# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S450
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

450

PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES

campus will be significantly less than in the residential program,
still the academic competence of the two programs will be
equivalent; and be it further
Resolved, That when the man in the SMP program completes all
of his course work and has undergone a final theological
competency interview (known also as a “theological interview”) by
the institution administering the SMP program in which he is
participating, the SMP pastor would then be called, ordained, and
rostered as an alternate route pastor; and be it further
Resolved, That additional costs incurred by the seminaries to
make all of their residential classes suitable for distance education
as well as all additional costs incurred by adding necessary staff to
cover the teaching of these classes be included in the tuition of the
program and be borne primarily by the district that requested the
man to pursue ordination through this course of study; and be it
finally
Resolved, That the Montana District memorialize the Synod in
convention to adopt this resolution as its own.
Montana District
Ov. 6-04

To Revise the Specific Ministry Pastor Limitations
WHEREAS, Specific ministry pastors are allowed by The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Bylaw 2.13.1 (b)(1) to
serve as pastoral delegates to district conventions; and
WHEREAS, Service as an ordained member of a district board
encompasses the context of the specific ministry pastor’s call; and
WHEREAS, The gifts, talents, and insights of specific ministry
pastors can bring blessing to the decision-making processes of
district boards; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Atlantic District in convention memorialize
the Synod in convention to revise Bylaw 2.13.1 (b) to read:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
2.13.1
A “specific ministry pastor” is a minister of religion—
ordained who has completed…
…
(b) A specific ministry pastor is not eligible to
(1) serve as a voting delegate to a national convention of the
Synod—but may serve as an advisory delegate to national
conventions and as a pastoral delegate to district conventions;
(2) hold any elected or appointed office on the district or
national Synod level that is assigned by the Bylaws of the
Synod to “a pastor” or “an ordained minister” (although
specific ministry pastors may serve in all other capacities,
especially representing the ministerial contexts in which they
serve)carries the responsibilities of ecclesiastical supervision,
explicitly the office of District President; or
(3) supervise vicars; or
(4) serve as a circuit visitor.
…

Atlantic District
Ov. 6-05

To Improve the Specific Ministry Pastor Program
WHEREAS, The 2007 Synod convention established the Specific
Ministry Pastor (SMP) program to help congregations unable to
support a pastor; and

2019 Convention Workbook

WHEREAS, The SMP program was intended to further meet the
needs of the church for pastors to serve in specific ministry contexts
as determined by congregations and districts; and
WHEREAS, The SMP program was established to ensure
commitment to the biblical and confessional understanding of The
Office of the Holy Ministry, and, specifically, Article XIV of the
Augsburg Confession; and
WHEREAS, Both Synod seminaries operate SMP programs which
provide academic training to candidates while serving concurrently
in a specific ministry setting; and
WHEREAS, The graduates of the SMP program have been a
blessing to the Synod and its congregations, including
congregations of the English District (EN); and
WHEREAS, 2016 Resolution 13-02A encourages Licensed Lay
Deacons engaged in Word and Sacrament ministry to either
colloquize as an SMP or enter the SMP program, thus affirming that
the SMP program will continue to be a distinct recognized route to
the ministry in the The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS); and
WHEREAS, These positive intentions and benefits of the SMP
route have been diminished or weakened by various factors,
including:
• That men admitted to the SMP become ordained before
completing their academic program, with some
administering the Word and the Sacraments prior to
ordination;
• That SMPs are not required to learn a biblical language;
• That there are men serving as SMPs in settings which could
reasonably support a general pastor, in direct conflict with
the stated purpose of the SMP program and in contradiction
to 2013 LCMS Res. 5-04B;
• That the Constitution and Bylaws of the LCMS are not clear
as to what might constitute or limit specific ministry
contexts;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the English District give thanks to God for the
faithful service of SMPs within congregations of the district; and be
it further
Resolved, That the district memorialize the Synod to improve the
SMP program in the following ways:
• That ordination be deferred until all SMP course work has
been completed, in faithfulness to Article XIV of the
Augsburg Confession;
• That all SMPs be required to complete a prescribed
continuing education program which includes the study of
the biblical languages;
• That district presidents do not authorize SMPs to serve in
settings which could reasonably support a general pastor;
• That the Synod in convention establish parameters for
specific ministry contexts;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the president of the district be encouraged to
implement these improvements already at the district level.
English District