# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2026_S 25
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

6-22
6-23
6-24
6-25
6-26
6-27

6-28
6-29
6-30
6-31
6-32
6-33
6-34

6-35
6-36
6-37
6-38
6-39
6-40
6-41
6-42
6-43
6-44
6-45

6-46

PAGE

To Comply with and Apply Constitution
Article VI 3 regarding Regular Call. .................... 377
To Affirm That Pastoral Formation in the Synod
Is Done by Synod-Approved Seminaries. ............ 377
To Affirm Exclusive Use of Synod Seminaries
to Prepare Men for Office of Holy Ministry......... 378
To Seek Koinonia on Pastoral Formation
and Routes to Ministry. ........................................ 379
To Seek Koinonia on Pastoral Formation
and Routes to Ministry. ........................................ 380
To Encourage Brotherly Speech about All
Approved Pastoral Formation Routes and
To Review Specific Ministry Pastor Pathways. ... 380
To Discuss Online Theological Education. .......... 381
To Encourage Synod Seminaries to Develop
Online Master of Divinity Program...................... 381
To Encourage Pilot Online-Only Master
of Divinity with Synod Seminaries. ..................... 381
To Encourage Pilot Non-Residential Master
of Divinity with Synod Seminaries. ..................... 382
To Encourage Pilot Hybrid Master of Divinity
with Synod Seminaries. ........................................ 383
To Address Pastoral Formation and Routes
to Ministry. ........................................................... 385
To Direct Pastoral Formation Committee to Bring
Recommendation to 2029 Convention to Establish
New Route(s) to Ordination, Utilizing and Making
More Accessible Treasure of Synod Seminaries.. 385
To Ensure Pastoral Ministry in the Synod
during Times of Shortage. .................................... 387
To Expand and Strengthen Distance Learning
Routes to Ordination............................................. 387
To Encourage Innovative Training of Pastors...... 387
To Give Thanks to God for Many Existing
Routes to Office of Holy Ministry........................ 388
To Celebrate and Encourage Variety of Routes
to Pastoral Formation in the Synod. ..................... 388
To Celebrate and Encourage Variety of Routes
to Pastoral Formation in the Synod. ..................... 389
To Commend Residential Seminary Education
and Voice Support for Synod Seminaries............. 390
To Affirm Residential Pastoral Education
at Our Seminaries. ................................................ 390
To Reaffirm Residential Seminary Formation
as Preferred Route for Pastoral Preparation.......... 391
To Reaffirm Residential Seminary Formation
as Preferred Route for Pastoral Preparation.......... 391
To Amend Bylaw 2.13.1 to Regularize Nonresidential Routes under Specific Ministry
Pastor Classification. ............................................ 391
To Encourage Equal Outcomes in Routes
to Pastoral Formation in the Synod. ..................... 392

6-47
6-48

6-49

6-50

6-51

6-52
6-53

6-54
6-55

6-56

6-57
6-58
6-59

6-60

6-61
6-62
6-63

6-64

6-65

6-66

PAGE

To Review and Streamline Specific Ministry
Pastor to General Pastor Pathways. ...................... 393
To Amend Bylaw 2.13.1 to Provide Pathway
for Specific Ministry Pastors to Receive Full
Pastoral Certification. ........................................... 393
To Require Completion of Academic
Requirements prior to Specific Ministry
Pastor Ordination.................................................. 394
To Encourage Further Consideration of Requiring
Successful Completion of Specific Ministry
Pastor Coursework before Ordination and
Placement on Ordained Roster.............................. 395
To Clarify Appropriate Uses of Specific
Ministry Pastor Program in Accord
with Synodical Intent............................................ 395
To Affirm and Support Established Parameters
of Specific Ministry Pastor Program. ................... 396
To Suspend New Specific Ministry Pastor
Admissions pending Conformity with
the Synod in Convention. ..................................... 396
To Strengthen Post-Ordination Supervision
for Specific Ministry Pastors. ............................... 397
To Nullify Restrictive Policies Imposed
on Specific Ministry Pastor Program
and Restore Its Original Scope.............................. 397
To Remove Age Requirement from Specific
Ministry Pastor Admission, Administration,
and Supervision Policy.......................................... 398
To Support the Specific Ministry Pastor
Program and Remove Its Age Requirement......... 398
To Add Specific Ministry Pastor Church Planter
Designation including Applicants Under 40. ....... 399
To Broaden and Reopen Specific Ministry
Pastor Program for Wider Pastoral Formation
and Service. .......................................................... 399
To Broaden and Reopen Specific Ministry
Pastor Program for Wider Pastoral Formation
and Service. .......................................................... 400
To Clarify and Strengthen the Specific
Ministry Pastor Program....................................... 402
To Reduce Restrictions on Specific
Ministry Pastors.................................................... 402
To Implore Council of Presidents to Fulfill
2019 Resolution 6-03A re Supervision
of Specific Ministry Pastors. ................................ 403
To Give Thanks for the Work of, and To Amend
Bylaws to Conclude, the Pastoral Formation
Committee. ........................................................... 403
To Amend Bylaw 3.10.4.6 to Expand Pastoral
Formation Committee for Broader
Representation. ..................................................... 404
To Amend Bylaw 3.10.4.6 to Revise Composition
of Pastoral Formation Committee......................... 405
2026 Convention Workbook