To Promote Divine Call Opportunities for Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology Pastors

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod pastors who are trained through the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT), but who do not have a Masters of Divinity (M.Div.), often do not qualify for job positions as foreign missionaries (including to their country of origin) that are created by the Board for International Mission (BIM); and

WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the Office of International Mission (OIM) to recruit and recommend candidates to the BIM for divine calls (Bylaw 3.8.3); and

WHEREAS, Scripture teaches us that it is our Lord’s desire to increase the number of workers sharing the Gospel: “And [Jesus] said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest’” (Luke 10:2); and

WHEREAS, Scripture also teaches us that the sending of God’s laborers is indeed a global outreach: “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8); and

WHEREAS, We as a Synod confess that to do so effectively requires that pastors are sent in a proper manner: “Our churches teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church, or administer the Sacraments, without a rightly ordered call” (AC XIV); and

WHEREAS, EIIT trained pastors possess the unique cultural knowledge and language skills to serve with great impact amongst their native peoples; therefore be it

Resolved, That the BIM be encouraged to develop inclusive job descriptions (where appropriate) for missionaries that would allow EIIT trained pastors not yet possessing an M.Div. to qualify for more opportunities to engage in Word and Sacrament ministry with overseas populations; and be it further

Resolved, That the OIM be encouraged to recruit broadly from among all categories of ordained pastors in good standing and recommend them to the BIM for divine calls.