve, nor shall
any such executives or staff be members of the board of any other
agency of the Synod.

In the first half of Bylaw 1.5.4 it states “executives, faculty, and
staff on either the national or district level shall not be members of
the board of the agency under which they serve,” but in the second
half of the statement, “faculty” is omitted. This omission of the
word “faculty” leaves open the possibility that a faculty member
from one of the colleges/universities/seminaries may serve on the
Board for Pastoral Education. A faculty member from another
Lutheran higher education entity serving on the Board for Pastoral
Education is potentially in a conflict of interest position.

To ensure elimination of conflict of interest and potential com-
petition from and with other Lutheran institutions of higher educa-
tion, a statement specifying ineligibility of certain persons should
be included in Bylaw 3.8.2.1; therefore be it

Resolved, Bylaw 3.8.2.1 be revised to read:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
The Board for Pastoral Education shall be composed of nine
voting and five nonvoting members (no more than one voting
member elected by the Synod shall be from the same district, and
i f fi

And be it further

Resolved, That current board members stay in place through
their terms and then each is replaced according to this Bylaw.

Board for Pastoral Education