LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 280

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280

HIGHER EDUCATION

2 years of college, and agree to have administered
prescribed aptitude, achievement, personality, and
vocational entrance tests. Personal interviews may
be required.

4.103 Application for Admissioa

a. Applications of men and women for admission
to the lay ministry colloquy program shall be directed
to Concordia College, Milwaukee. The application
shall be accompanied by the following documents:

1. Complete background information setting forth
clearly the applicant's background, religious affiliation,
previous church-work activity and experience, em-
ployment record, formal and informal education, and
reasons for wishing to qualify for lay ministry service
in the Synod.

2. Official transcripts of the applicant’s secondary
and collegiate training and a full description of non-
credit academic work done by the applicant.

3. Testimonials as to Christian character and life,
personality, ability, and previous service from the
applicant's pastor and two references from previous
employers or persons who have observed the appli-
cant for at least 2 recent years.

4. A letter of endorsement from the applicant's
District President.

4.104 Publication of Applicant's Request

The name of an applicant requesting admission
to the lay ministry program shall be published in the
official periodicals of the Synod after his application
has been endorsed by the District President and ap-
proved by the Colloquy Board. If no valid objection
is filed within 4 weeks after publication of such notice,
the colloquy procedure may continue.

4.105 Academic and Theological Requirements

Applicants for admission to lay ministry by colloquy
shall be expected to meet the following academic and
theological requirements before their final examina-
tion by the board.

a. A college program culminating in the Associate
in Arts degree or its demonstrated equivalent.

b. The completion of required courses or their
equivalent in the areas of general education, Chris-
tian doctrine, Biblical interpretation, church history
and practice, to meet the academic and theological
standards established by the board.

c. Evidence of successful service in a church
agency within the Synod prior to regular placement
in the church.

d. Residence at a synodical college as determined
necessary or desirable by the board.

4.106 Placement

a. The board shall recommend placement of those
applicants who have satisfactorily completed their
colloquy studies and passed their colloquy examina-
tion.

b. The board shall report its action to the President
of the District in which the candidate resides and
publish a report of its favorable action in the official
periodicals of the Synod.

c. Every applicant whom the board declares quali-
fied for lay ministry shall be assigned his first place-
ment by the Board of Assignments.

4.107 Service and Supervision

a. Male lay ministers are licensed, not ordained,
to serve in all areas of the ministry of the Word when
authorized by a local congregation and supervised by
an ordained pastor.

b. Female lay ministers are licensed, not ordained,

to serve in all areas of the ministry of the Word,
except in such pastoral duties as preaching and the
administration of the sacraments, when authorized
by a local congregation and supervised by an ordained
pastor.

c. In civil church functions, such as the right to
perform marriages, lay ministers will abide by the
regulations of the respective state or province in which
they are serving.

d. The President of the District in which a lay
minister is assigned shall be responsible for his super-
vision, which, however, may be delegated to another
ordained pastor in the District. If a lay minister is
assigned to a congregation, he shall serve under the
supervision of his own pastor. The District President
shall approve all reassignments of lay ministers within
his District.

e. If a lay minister wishes to accept an assignment
in a District other than the one in which he is serving,
his transfer requires the approval of both District
Presidents.

f. Lay ministers may serve as lay delegates to con-
ventions of the Synod.
W.C. Koester

6-04

Report of Task Force
to Consider Restructuring Synod’s
System of Higher Education
Introduction

One of the primary objectives (purposes) of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod is the training of pastors and teachers.
The responsibility for coordinating the various educational
institutions of the Synod is vested in the Board for Higher Educa-
tion (ef. Bylaws 6.01 —6.183). Since its inception in 1938 the BHE
has been concerned with adapting the program offerings of the
synodical schools to the various changes occurring in education.
In order for the Synod to adequately adjust to the rapid explo-
sion of knowledge, educational innovations, and new concepts
of educational methodology, the BHE must recommend neces-
sary changes in the Synod’s system of higher education.

The Board for Higher Education has prepared a variety of
reports and studies concerning problems and opportunities
facing our system of higher education. Although some of these
reports and studies have been primarily of internal concern,
a large number have been reported to the synodical convention
for consideration and implementation.

The implications of change, actual and contemplated, require
a detailed review of what has occurred in the past and is ex-
pected to happen in the future. The BHE has adopted a policy
of continual evaluation and review, so that change and the
effects of change can be considered as new opportunities to
meet the needs of the church.

At the present time the Board for Higher Education is operat-
ing with planning theses for the synodical system of colleges
which are concerned with eight principal concepts. These con-
cepts concern the future of the synodical system, the purpose
of the institutions, the coordinating requirements for compo-
nent units of the system, the number of institutions and their
maximum size, financial support of the system, the location of
campuses, and the institutional curricular programs.

The Higher Education floor committee of the 1973 convention
(New Orleans) requested an independent review of the role of
the BHE and its relationship to the various boards of control,
and of the system as a whole, its purpose and its structure.
Concern was expressed that the concept of the “junior college —
senior college” system in the training of students for the pastoral
ministry had deteriorated to the extent that the continued exis-
tence of the senior college at Fort Wayne was seriously threat-
ened. Concern was also expressed that the present pastoral
student enrollment at the junior colleges could not supply a
sufficient number of students who would follow the senior
college route to warrant its continuation as it has been known
for the past 18 years.