LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 279

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HIGHER EDUCATION 279

present a brief historical review of the Lay Ministry Colloquy
Board.

The board was authorized by Resolution 6-10 of the Mil-
waukee convention, was duly elected by the Council of Presi-
dents, held its organizational meeting in St. Louis in January
1972, and has been operational since that time.

Current membership of the board is: Dr. Theodore Nickel,
chairman: Dr. Emil Jaech, secretary: Dr. Henry Eggold: Mr.
Dale Korth: and Dr. Joseph Lavalais.

Dr. Arthur M. Ahlschwede, executive secretary of the Board
for Higher Education, is an advisory member of the board,
and Prof. W. C. Koester, former director of the Lutheran Lay
Training Institute, now director of admissions for lay ministry
at Concordia College, Milwaukee, has been appointed by the
Colloquy Board as resource person and executive staff member
(part time). Eight meetings were held, four in St. Louis and
four in Milwaukee.

Operationa: Procedures

The enabling resolution at Milwaukee instructed the Col-
loquy Board to work in harmony and cooperation with the
Lutheran Lay Training Institute, since it is to function as an
extension of this institution. The Lutheran Lay Training Institute
is now fully incorporated into the accredited program of Concor-
dia College, Milwaukee, as the Lay Ministry Program at this
college. Fully cooperative plans between Concordia College,
Milwaukee, and the Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers were
worked out accordingly.

For operational purposes, the board found it necessary to
define the term “lay minister.” The board has, therefore, made
a distinction between auxiliary church staff workers and synod-
ically licensed lay ministers. Auxiliary workers are staff mem-
bers engaged by congregations and agencies to render specified
services and to work under their supervision. Formal licensing
by the Synod is not necessary in these cases. However, the
Colloquy Board and Concordia College, Milwaukee, stand ready
to serve in an advisory and resource capacity in these cases.

Licensed lay ministers are trained workers who are Officially
certified for Synodwide service. They may serve either full time
or part time. Church staff workers aspiring to become licensed
lay ministers may receive temporary authorization for such
ministry with the approval of the congregation or agency, the
pastor, and the District President involved, to render clearly
delineated limited service to a specific place for a specific time.

The Synod reserves for itself the sole right to license all lay
ministers, and acts in this area through the Placement Com-
mittee of the Synod upon the recommendation of the Colloquy
Board for Lay Ministers, or Concordia College, Milwaukee.

Candidates for the Lutheran lay ministry are placed into
service by the Synod’s Council of Presidents upon certification
by either the faculty of Concordia College, Milwaukee, or the
Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers. All inquiries from the field
regarding lay ministry training or the use of lay ministers are
channeled for processing through Concordia College. The
Colloquy Board uses programs of screening, testing, require-
ments for certification, placement, guidelines for supervision,
service review, and in-service training developed by Con-
cordia College, Milwaukee. The board works through Concordia
in gathering the necessary information on which to base a de-
cision and to determine a course of action.

Details of the working arrangement between the board and
Concordia College are set forth in a document entitled Lutheran
Lay Ministry (a monograph of some 60 pages), covering the
historical background, functional assumptions, objectives, and
procedures involved. The document was prepared, revised,
approved, and presented to the Council of Presidents.

The Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers and Concordia Col-
lege have established minimum academic, theological, and
practical requirements for licensing lay ministers. Readiness
for admission to the licensed lay ministry of the Synod is demon-
strated by:

1. An acceptable level of achievement in the area of general
education (beyond high sehool), as demonstrated by acceptable
testing or experience, and

2. An acceptable level of academic achievement in the area
of theological education, as demonstrated by standardized test
or other examination, and

3. An acceptable level of achievement in the area of practi-

cal theological training, as demonstrated by acceptable testing
or record of experience.

The Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers and Concordia Col-
lege, Milwaukee, have prepared appropriate Bylaws for inclu-
sion in the Handbook. These are being submitted to the conven-
tion for approval.

Lay ministry conferences, in-service, and
programs are in process of development.

extension

Review of Activities

Two circulars, “You Asked About Lutheran Lay Ministry?”
and, “Would You Like to Have Your Most Dedicated Layman
on Your Staff Full Time?” were prepared and distributed to
all congregations in the Synod.

More than 500 inquiries about lay ministry and applications
for services of lay ministers have been dealt with since the board
was organized. A number of persons have been certified for
service as lay ministers by the Colloquy Board. Thirty-eight
persons are presently enrolled in the lay ministry program at
Concordia, Milwaukee (31 full time, 7 part time).

A survey of 258 lay ministry students between 1963 and 1974
reveals that 96 are presently in service, 12 were not placed,
74 are no longer in service, 7 are currently continuing their
education (most of them for the pastoral ministry), 66 did not
finish the program, and 3 are deceased. Prof. Royal Natzke of
Concordia College, Milwaukee, is director of placement.

Recommendations

The Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers respectfully recom-
mends:

1. Synodical endorsement of its procedures and activities.
2. Adoption of the following proposed Handbook regulations:

4.101 Board for Lay Ministers

a. Membership. The Board for Lay Ministers shall
consist of one District President, one parish pastor,
one member of a synodical seminary faculty, one
member representing the lay ministry program at
Concordia College, Milwaukee, a Vice-President of
the Synod, who shall serve as chairman, and the
Executive Secretary of the Board for Higher Educa-
tion or his representative in an advisory capacity.

Full-time or part-time staff may be engaged by the
board as conditions may warrant and require, with
the approval of the Board of Directors.

b. Election. The voting members of this board shall
be elected with overlapping terms by the Council of
Presidents.

c. Function. The Board for Lay Ministers shall:

1. Direct the colloquy program for lay ministry
according to regulations adopted by the Synod.

2. Serve as the Advisory Council to Concordia
College, Milwaukee, in its lay ministry program.

3. Work in harmony and cooperation with the lay
ministry program of Concordia College, Milwaukee,
of which it is an extension.

4. Establish the academic and theological standards
for admission to the lay ministry by colloquy, in con-
sultation with the faculty of Concordia College,
Milwaukee.

5, Approve for admission to the colloquy program
for lay, ministry those applicants who meet the pre-
liminary requirements.

6. Examine applicants as to readiness for accep-
tance into the lay ministry of the Synod, recommend
approved candidates to the Board of Assignments
for placement, and provide guidelines for their super-
vision.

7. Make a full report of its activities to every
convention of the Synod.

4.102 Eligibility
Applicants shall be at least 20 years old, or have