# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2026_S76
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

76

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

8. Ongoing supervision of SMP pastors throughout their careers of ministry will be formalized, defined, documented
(i.e., on LCMS Church Worker Locator, Pastoral Information Forms) and required for continued rostered SMP status.
Commitment to long-term supervision will be explicitly acknowledged and planned by the student and by the congregation, circuit and district from the beginning of the program and shall be the responsibility of the district president and the
SMP pastor to arrange and document on a continuing basis.
(*) Exceptions to Policy Requirements 1–3 may be recommended to the admissions committees of the seminaries by the
Council of Presidents after approval by a majority of the COP.

STATUS AND INTENTION OF THESE POLICY REQUIREMENTS
These policy requirements for the LCMS SMP program stand as:
• An official re-articulation of the nature and parameters of the SMP program to foster a shared, common understanding of
the program across our Synod;
• An affirmation of the value and legitimacy of the SMP program for its defined purposes;
• A reassertion of key aspects of the original design of the SMP program;
• A reflection of the church’s prioritization of full-time pastoral formation in a seminary community;
• An effort to maintain a salutary balance within our overall ministerium between residentially formed pastors and SMP
pastors;
• Policy requirements for district presidents in their counsel of potential SMP applicants and approval of SMP sites; and
• Policy requirements for the seminaries in the operation of the SMP program, including eligibility and prioritization considerations for admission to the program.

2026 Convention Workbook