LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 160

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6. PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES
Resolved, That the LCMS encourage the districts to
provide funding for SMP students as needed, so that no one
be deprived of entering or completing the SMP program
due to financial hardships.
Action: Adopted (7)
In Session 6, Res. 6-03A was read and introduced by the
committee, and the Pastoral Formation Committee expressed,
through Chief Mission Officer Kevin Robson, its support. The
chair, noting the orders of the day, inquired of delegates and
found they desired debate; when discussion resumed in Session 7,
it was moved and seconded to amend the resolution by adding to
Res. 6-03A the third resolve of Res. 6-03 (TB, 1:96), as follows:
Resolved, That the provisions of the SMP program as
outlined in 2007 Res. 5-01B be modified to require students
enrolling in the SMP programs after the 2020 academic
year to finish all academic requirements of the SMP
program before ordination and placement on the minister
of religion–ordained roster of the Synod; and be it further
After discussion, it was moved and seconded to close debate on
the amendment; this carried [Yes: 883; No: 29]. The amendment
failed [Yes: 304; No: 617]. There being objection to proceeding to
a vote on the main motion, closure of debate was moved,
seconded, and carried [Yes: 782; No: 127], whereupon Res. 603A was adopted as presented [Yes: 643; No: 272].

To Support, Encourage, and Expect
Continuing Education for all Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod Pastors
RESOLUTION 6-04
Overture 6-21 (CW, 458–59)

WHEREAS, The third objective of our Synod Constitution
Article III is to “Recruit and train pastors, teachers, and
other professional church workers and provide opportunity
for their continuing growth”; and
WHEREAS, “The Chief Mission Officer shall, on behalf of
the President, provide leadership, coordination, and
oversight for pre-seminary education programs, seminary
education, and post-seminary continuing education, and
by providing advocacy for pastoral education and health
within the Synod” (Bylaw 3.4.3.8), and supervises The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Executive
Director of Pastoral Education in the execution of these
duties; and
WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents’ Self-Evaluation
Tool (SET) for pastors was revised to fulfill 2016 Resolution
17-01, to provide the opportunity for pastors and districts to
report all continuing education experiences including
courses offered by Post-Seminary Applied Learning and
Support (PALS), LCMS seminaries, other higher education
institutions, and other qualified continuing education
experiences; and
160 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION

WHEREAS, Continuing education for pastors includes, but
is not limited to, a desire and energy to learn with growth
in exegetics, history, systematics, preaching, teaching,
outreach, pastoral care, administration, worship/liturgy,
leadership, ministerial well-being, literature, philosophy,
humanities, thinking skills, reasoning skills, speaking
skills, people skills, growth in wisdom through practical
experience, mentorship, use of a father-confessor,
stewardship and finance, and community context
(categories listed in the pastor’s Self-Evaluation Tool); and
WHEREAS, The LCMS has recognized at every convention
since 1998 the need for pastoral continuing education, most
recently in 2016 Resolution 17-01, “To Enhance Clergy
Continuing Education” (adopted [Yes: 802; No: 123]),
which encourages the use of the PALS program in all
districts in the Synod; and
WHEREAS, PALS was created to facilitate pastors’ and
their wives’ transition from seminary to first call; to assist
in first call experiences such as new environment, isolation,
new role adjustment, and congregational life and
expectations; and to serve as the beginning of their
continuing education through personal, spiritual, and
vocational formation; and
WHEREAS, Both seminaries are in full support of the PALS
program, recommending and encouraging their students
to make use of PALS when they arrive at their first call, and
inviting PALS staff to host fourth-year seminarians and
their wives at an event to introduce the PALS program; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS is blessed with two worldrenowned seminaries that are dedicated to the formation of
servants in Christ who will (as stated in the ordination
vows) faithfully carry out the command of Christ to teach
“all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20) and hold
forth the Lutheran Confessions as the faithful exposition
thereof; and
WHEREAS, Both seminaries provide advanced degrees,
post-graduate study, and other ongoing educational
programs, which benefit our called workers and the Church
at large by providing instruction at the highest academic
level through skilled and seasoned faculty, as an
opportunity for continuing growth; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod fully support, encourage, and
expect all LCMS pastors to be engaged in continuing
education throughout their pastoral ministry from the time
of their first call; and be it further
Resolved, That district presidents encourage, prompt, and
expect all their pastors to be engaged in continuing
education and keep current the self-reporting question
number 28 on the SET; and be it further
Resolved, That the district presidents not utilizing PALS
and the Executive Director of Pastoral Education, who
oversees the PALS program, engage in formal fraternal
conversation at least annually to learn from one another to
serve all of our pastors graduating from seminary and
Resolutions