LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 258

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tor decide which continuing education experiences would be most
beneficial; and be it further
Resolved, That the first three years of continuing education for
newly ordained pastors can be met through the PALS program or
an equivalent program; and be it further

17-01 was changed to read, “That pastors be encouraged to participate ….” The chair asked and the assembly agreed that it was ready
to vote, and Resolutions 17-01 and 17-02 were adopted with the single change made to Res. 17-01 [Yes: 802; No: 123].)

Resolved, That pastors be encouraged to make use of existing
venues for continuing education such as our seminary symposia
and seminary seminars, classes offered by our Concordia University System on campus or online, pastors conferences, Grace Place,
Doxology, etc.; and be it finally
Resolved, That because our Synod expects pastors to be involved
in continuing education, congregations be encouraged to support
these efforts with time and necessary finances.
Action: Adopted (8)
(The committee presented Resolutions 17-01 and 17-02 as a single action. Via a friendly amendment, the second resolve of Res.
17-01 was changed to read, “That pastors be encouraged to participate ….” The chair asked and the assembly agreed that it was ready
to vote, and Resolutions 17-01 and 17-02 were adopted with the single change made to Res. 17-01 [Yes: 802; No: 123].)

To Encourage Participation in Continuing
Theological Education by Ministers of
Religion—Commissioned and Lay Workers
RESOLUTION 17-02
Committee 17 General Assignment (CW, p. 477); President’s
Report, Part 2 (TB, pp. 21–31)
Whereas, All Christians are called to “always be prepared to
make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope
that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15); and
Whereas, The current state of our culture necessitates ongoing
growth in our knowledge of God’s saving Word and the faithful
articulation and confession of that Word in church, school, and
world, according to 2 Peter 3:18: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”; therefore be it
Resolved, That for the sake of a clear confession of God’s Word,
ministers of religion—commissioned be encouraged to take advantage of available continuing education programs; and be it further
Resolved, That the districts of our Synod be concerned with fostering the theological growth of their commissioned ministers and
lay workers and providing, when possible, opportunities for continuing education; and be it finally
Resolved, That LCMS congregations and schools be urged to support these efforts with necessary time and finances.
Action: Adopted (8)
(The committee presented Resolutions 17-01 and 17-02 as a single action. Via a friendly amendment, the second resolve of Res.
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U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

To Endorse Preach the Word Project
as Celebration of 500th Anniversary
of Reformation
RESOLUTION 17-03
Overture 15-02 (CW, pp. 475–476)
Whereas, Oct. 31, 2017, marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, when Dr. Martin Luther posted on the door of the Castle
Church the Ninety-Five Theses—his invitation to debate how one
receives the blessings of Jesus Christ; and
Whereas, Dr. Luther writes of preachers and proper preaching:
The first and only duty of the bishops, however, is to see
that the people learn the gospel and the love of Christ. For
on no occasion has Christ ordered that indulgences should
be preached, but he forcefully commanded the gospel to be
preached. (Luther’s Works 48:47)
and
Whereas, Dr. Luther also writes: “The true treasure of the
church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God”
(Luther’s Works 31:31, Ninety-​Five Theses), and St. Paul writes,
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of
Christ” (Romans 10:17), and, again, “I charge you ... preach the
word.” (2 Tim. 4:1, 2); and
Whereas, In honor of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and beneath the theme “It’s Still All about Jesus,” the LCMS
President’s Office has initiated the Preach the Word Project, which
invites pastors to improve their craft of preaching the pure, sweet
Gospel and the laity their hearing of it; and
Whereas, Both seminaries of our Synod endeavor to prepare men to preach the Word of Christ crucified and risen for the
salvation of people to the fullest of each man’s ability and with
competent skills but also seek to engender an understanding that
preaching is to involve lifelong development of those skills; and
Whereas, Our seminaries likewise energetically support the
Synod’s increasing emphasis on continuing education for all pastors; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention, as one way to honor
the historic event of the Reformation, encourage pastors and congregations to participate in the Preach the Word Project.
Action: Adopted (8)
(Without objection to proceeding directly with the vote, Res.
17-03 was adopted as presented [Yes: 854; No: 55].)

“17. Preaching and Church Worker Continuing Education”