LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 224

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224

Seminary and University Education

5-17

5-18

To Provide for Distance Seminary Education
Background
The formation of pastors for ministry is a vital responsibility of
the Synod (which is defined as congregations and its representatives
in our Synod’s universities and seminaries). Distance education has
become an accepted standard in the academic community for general education, professional training, and degree completion. Distance
learning has been used in the past with varying degrees of success
(DELTO). We believe it is unfortunate that our Synod did not persist
in its laudable effort to fully utilize the increasing benefits of technology just as this educational methodology is being broadly embraced
by virtually all institutions of higher learning.
In addition, the practical realities of being stewards of limited
resources comes to bear. Great resources should be invested in the
proper preparation of men to serve our Synod in the pastoral office.
But good stewardship should also prevail, particularly in times of
declining resources, both for the individual answering God’s personal
call to service as well as for the institutions charged with the responsibility of pastoral formation and certification.
The following resolution seeks to address the following questions: How can the rising, prohibitive costs both to the student and the
seminaries be evaluated and then brought to a point of appropriate,
manageable stewardship of resources? How can the tools of technology most appropriately be utilized to address both cost as well as
broadening the educational opportunities available to students in the
Synod and even around the globe?
Whereas, The cost of residential seminary education continues
to rise at rates prohibitive to the individual student, resulting in costs
and debt debilitating both the enrollment of new students and the performance of their ministry under such burden (most students spending
approximately $60,000 on their seminary education and many incurring debt exceeding that amount upon graduation); and
Whereas, The availability of distance learning through new
technologies has become a common practice utilized by the most
respected institutions of higher learning; and
Whereas, Such technologies have proven to lower costs both
for the individual students and institutions while providing access
to additional learning sources and broadening experiences regionally and globally; and
Whereas, While the optimal formation of pastors involves “residential education,” it can effectively be accomplished “on site” in a
congregational ministry setting; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents and the seminaries
develop a model that balances the need for relational learning within
the context of the residential setting within the use of modern technology for distance learning; and be it further
Resolved, That such distance learning be made available both
nationally and at the district level as a much-needed, cost-effective
alternative source of continuing education; and be it further
Resolved, That this model be implemented on a pilot basis prior
to the 2016 LCMS convention; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Northwest District in convention send this resolution to the 2013 LCMS convention.
Northwest District

2013 Convention Workbook

To Train Pastoral Candidates Thoroughly
Whereas, Jesus commanded His apostles to make disciples of
all the nations by baptizing and teaching “all that I have commanded
you” (Matt. 28:20, emphasis added); and
Whereas, God, through the apostle Paul, listed as one of the qualifications for pastors that they be “able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:3); and
Whereas, Believers and unbelievers alike benefit from a clergy
that is well trained and well versed in all areas of Christian doctrine; and
Whereas, Even society at large stresses the great benefits of
receiving more college education and not less; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Williamsburg Circuit of the Iowa District East
memorialize the 2013 LCMS convention to do two things: (1) encourage our district and Synod officials and the officials of our seminaries
in St. Louis and Fort Wayne to strongly impress upon prospective
seminary students the great benefits of receiving as much seminary
education as possible, and (2) put an upper limit of 10 percent of
Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) students for the following academic
school year. (E.g., if Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne
had 50 first-year students enrolled at the beginning of the 2012–2013
academic school year, it could accept up to five SMP students for the
2013–2014 academic school year.)
Williamsburg Circuit Forum
Iowa District East
5-19

To Limit Use of Specific Ministry Pastor Program
Whereas, Jesus commanded His apostles to make disciples of all
nations by baptizing and teaching “all that I have commanded you”
(Matt. 28:20, emphasis added); and
Whereas, God through the apostle Paul listed as one of the qualifications for pastors that they be “able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:3); and
Whereas, Believers and unbelievers alike benefit from a clergy
that is well trained and well versed in all areas of Christian doctrine; and
Whereas, Even society at large stresses the great benefits of
receiving more education and not less; and
Whereas, The Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program was
established because “the needs for providing pastoral ministry in
specific and specialized situations where a traditionally prepared
seminary candidate or pastor is not available continue to multiply”
(2007 Res. 5-01B); and
Whereas, Men are using Specific Ministry Pastor program, with
its reduced residential education requirements, to be placed in locations where there is already a pastor; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct its district and
Synod officials and the officials of its seminaries in St. Louis and
Fort Wayne to prohibit the use of the SMP program for men to be
called to congregations that already have a pastor; and be it further
Resolved, That the Southern Illinois District in convention submit
this resolution as an overture to the 2013 LCMS convention.
Southern Illinois District