To Request Comprehensive Review of Commissioned Ministry Colloquy Process

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has repeatedly passed resolutions related to the dire need for and advantages of having Lutheran teachers, most recently in 2016 Resolution 8-01A, “To Encourage and Strengthen the Lutheran Ethos of Our LCMS Early Childhood Centers, Elementary Schools, and High Schools” (2016 Proceedings, 181) and in 2019 Res. 12-02A, “To Exhort the Congregations of the LCMSto Actively Encourage Future Lutheran School Teachers” (2019 Proceedings, 221); and

WHEREAS, In 2020–2021, only 26 percent of educators in schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) were on the active roster of Synod(Luth Ed,“Early Childhood and School Statistical Report, 2020–2021” www.luthed.org/early-childhood- and-school-statistical-report/, accessed Feb. 17, 2023); and

WHEREAS, The number of requests for Lutheran teachers from the Concordia University System (CUS) has outpaced the number of actual graduates since 2012 (2021 CONFEDEX Placement Report); and

WHEREAS, Schools in the South Wisconsin District have increasingly had to hire non-roster ed Lutheran teachers; and

WHEREAS, The typical cost of the Concordia online Teacher Colloquy Program offered through CUEnet is $6,452; and

WHEREAS, Graduating from a CUS school is the only other option to a Lutheran Teacher Diploma; and

WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw subsection 3.10 establishes a Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry (CCCM); and

WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 3.10.3.1 names “the First Vice- President of the Synod as chairman”; and

WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 3.10.3.2 (b) gives authority to the CCCM to “establish and monitor academic and theological standards for each of the colloquy programs”; therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations and schools of the South Wisconsin District give thanks for the service of all teachers in Lutheran schools, regardless of Synod roster status; and beit further

Resolved, That the district in convention request that the CCCM complete a comprehensive review of the teacher colloquy process in order to establish a more efficient route to colloquize teachers who are committed members of the LCMS; and be it further

Resolved, That the district in convention request that the CCCM complete a comprehensive review of the teacher colloquy process in order to establish a more cost-effective route to colloquize teachers; and be it finally

Resolved, That this review be completed, and the results be