# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S56
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

56

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
3.

PALS produces periodic letters and greetings to
PALS facilitators, PALS pastors/wives, PALS congregations, and district presidents.

4.

PALS hosts a dinner and presents information on the
PALS program to fourth-year seminarians at both
seminaries.

5.

The PED executive director convenes a biannual
PALS steering committee meeting.

1.

Learn more about PALS at www.lcms.org/PALS.
••

Provided oversight to the Preach the Word project
(2016 Convention Resolution 17–03).

Preach the Word (PTW) originated out of the office the
Synod President. PTW will help pastors work together to improve their preaching through video modules with accompanying resources and by interacting with seminary professors and
fellow preachers.
Pastors can gather with brother pastors to watch and discuss the modules to enhance their preaching skills. Completed
PTW modules include:
1.

Module 1—The use of story in preaching by Rev. Dr.
David Schmitt

2.

Module 2—The use of biblical text in sermon preparation by Rev. Dr. Dean Nadasdy

3.

Module 3—Delivering the Gospel live and in person
by Rev. Dr. Carl Fickenscher

4.

Module 4—Applying God’s Word into people’s lives
by Rev. Dr. Glenn Nielsen

5.

Module 5—The use of technology in preaching by
Rev. Matt Peeples

6.

Module 6—Sacramental Preaching by Rev. David
Petersen

For the Synod to support a comprehensive churchworker student-recruitment initiative that permeates
the entire Synod right into every household of the
Synod. This initiative should involve the collaboration of the seminaries, universities, high schools, day
schools, districts, auxiliaries, International Center,
and every layperson in the Synod. The following
statistics, in part, demonstrate the need for such an
initiative:
a.

50 percent of the Synod’s clergy are 55 years
old and older.

b.

If the current rate of clergy retirement continues, along with the current rate of first-year
seminarian matriculation, the LCMS will
realize a decrease of active ordained ministries
from 6,000 today to 3,000 in fifteen years.

c.

First-year seminary MDiv enrollment in the
fall of 2018 was 44 men at CSL and 41 men
at CTSFW. Approximately 160 pastors retired
per year for the last 17 years. Average age of
retirement is approximately 68 years old.

d.

An average of 33 SMP pastors have been
placed each year between 2010 and 2017.

2.

For the Synod to affirm that pastoral formation begins at infant Baptism and continues in the Christian
home and faithful congregation. Lutheran pastors
and congregations must identify, pursue, encourage,
and support her young boys who display a potential,
desire, and aptitude to be parish pastors.

3.

For the Synod to support a program of pastoral
formation that involves forming the whole man.
a.

Spiritual development—encompasses a thorough knowledge of Holy Scripture, a fatherconfessor/pastor, a godly family, immersion in
the liturgical life of the church, reception of
the Lord’s Supper, and daily prayer.

b.

Character development—encompasses a baptismal faith and life. This baptismal, sanctified
life includes daily repentance, the fruits of the
Spirit, integrity, virtue, manhood, manners,
and civility.

c.

Confessional development—encompasses
a thorough immersion and understanding
of the Lutheran Confessions (The Book of
Concord), the ability to rightly divide Law and
Gospel, the ability to distinguish orthodoxy
from heterodoxy, Christology, Lutheran ethos,
and the Lutheran biblical hermeneutic.

d.

Physical and emotional development—encompasses Apostles’ Creed First Article categories,
including healthy choices and living, exercise, a healthy diet, an understanding of self,
interpersonal relationships, and the capacity to
navigate physical and emotional issues.

You can find these PTW resources and upcoming modules
at www.lcms.org/preach-the-word.

Other
••

Produced inserts for The Reporter for PALS, PTW,
and Pastoral Formation.

••

Produced and maintained periodic pastoral formation communication: The Forum, Facebook, and
Twitter.

••

Served as Synod representative at the biennial Theology Professors Conference.

••

Assisted in producing a Task Force report in fulfillment of 2016 Convention Resolution 13–03, “To
Address Future Church Leadership Needs in Light
of Current and Future Challenges.”

••

Explored alternate funding sources apart from
federal loans at our universities and seminaries (2016
Convention Resolutions 6–05, 18–03A)

The Future of Pastoral Formation in the LCMS
Possible goals that delegates to the 2019 Convention might
carefully consider regarding LCMS pastoral formation:
2019 Convention Workbook