LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 373

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PARISH SERVICES 373

planning for the joint use of a coordinator of Christian education.

The synodical Handbook makes no official reference to the
director of Christian education. Lutheran liturgies still contain
no rituals for the installation of these full-time professional
church workers. The Board of Parish Education is convinced
that these ministers need to be officially recognized as full part-
ners in the public ministry of the Word. Therefore the board's
recommendation to the convention calls for the ordination of
properly certified and called directors of Christian education.

Conclusion

As the Board of Parish Education looks back over the past
2 years, it sees much for which to be grateful. God has blessed
the Synod with many outstanding Christian educators. Con-
sistent, patient nurture in the Word has been happening in
many congregations of the Synod. Many fellow members have
contributed generously of their time, their money, their skills.
their prayers. But so much more needs to be done. The nur-
turing function of the church dare not be underestimated. The
temptation of current society to become completely secular
is very real. The fiscal crisis in the Synod is causing drastic
changes in the way in which the Board of Parish Education
carries out its functions. The continued availability of funding
for highly skilled staff persons is very doubtful. Yet the call to
train messengers of the Lord is still sounded by our sending
Father. To meet those challenges is the firm commitment of this
board as by God's grace it looks to the future.

Resolution 1—To Implement Ordination of Teachers and
Directors of Christian Education

WHEREAS. Male teachers have been called to serve in the
public ministry as teachers of the Word in Lutheran congrega-
tions since the Synod’s beginning and female teachers since at
least 1860. and male and female directors of Christian educa-
tion have been engaged in the educational ministry of the church
in expanding numbers during the last 15 years: and

WHEREAS. Certain conventions of the Synod have declared
the following:

1926—Identical synodical teacher education programs should
be provided for women and men

1941 Women teachers, as religious instructors. carry out the
function of the public ministry as do male teachers

1959— Directors of Christian education are to be considered
teachers with the same rights and privileges as those
pertaining to the office of teacher

1965—The appointment of a certified woman teacher by the
church should properly be regarded as a call: it is also
proper to speak of called female teachers as being “in-
stalled”

1969— Male and female teacher salaries should be equalized
as well as should other factors regarding employment:
the uniform call documents which are now in use by the
church were requested

1973—Female teachers were approved for placement on the
roster of the Synod;

and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Rela-
tions in its March 1973 report titled ‘The Ministry in Its Relation
to the Christian Church” declared:

Since called male teachers in The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod are called to perform certain functions of the Ministry. and
are considered clergy, and since, moreover. ordination is an adia-
phoron, that is, a custom of the church not divinely commanded,
there are no biblical or theological reasons why teachers could not
be ordained to perform that function of the Ministry to which they
are called.

What is said above about called male teachers applies equally
to the thousands of consecrated woman teachers in synodical schools.

. . They do, however, in many instances perform a part of, the
Ministry of the church in teaching the Gospel of Christ. In view of the
fact that ordination is not a formula by which a person becomes a
pastor, but the church’s declaration that the person ordained has
been called to perform cefttain functions of the Ministry, there appears
to be no biblical or theological reason why woman teachers could
not be ordained to the office of teaching the Word; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod and the
federal government consider both the called male teachers and
pastors as “clergy.” “ministers of religion,” “self-employed,”
and “draft-exempt”; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod approve the ordination of synodi-
cally approved and called male and female teachers and direc-
tors of Christian education as ministers of religion: and be it
further

Resolved. That the scope of activity of a female teacher and
female director of Christian education continue to be limited by
Scriptural principles and the synodical stand in relation to the
position of woman in the church: and be it finally

Resolved. That the President of the Synod appoint a com-
mittee to consider the implementation of this overture and to
report to the President in order that the ordination of teachers
and directors of Christian education may be initiated in 1976.
(See identical overture elsewhere.)

Resolution 2—To Strengthen Sunday Schools for Nurture
and Evangelism

WHEREAS. The Sunday programs of Christian education for
all age levels continue to be primary agencies for evangelism
in our modern culture and for the continuing Christian nurture
of a large majority of our members as well as many nonmem-
bers: and

WHEREAS. The sharply declining enrollments in the Sunday
programs of our Synod suggest that many congregations may be
losing interest in their Sunday schools and that the Sunday pro-
grams are not as effective in either evangelism or Christian
nurture as they could be: therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod de-
clare 1977 as a year for devoting major attention to the improve-
ment of the quality of our Sunday schools and to the cultivation
of their potential for a ministry of evangelism: and be it further

Resolved. That every congregation of the Synod be urged
during 1977 to study its Sunday school program and take the
necessary steps to improve the quality of instruction and to
involve more participants both within the congregation and its
community: and be it finally

Resolved. That the Synod’s Board of Parish Education be
instructed and funded to develop District and congregational
resources that will attain the above-stated goals.

Resolution 3—To Encourage Clusters of Congregations to
Employ Coordinators of Christian Education

WHEREAS, There is special need and opportunity in the next
biennium for the congregations of the Synod to improve the
quality of their Christian education ministries; and

WHEREAS. Pilot studies by the Synod’s Board of Parish Edu-
cation (funded by the Aid Association for Lutherans) in the past
biennium have shown the effectiveness of coordinators of
Christian education in strengthening the Christian education
program of the clusters of congregations they serve: and

WHEREAS. The Synod's Board of Parish Education is pro-
ducing some fresh materials to assist congregations who want
to consider. prepare for, and employ a coordinator of Christian
education: therefore be it

Resolved. That the congregations of the Synod evaluate
their need for professional leadership in Christian education
and, where feasible, cooperate in clusters of three or more
congregations in employing a person who will serve them as a
coordinator of Christian education to help the men, women,
and children of the congregations and their community to build
each other up in the Christian faith: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod’s Board of Parish Education con-
tinue to provide personal and published assistance to those
clusters of congregations in the Synod who might profitably
engage a coordinator of Christian education.

Resolution 4—1977 Synodical Convention to Emphasize
Christian Nurture

WHEREAS. The Great Commission of the Lord calls His
church to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have com-
manded you”: and

WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has