LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 285

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IX. REPORT OF THE RES. 5-14A TASK FORCE
for pastoral ministry through the attainment of similar core competencies or formation outcomes.
To sum up, there are three primary ways the growth path
concept can be applied to pastoral formation for students in nonMDiv routes to ordination. To this end, the task force recommends
the following:
1. That the Synod in convention call upon the seminaries to build upon or
design new curricular growth path options to move qualifying certificate students to a nondegree alternate route equivalency (with a degree
option for qualifying students). This option should be presented as an
ideal and real possibility for certificate students and a funding model
must be established to make its implementation possible.
2. That the Synod in convention call upon the seminaries to create a nondegree continuing-education path of alternate route equivalency for
non-MDiv students, who for various reasons are not able to complete
the alternate route equivalency while at the seminary.
3. That the Synod in convention call upon the seminaries to move all
non-MDiv students toward similar core pastoral formation outcomes
across all its pastoral formation programs that, depending on the program, are met at various levels of competency.

Conclusion
The recommendations of the task force responding to 2013 Res.
5-14A generally fall into five categories:
1. Recommendations to improve all the routes to ordination provided
in our Synod, as well as to explain clearly the factors that distinguish
between those routes preparing men for general service and those that
prepare men for more specific contexts.
2. Recommendations designed to foster greater collaboration and coordination between those entities responsible for the means by which
our Synod recruits, trains, and certifies pastors.
3. Particular recommendations the task force believes should be considered to strengthen the SMP programs of the two seminaries.
4. Thoughts for the floor committee to be assigned to work with the recommendations of both the 4-06A Task Force on licensed lay deacons
and the 5-14A Task Force on routes to ministry.
5. General recommendations regarding the importance of continuing
education, a “growth path,” for all pastors.

We commend them all to the Synod for prayerful and careful
deliberation.
Herbert Mueller, Chairman
Appendix A—Present Constitution and Bylaws re “Routes to
the Pastoral Office
All of our “routes to the pastoral office” are governed under the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod. Following are the pertinent
references:
Constitution Articles III and VI
Article III Objectives
The Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, shall—
1. Conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor.
1:10), work through its official structure toward fellowship with other
Christian church bodies, and provide a united defense against schism,
sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy;
2. Strengthen congregations and their members in giving bold witness by
word and deed to the love and work of God, the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, and extend that Gospel witness into all the world;
3. Recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church
workers and provide opportunity for their continuing growth;
4. Provide opportunities through which its members may express their
Christian concern, love, and compassion in meeting human needs;

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5. Aid congregations to develop processes of thorough Christian education and nurture and to establish agencies of Christian education
such as elementary and secondary schools and to support synodical
colleges, universities, and seminaries;
6. Aid congregations by providing a variety of resources and opportunities for recognizing, promoting, expressing, conserving, and defending
their confessional unity in the true faith;
7. Encourage congregations to strive for uniformity in church practice,
but also to develop an appreciation of a variety of responsible practices and customs which are in harmony with our common profession
of faith;
8. Provide evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pastors,
teachers, and other professional church workers of the Synod in the
performance of their official duties;
9. Provide protection for congregations, pastors, teachers, and other
church workers in the performance of their official duties and the
maintenance of their rights;
10. Aid in providing for the welfare of pastors, teachers, and other church
workers, and their families in the event of illness, disability, retirement, special need, or death.
Article VI Conditions of Membership
Conditions for acquiring and holding membership in the Synod are the
following:
1. Acceptance of the confessional basis of Article II.
2. Renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description, such
as:
a. Serving congregations of mixed confession, as such, by ministers
of the church;
b. Taking part in the services and sacramental rites of heterodox
congregations or of congregations of mixed confession;
c. Participating in heterodox tract and missionary activities.
3. Regular call of pastors, teachers, directors of Christian education,
directors of Christian outreach, directors of family life ministry, directors of parish music, deaconesses, certified lay ministers, and parish
assistants and regular election of lay delegates by the congregations,
as also the blamelessness of the life of such.
4. Exclusive use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms
in church and school.
5. A congregation shall be received into membership only after the Synod
has convinced itself that the constitution of the congregation, which
must be submitted for examination, contains nothing contrary to the
Scriptures or the Confessions.
6. Pastors, teachers, directors of Christian education, directors of
Christian outreach, directors of family life ministry, directors of parish music, deaconesses, certified lay ministers, or candidates for these
offices not coming from recognized orthodox church bodies must submit to a colloquium before being received.
7. Congregations and individuals shall be received into membership at
such time and manner, and according to such procedures, as shall be
set forth in the bylaws to this Constitution.
Colloquy—Bylaw 3.10.2
B. Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry

3.10.2	The Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry shall
be responsible for the reception and processing of applications for individual membership in the Synod through
colloquy.
3.10.2.1	The Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry shall
consist of the First Vice-President of the Synod as chairman, a district president appointed by the Council of
Presidents, and the presidents of the seminaries or their
representatives.
2016 Convention Workbook