LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 107

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SYNOD REPORTS
discussion. The actual task of evaluating RSOs belongs to the Synod’s
staff following policies adopted by the Synod’s Board of Directors.
After reading through the CTCR Report word-for-word, the
Praesidium endorsed the report, “Principles for Cooperation in
Externals with Theological Integrity (2010 Res. 3-03),” with a unanimous vote. Special note should be taken of the following questions
from the document:
1. Is the purpose of the joint work fully consistent with the positions,
policies, and objectives of the Synod?
2. Do cooperative efforts imply doctrinal unity with the ELCA or
endorsement of ELCA positions on same-sex relationships or other matters of disagreement with the LCMS?
3. Does the joint agency or organization distinguish itself as an entity from the churches that support it?
4. Are all the policies and programs of the organization consonant
with the doctrinal position of the LCMS?
5. Do the individuals who lead the organization openly support and
encourage efforts, positions, or policies which compromise the theological stance of the Synod?

Finally, having read and endorsed the CTCR document, the Synod
Praesidium also adopted the following resolution on June 2, 2011:
Resolved, That each LCMS Recognized Service Organization be
evaluated on the basis of the theological criteria provided by the CTCR
Document, “Principles for Cooperation in Externals with Theological
Integrity (2010 Res. 3-03),” adopted by the CTCR in December 2010,
and on the basis of those evaluations and guided by the entire aforementioned document, approved also by the Praesidium in June 2011,
recommendations be made to the various LCMS entities responsible for
the various RSOs as to whether or not continued RSO status be granted
or revoked.

Therefore, all those charged with evaluating RSOs of the Synod as
well as those involved in any cooperative endeavors with the ELCA
are required to use the criteria and guidelines in this CTCR document in their ongoing work to evaluate on the basis of Scripture and
the Confessions whether or not a particular venture can be undertaken or sustained.
It has been a pleasure to serve this triennium with the members of
the Synod Praesidium. God be praised!
Herbert C. Mueller Jr., First Vice-President
R6-01-03

Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry
The 2010 Handbook of the Synod provides for the following representatives on the Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry:
1. The First Vice-President of the Synod as chairman (the undersigned)
2. A representative of Concordia University System (Dr. Gayle Grotjan)
3. Two college/university presidents appointed by the President of the
Synod (Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich and Rev. Dr. Patrick Ferry)
4. Two Concordia University System faculty involved in colloquy appointed by the president of Concordia University System (Rev. Dr.
Gary Bertels and Dr. Mary Hilgendorf)
5. One representative from CUEnet (Dr. Heather Stueve)

Dr. Mary Hilgendorf served two years of the triennium until her
retirement in 2012. She will be replaced in the new triennium when
the committee is reappointed.
The 2010 LCMS convention, with the adoption of 2010 Res.
8-08A, made a number of changes in the Bylaws of the Synod, affecting many areas of the national Synod’s work. One provision of that
resolution significantly revised the Bylaws of the Synod regarding
colloquy into the commissioned ministry. In essence, the Bylaws
were shortened (see 2010 Handbook, Bylaws 3.10.3–3.10.3.2, p.
150) with many of the details previously included in the Bylaws to

107

be included in a policy manual. Thus the Colloquy Committee for
Commissioned Ministry developed a new policy manual, the details
of which were based in large part on the Bylaws in the Synod’s 2007
Handbook. After approval by the committee and examination by the
Commission on Constitutional Matters, this policy manual is available on the Concordia University System Web site at http://lcms.org/
page.aspx?pid=672.
The Concordia University System (CUS) provides for the
preparation of candidates for certification as Ministers of Religion—
Commissioned. CUEnet is the organization within the CUS national
office authorized to deliver instruction for colloquy. All approvals come from the academic institutions. The committee generally
oversees the colloquy process, but much of the actual work is ably
handled by CUEnet and the CUS. The committee met in person once
in St. Louis to prepare the “Policy Manual for Colloquy into the
Commissioned Ministry.” The committee also considers requests for
exceptions to the policies and other issues that arise from time to time.
We are thankful for CUEnet and for the people who oversee the
program and teach the courses, but most of all we are thankful for
the people who have been presented to the Church as commissioned
ministers, gifts of Christ, by this process. It is a pleasure to serve the
Synod by chairing this committee and working with these people.
To God be the glory!
Herbert C. Mueller Jr., Chairman
R6-01-04

Colloquy Committee for Pastoral Ministry
The Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry includes the
First Vice-President of the Synod as chairman (the undersigned),
the presidents of the two seminaries of the Synod, plus one district
president elected by the Council of Presidents. The triennium saw
significant change in the committee, first with the election of the
undersigned as First Vice-President, coupled with turnover in several of the other positions. During the triennium, Rev. Dr. Lawrence
Rast replaced Rev. Dr. Dean Wenthe as president of Concordia
Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. Rev. Timothy Scharr, president
of the Southern Illinois District, replaced the Rev. Dr. Ray Mirly, president of the Missouri District, who was term limited, as the Council of
Presidents’ representative. Rev. Dr. Glen Thomas, because of bylaw
changes made by the 2010 LCMS convention, is no longer included
as an official member of the committee. Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is the only present member
of the committee who had been serving before the 2010 convention
of the Synod.
The 2010 LCMS convention, with the adoption of 2010 Res.
8-08A, made extensive changes in the Bylaws of the Synod, affecting
many areas of the national Synod’s work. One of the many provisions of that resolution significantly revised the Bylaws of the Synod
regarding colloquy, both for the pastoral ministry and the commissioned ministry of the Synod. In essence, the pertinent bylaws were
shortened (Bylaws 3.10.2–3.10.3.2), with many of the details previously listed in the bylaws to be included in a policy manual. Thus
the Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry, over the course
of several meetings, developed a policy manual and revised colloquy application form, the details of which were based in large part on
the pertinent bylaws in the 2007 LCMS Handbook. In this process,
the chairman consulted several times with the Council of Presidents
and the President of the Synod. The seminary faculties had opportunity to provide input, and the final version of the policy manual was
examined and approved by the CCM. It is available on the Synod’s
Web site at http://lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=1106. Look for “Pastoral
Colloquy” under “Documents.”
2013 Convention Workbook