LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 361

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SEMINARIES
(DELTO, no longer in operation), the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of
Theology, the Center for Hispanic Studies (formerly the Hispanic
Institute of Theology), the Cross-Cultural Ministry Center, and various other programs; and
Whereas, As congregations of the LCMS continue to navigate
the rapidly changing shifts in our society, it will be necessary for
the Synod to utilize these and other modes of preparing pastors that
supplement its residential pastoral formation programs at both seminaries; therefore be it
Resolved, That the congregations and districts of the LCMS be
commended for their desire to provide Word and Sacrament ministry
for all the people of God and for Gospel outreach; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS continue its long-standing commitment to a well-trained clergy, formed through its seminaries; and
be it further
Resolved, That districts and congregations in cross-cultural settings and in challenging demographic circumstances be encouraged
to utilize, when appropriate, the various programs for forming pastors
in the Synod, such as the Specific Ministry Pastor program, the Ethnic
Immigrant Institute of Theology, the Center for Hispanic Studies,
the Cross-Cultural Ministry Center, and various other programs of
the seminaries which focus on training pastors for these situations;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod ensure that financial constraints do not
prevent any eligible candidate from participating in these programs;
and be it further
Resolved, That the current district lay training programs continue
to train laymen and women to assist congregations with outreach in
our increasingly complex world; and be it further
Resolved, That these district programs be coordinated with the
seminaries and, as circumstances permit, lead to further training for
the pastoral ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That a program similar to the Global Seminaries
Initiative be created to fund recent immigrant US residents for
advanced theological studies at LCMS seminaries; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod thank the Res. 4-06A Task Force for
its balanced and forward-looking recommendations, and that their
report be consulted for further guidance in the implementation of
this resolution.
Faculty of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne,
IN; Faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO
6-15

To Commend SMP Program
and Affirm Original Design
Whereas, The 2007 convention established the SMP program
(Res. 5-01B) as a theologically responsible way to provide pastoral
education for meeting the ministry challenges and mission opportunities of the 21st century; and
Whereas, Res. 5-01B articulated both the needs for church planters and missionaries and for regularizing all who provide Word and
Sacrament ministry in congregations of the LCMS, including those
licensed for such following the 1989 convention; and
Whereas, Those who teach publicly in the church and administer the sacraments should be properly called, as taught in Augsburg
Confession Art. XIV; and
Whereas, Res. 5-01B was presented after a process of collaboration that brought together representatives of the needs of the
field with the entities of the Synod to whom leadership for pastoral

361

education and certification is entrusted, was reviewed by the CTCR
and the CCM, and was further supported by the (former) Board for
Pastoral Education, the faculties of both seminaries, and the Council
of Presidents, and then passed by a 76 percent vote in favor of the
resolution; and
Whereas, The SMP curriculum has proven to be effective in
providing basic pastoral knowledge and attitudes, including confessional subscription and the practical application of preaching,
teaching, worship, pastoral care in administering the Lord’s Supper,
and in addressing the practice of specific ministry through required
field seminars; and
Whereas, This program provides a helpful combination of the
strengths of both distance and residential education through a rigorous use of distance education course design and pedagogy along
with regular residential seminars and courses taught in an intensive
mode on campus; and
Whereas, This program has been evaluated, assessed, and
reviewed, both according to the provisions of Res. 5-01B, which
required a report at least nine months before the 2010 convention,
as well as through annual reports and several white papers from the
Office of Pastoral Education of the LCMS in 2012 and 2013; and
Whereas, The programs of both seminaries allow for and encourage the use of the SMP curriculum and credits as applicable toward
a Master of Arts degree, Alternate Route certification, or Master of
Divinity degree,
Whereas, Students, mentors, ecclesiastical supervisors, and the
congregations served by SMP vicars and pastors attest to the quality, theological soundness, and effective ministry provided by these
men; and
Whereas, Provisions are in place and are being carefully followed
for the appropriate restrictions and ongoing supervision, as well as
continuing education, of such specific ministry pastors as originally
prescribed by Res. 5-01B; and
Whereas, A procedure of monitoring, oversight, and review by
the Specific Ministry Pastor Committee has been established and
followed; and
Whereas, The candidate review leading to certification, call, and
ordination at the point originally designed within the program has
proven to be effective in providing pastoral ministry from within the
office (AC XIV) with integrity consistent with our confessional commitment; therefore be it
Resolved, To commend our district presidents and seminaries for
integrity and responsibility in the development, initiation, and ongoing assessment of the SMP program; and be it further
Resolved, To continue to support and utilize the SMP program
as originally designed as an effective and theologically responsible
way of meeting pastoral ministry needs of the contemporary context; and be it further
Resolved, To retain the presentation of candidates for certification,
call, and ordination as originally designed; that is, after completing
at least two years of supervised vicarage, courses in the Lutheran
Confessions and Lutheran theology and practice, and after certification interviews by the faculty, and after a call has been issued by the
congregation; and be it further
Resolved, To provide Synod funding for both student and program assessment to continue to gather evaluative data of the SMP
program; and be it finally
Resolved, To address the contemporary needs of pastoral ministry by engaging the various means God has given to His Church
for the raising up of pastors and missionaries, including the review
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