LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 170

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To Encourage Movement toward an Alternative
to Federal Student Loans for Seminarians
RESOLUTION 6-05
Report R1.2 (CW, p. 42); Overture 7-19 (CW, pp. 373–374);
President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, pp. 21–31)
Whereas, The seminaries in St. Louis and Fort Wayne currently
participate in the Title IV Federal Student Financial Aid Program,
which consists primarily of loan programs, with grant programs
limited to the Federal Work Study Program; and
Whereas, It is preferable that the seminaries not receive funding from the federal government for student loans; and
Whereas, At least two synodwide corporate entities, the
Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) and the Lutheran Federal Credit Union (LFCU), provide loans to church workers; and
Whereas, LCEF and LFCU understand and appreciate the
unique financial situations of church workers and can provide
appropriate loan counseling; and
Whereas, Another synodwide entity, Concordia Plan Services
(CPS), provides excellent leadership by recognizing students at the
seminaries as pre-church workers, covering them under the Concordia Health Plan; and
Whereas, It is in the best interest of the synodwide entities and
the Synod’s church workers to establish beneficial relationships at
an early stage; therefore be it
Resolved, That the administrations of the seminaries, LCEF, and
LFCU gather sufficient information and meet to determine the feasibility of privatizing student lending at the seminaries; and be it
further
Resolved, That the preferred lender for student loans at the seminaries be a synodwide corporate entity; and be it finally
Resolved, That if this group identifies a reasonable alternative
and lenders are willing to participate, the seminaries be encouraged to withdraw from the Title IV Student Financial Aid Program.
Action: Adopted (7)
(Res. 6-03, Res. 6-04, Res. 6-05, and Res. 6-06 were, without
objection from the assembly, bundled together and introduced by
the committee as a single proposed action. After debate, Res. 6-03,
Res. 6-04, Res. 6-05, and Res. 6-06 were adopted as presented [single action by hand vote].)

To Encourage Use of Existing Training Programs
for Pastoral Ministry in Immigrant and
Challenging Ministry Settings
RESOLUTION 6-06
Report R62 (CW, pp. 235–261); Overture 6-14 (CW, pp.
360–361)
Whereas, Throughout its history, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has established various training and degree programs
to prepare pastors for service in new ministry settings. Often this
has been in response to outreach opportunities as well as to provide pastors in small economically distressed congregations, small
isolated congregations, and congregations that present unique
demographic challenges. Among these routes have been numerous district training programs for lay deacons, Distance Education
Leading to Ordination (DELTO, no longer in operation), the Ethnic
Immigrant Institute of Theology, the Center for Hispanic Studies
(formerly the Hispanic Institute of Theology), the Cross-Cultural
Ministry Center, Bilingual Pastoral Formation for Latinos, and
various other programs; and
Whereas, As congregations of the LCMS continue to navigate
the rapidly changing shifts in our society, it will be necessary for
the Synod to utilize these and other models of preparing pastors
that supplement its residential pastoral formation programs at both
seminaries; therefore be it
Resolved, That the congregations and districts of the LCMS be
commended for their desire to provide Word and Sacrament ministry for all the people of God and for Gospel outreach; and be it
further
Resolved, That the LCMS continue its long-standing commitment to a well-trained clergy, formed through its seminaries; and
be it further
Resolved, That districts and congregations in cross-cultural
settings and in challenging demographic circumstances be encouraged to utilize, when appropriate, the various programs for forming
pastors in the Synod, such as the Specific Ministry Pastor program, the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology, the Center for
Hispanic Studies, the Cross-Cultural Ministry Center, Bilingual
Pastoral Formation for Latinos, and various other programs of the
seminaries which focus on training pastors for these situations;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod continue its multifaceted efforts to
ensure that financial constraints do not prevent any eligible candidate from participating in these programs.
Action: Adopted (7)
(Res. 6-03, Res. 6-04, Res. 6-05, and Res. 6-06 were, without
objection from the assembly, bundled together and introduced by
the committee as a single proposed action. After debate, Res. 6-03,
Res. 6-04, Res. 6-05, and Res. 6-06 were adopted as presented [single action by hand vote].)

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U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

“6. Seminaries”