# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S55 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS •• Convened the Pastoral Formation Committee (see R4: Pastoral Formation Committee) at least once per year (Bylaw 3.10.4; 2016 Convention Resolutions 6–01, 6–02, 6–03, 13–01A). •• Facilitated two meetings per year with the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, provost and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, academic dean and vicarage supervisors. •• Attended each seminary’s annual Symposium. •• Planned/facilitated the annual joint seminary board of regents meeting. •• Published annual inserts in The Reporter for both “Pastoral Formation” and “Global Seminary Initiative.” •• Conducted formal visitations of students at each seminary. •• Advocated and wrote MADV letters on behalf of the Joint Seminary Fund. •• Preached 1–2 times per year at each seminary. •• Presented/attended annual LCMS Council of Presidents/seminaries’ faculties meeting. •• Compiled annual statistics from both seminaries, e.g. Call Document Statistical Form, Number of MDiv Diplomas, Grants, Salary and Compensation Survey, Enrollment Report, Class 1 Profile Report, Student Indebtedness Report, and SMP Program data. •• Visited missionaries and partner seminaries concerning international pastoral formation. •• Chaired the Global Seminary Initiative steering committee (2016 Convention Resolution 6-04). The Global Seminary Initiative is a partnership between the LCMS, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, designed to (1) provide graduate-level scholarships to international students studying at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, and (2) provide financial support for sending faculty overseas for temporary teaching assignments (e.g., at partner church seminaries). GSI is significant in forming Lutheran pastors around the world for the ongoing proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the 2016–19 triennium, GSI funding included the following: (1) distributive earnings (if available) from Forward in Remembrance endowment, (2) a major foundation matching grant, and (3) LCMS, CSL, and CTSFW collaboratively raised funds. For FY 2018, these funds were raised to match the foundation: (1) CTSFW—$59,703.83; (2) LCMS—$66,257.59; and (3) CSL—$67,538. Voting members of the GSI steering committee include the executive director of PED (chairman) and the presidents of the two LCMS seminaries. Advisory members include one appointed person from each seminary appointed by each seminary president, the CMO, the OIM and MADV executive directors, and the executive director of LCMS Church Relations. 55 Continuing Education •• Facilitated the completion of the revised continuing education page in the pastor’s Self-Evaluation Tool (SET) (2016 Convention Resolution 17–01). Pastors now have the capability of tracking their continuing education experiences on their SET in these categories: PALS, courses offered by LCMS seminaries, courses offered by other higher education institutions, and other educational experiences. This continuing education page will be most useful when congregations are calling a pastor. Congregations can readily see the continuing education experiences the pastor had and his areas of interest and study. •• Provided oversight to the Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support (PALS) program (2016 Convention Resolution 17–01). PALS is a synodwide program of excellence that is woven into the fabric of the LCMS and mentors pastors and their wives in the transition from the seminary to first call. PALS fosters and enhances pastors’ and wives’ personal, spiritual, and vocational formation. It also helps eliminate the sense of isolation that pastors and wives often experience in the transition from seminary life to parish ministry. PALS continues to be endorsed by Synod in Convention (most recently 2013 and 2016). PALS is also fully endorsed and encouraged by both seminaries. PALS originated with the Council of Presidents in 1998. PALS is now administrated through the PED and is a partnership of the LCMS, districts, congregations, and PALS pastors/ wives. Participating districts contribute $500 per participating pastor, which is matched by the LCMS. District facilitators are chosen by the district president. Facilitators include a pastor and his wife. PALS facilitators, pastors, and their wives meet six times per year, and thus receive six CEUs per year. A PALS gathering includes (1) worship, (2) study topic, (3) casuistry and mentorship, and (4) fellowship, meals, and sharing. Every PALS group chooses their own course of study topics; however, PALS offers several high-quality curriculum pieces (see descriptions below). Currently, PALS is being utilized by 28 of Synod’s 35 Districts. In the PALS program, the district president chooses the PALS facilitator in his district. The District President is the ecclesiastical supervisor in his own district, including PALS facilitators, pastors, and congregations. PALS is also producing its curriculum in response to the stated needs of all the districts. Most recent PALS curriculum includes Apt to Teach, The Pastor’s Life of Prayer, and Transitioning to Urban/Rural Context. Prioritized curriculum for the future includes Exegeting Your Community, Shepherding in a Team Ministry, Leadership in the Lutheran Church, and Synod 101. All curriculum is fully Lutheran and meets the standards of doctrinal review. Other PALS activities include the following: 1. PALS convenes an annual two-day Facilitator Training Conference in St. Louis. PALS is also engaged in Joy:fully PALS district conversations. These conversations are video conferences with the LCMS PALS staff, district president, and district facilitators. 2. PALS publishes a monthly E-News piece. 2019 Convention Workbook