LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 445

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

to carry out more actively its duties as stated in the
Synod’s Handbook 6.183.

To Restudy Cooperative Seminary Training
Arrangement with Lutheran Theological
Seminary, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

RESOLUTION 6-17
Overtures 6-55, 6-56, 6-37, 6-58 (CW. pp. 280—281)

Wuereas, The Milwaukee convention of the LCMS
(Res, 6-20, Proceedings, p. 176) authorized establish-
ment of an LCMS theological chair on the faculty of
Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, Canada:
and

Wuereas, The aforementioned resolution failed to
give specific approval to the program of ministerial
training that had been proposed. thus taking incomplete
action (cf. Workbook, 1971, p. 285); and

Wuereas. To date no chair has been established on
the basis of Resolution 6-20, interim arrangements only
having been effected: and

Wuereas. The Lutheran Seminary at Saskatoon is
jointly owned and operated by The Lutheran Church in
‘America — Canada Section and by the Evangelical Lu-
theran Church in Canada; and

Wuereas, The LCMS is not in fellowship with the
LCA — Canada Section: and

WHEREAS, The mere establishment of a theological
chair (one man on a theological faculty) gives no con-
trol over the doctrine taught at the aforementioned sem-
inary: and

Wuereas, Many of the Canadian brethren in the
LCMS have expressed grave concern over this arrange-
ment: and

Wuereas, This arrangement constitutes a dangerous
precedent for the LCMS in terms of delegating away
the theological training of its future ministers to others
and thereby surrendering effective control: therefore
be it

Resolved. That the LCMS restudy Resolution §-20
of the 1971 convention and the arrangement with the
Lutheran Theological Seminary. Saskatoon, as well as
alternative courses of action: and be it further

Resolved, That this study be conducted by the presi-
dent of the Synod, the presidents of the three Canadian
Districts of the LCMS, three persons from the CTCR
designated by its executive secretary, and by two per-
sons designated by the chairman of the Board for
Higher Education; and be it further

Resolved, That the results of this study and the con-
sideration of alternate possibilities for training Canadian
theological students be presented to the 1975 convention
of the LCMS: and be it further

Resolved, That in the interim that chair of theology
authorized by Resolution 6-20 at Milwaukee remain un-
filled and that the Board for Higher Education be per-
mitted to continue the present interim arrangement un-
til the 1975 convention: and be it finally

Resolved, That Overtures 6-55, 6-57 and 6-58 be re-
spectfully declined.

To Establish Term of Office of College
and Seminary Presidents

RESOLUTION 6-20
Overtures 6-38, 6-39 (CW, pp. 276—277)

Wuerras, Some limitations are already placed on the
te:m of office for the presidents of the Synod’s colleges
and seminaries (Handbook, 6.79 a); and

Wuereas, The appointment or election of full-time
synodica} and District officers and executive secretaries
with specific limitations of terms is accepted in the
Synod as not militating against the divinity of the call:
and

Wuereas, The office of college and seminary presi-
dents is a significant and sensitive position with great
potential to influence the professional personnel, pro-
grams. and progress of the whole Synod: and

Wuerras, The significance of the office of president
makes it desirable that college and: seminary presidents
of the Synod be subject to review at regular periods by
the respective Boards of Control according to the re-
quirements of their call and their duties as outlined in
Handbook 6.91: therefore be it

REFERRED RESOLUTIONS

Resolved, That the term of office of the presidency
of syncdical colleges and seminaries be defined as a
term of 4 years suhject to review and renewal by the
Beard of Control with the approval of a majority of the
electors: and be it further

Resolved, That the provisions of this resolution be-
come effective immediately with regard to all election
procedures in process: and be it further

Resolved, That the incumbent presidents of the Syn-
od's colleges and seminaries be asked to place them~
selves voluntarily under the provisions of this resolu-
tion: and be it finally

Resolved, That presidents who place themselves vol-
untarily under the provisions of this resolution will be
subject to review 4 years from the date of adoption of
this resolution.

To Review Admission Requirements
and Policies for Synodical Colleges
and Seminaries
RESOLUTION 6-18
Overture 6-60 (CW. p. 282)

Wuereas, Admission policies are prepared by the
faculties of the respective synodical colleges and sem-
inaries (Handbook 6.61 a.) and approved by the local
Boards of Control (Handbook 6.63 a): and

Wuereas, The Board for Higher Education is directed
to review such admission policies (Handbook 6.05c¢,
6.63): therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education reg~-
ularly review all admission policies to “determine
whether they are consistent with the stated objectives
of the Synod’s educational system and its institutions.”

To Take No Action on Portland Request
RESOLUTION 6-21
Overture 6-64 (CW. p. 283)
Wuereas, Overture 6-64 has been withdrawn, the

floor committee on Higher Education recommends that
no action be taken on this overture.

To Continue Present Policies
of Establishing Tenure of Faculty Members
RESOLUTION 6-24
Overtures 3-100, 3-101, 3-102, 6-43
(CW, pp. 144—145, 277)

Wuereas, Present regulations for granting tenure are
carefully established in Handbook Bylaws 6.53 and 6.54:
and

Wuereas, There is supervision of professional com-
petence and provisions for termination of tenure in
Handbook Bylaw 6.77: therefore be it

Resolved, That Overtures 6-43. 3-100, 3-101. 3-102
be respectfully declined.

To Seek Superior Qualifications
for Heads of Graduate Schools
RESOLUTION 6-25
Overture 6-61 (CW, p. 282)

Wuergas, The head of a graduate schoo] must excel
in his specialized field as leader, administrator, and
motivator; and

‘Wuereas, It is customary and desirable that a direc-
tor of any graduate school have the highest recognized
degree; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod encourage the Boards of
Control of all institutions that have graduate schools
to be guided by these principles in making such ap-
pointments.

To Adopt “Handbook” Regulations
for the Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers
RESOLUTION 6-27
Report 6-02 (CW, pp. 251—252)
Preamble
The entire concept of training Lutheran laymen for

a full-time Lay Ministry is comparatively new in The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. Since 1961 the Lu-

445

theran Lay Training Institute has been incorporated
into the program of Concordia College. Milwaukee, The
Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers was authorized by
the 1971 Milwaukee convention of the Synod, elected
by the Council of Presidents. and organized in January
of 1972. From the very outset, in harmony with an
enabling resolution of the 1971 Milwaukee convention,
the Colloquy Board has worked in harmony and co-
operation with the Lutheran Lay Training Institute at
Concordia College, Milwaukee.

A 60-page document entitled Lutheran Lay Ministry
has been prepared, which spells out the method and
procedure to be followed by both the Lutheran Lay
Training Institute and the Colloquy Board for Lay
Ministers. This document has been presented to the
Council of Presidents for review.

Lutheran Lay Ministry points to a great variety of
ways by which a trained lay minister may serve the
church. “In the individual parish, for example, there
are such specific areas as Christian education, steward-
ship. evangelism, youth work, family services, church
administration, visitation, urban and rural affairs, mu-
sic, and secretarial duties to name just a few. On the
synodical level. graduates can be used in lay preach-
ing. service to the deaf. institutional service, and over-
seas service.” (Page 5— Lutheran Lay Ministry)

With the prayer that God's guidance and gracious
blessing may be upon this effort of the church to train
qualified and dedicated Christian men and women for
service in His kingdom as Lay Ministers, the following
resolution is offered:

Wuereas, There are presently no Bylaw provisions
in the Synod’s Handbook governing the Colloquy Board
for Lay Ministers: and

Wuereas, The 1971 Milwaukee convention authorized
the Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers to draw up pro-
posed Bylaws to be presented to the New Orleans con-
vention: therefore be it

Resolved, That the following Handbook regulations
be adopted by this convention to govern the Colloquy
Board for Lay Ministers:

G. LAY MINISTERS

4.101 Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers

a. Membership

The Colloquy Board for Lay Ministers shall con-
sist 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, in an
advisory and nonvoting capacity, the executive
secretary of the Board for Higher Education or
his representative.

b. Election

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

c. Function

The Colloquy Board for Lay Ministry shall:

1, Direct the colloguy 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, Mil-
waukee, of which it is an extension.

4. Establish the academic and theological stan-
dards for admission with the faculty of Concordia
College, Milwaukee.

5. Approve for admission to the colloquy pro-
gram for lay ministry those applicants who meet
the preliminary requirements.

6. Examine applicants as to readiness for ac-
ceptance into the lay ministry of the Synod and
recommend approved candidates to the Board of
Assignments for placement.

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
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 Admission

a. Application of men and women for admission
to the lay ministry colloquy program shall be di-
rected to Concordia College, Milwaukee. The ap-
plication 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 ex-
perience, employment record, formal and informal