Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2019 · 67th Convention, Tampa › Page 451
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 451

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES
Ov. 6-06

To Upgrade and Limit the SMP Program
WHEREAS, Holy Scripture sets high standards for the theological
aptitude of pastors, that they be “able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2) and
“able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those
who contradict it” (Titus 1:9), and that “Not many of you should
become teachers, my brothers” (James 3:1); and
WHEREAS, The curriculum and standards for the Specific
Ministry Pastor (SMP) program are significantly lower than they
are for the Master of Divinity program at our two residential
seminaries; and
WHEREAS, A more thoroughly trained pastor ought to be sought,
if at all possible; therefore be it
Resolved, That the President of Synod and the two seminaries
work together to upgrade the curriculum and standards of the SMP
program, bringing them more in line with the curriculum and
standards of the residential seminaries, including the requirement of
ability in New Testament Greek; and be it further
Resolved, That admission to the SMP program be limited to
cases only where a more thoroughly trained pastor would not be
available and thus not be open to congregations that already have a
pastor.
St. Matthew
Bonne Terre, MO
Ov. 6-07

To Request Synod to Move Ordination
Upon Completion of SMP Four-Year Program
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in
convention in 2001 passed Resolution 3-08B, “To Address Needs
and Opportunities for Pastoral Ministry in Specialized Situations”;
and
WHEREAS, 2001 Res. 3-08B provided for Licensed Lay Deacons
(LLD) to continue to be trained under supervision (1989 Wichita
Res. 3-05B); and
WHEREAS, 2016 Synod Res. 13-02A “To Regularize Status of
Licensed Lay Deacons Involved in Word and Sacrament Ministry”
regularized ministries toward ordination consistent with the Book of
Concord (Augsburg Confession XIV and Apology of the Augsburg
Confession XIV); and
WHEREAS, Scripture exhorts the Church “do not be hasty in the
laying on of hands” (1 Tim. 5:22); and
WHEREAS, Res.13-02A provides several options toward
ordination of existing LLD, including:
• Colloquy as a Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP),
• Colloquy as a “General” Pastor of Synod,
• SMP (seminary track, sixteen courses),
• Alternate Route (seminary training), and
• General Ministry (seminary track);
and
WHEREAS, The Synod in convention in 2007 passed Res. 5-01B
“To Establish Specific Ministry Pastor Program”; and
WHEREAS, Res. 5-01B provided for SMP candidates to receive
“preordination curriculum, and post-ordination curriculum,”
covering two two-year segments of the seminary education; and

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WHEREAS, Steps 3 and 4 of the six-step process of the SMP
program, as approved by Res. 5-01B, provided that a certification,
call, and ordination be allowed after successful completion of two
years of preordination studies; and
WHEREAS, Step 5 of the process approved by Res. 5-01B
provided that the post-ordination curriculum include “OT content
and theology, NT content and theology, gifts of Christ, body of
Christ, Church history and the history of Lutheranism, Christian
education, pastoral theology, and theology of missions…residential
seminars [including] pastoral formation, issues in pastoral ministry,
team ministry, urban ministry, and spiritual formation…field
seminars [including] basic mission planting, edge gathering, and
advanced mission planter training.” (2007 Proceedings, 134); and
WHEREAS, Step 4 also included the caveat that “Refusal to
complete the Specific Ministry Pastor Program would result in the
pastor’s removal from the Synod roster, at which point he is not
eligible for a call”; and
WHEREAS, The provision of ordination after two years, with the
proviso that the rostered worker complete two more years of formal,
required education, has led to men being removed from the Synod
roster, and created confusion about the Office of the Holy Ministry;
therefore be it
Resolved, That currently enrolled SMP students (preordination
and post-ordination) continue in the SMP track of two years toward
ordination and two years of required post-ordination requirements;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the Mid-South District
of the Synod memorialize the Synod 2019 convention to modify the
provisions of the SMP program as outlined in 2007 Res. 5-01B 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
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents and the Pastoral
Formation Committee would consider requiring students enrolled
in the SMP programs 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
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents and the Pastoral
Formation Committee would report on these recommended
improvements and submit any corresponding proposed bylaw
amendments to the 2022 convention of the Synod for consideration;
and be it further
Resolved, That students who have completed the first academic
year be designated as vicars, and may conduct services under
supervision of their local pastor, and approval of the respective
seminary program director and district president; and be it further
Resolved, That SMP vicars will remain in that role as long as
they are enrolled and actively pursuing SMP ordination; and be it
further
Resolved, That if a student for any reason is no longer enrolled
in the SMP program the vicar designation is removed until or unless
he again becomes actively enrolled in the SMP program; and be it
further
Resolved, That any delays or postponements of a student’s
progress must be approved by the respective seminary program
director and the district president, while delayed or postponed the
vicar designation will be removed; and be it further

2019 Convention Workbook