Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2019 · 67th Convention, Tampa › Page 453
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 453

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

PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES
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.

WHEREAS, Bylaw 2.5, “Calling of Ministers of Religion by
Congregations” states, “Congregations that are members of the
Synod shall call and be served only by (1) ordained ministers who
have been admitted to their respective ministries in accordance with
the rules and regulations set forth in these Bylaws and have thereby
become members of the Synod…” (Bylaw 2.5.2); and
WHEREAS, According to Augsburg Confession Article XIV,
“Concerning church order they teach that no one should teach
publicly in the church or administer the sacraments unless properly
called” (Rite vocatus means called in a regular manner by a proper
public authority—Kolb, ed., 47n81); and
WHEREAS, The doctrinal statement adopted by the Synod in 1851
and re-affirmed by the 2001 Synod convention in Resolution 7-17A,
Ministry Thesis VII, “Church and Ministry,” states: “The holy
ministry is the authority conferred by God through the
congregation, as holder of the priesthood and of all church power,
to administer in public office the common rights of the spiritual
priesthood in behalf of all”; and
WHEREAS, The Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the
Missouri Synod in Thesis 30 clearly states the rights and privileges
of the royal priests: “The Original and True Possessors of All
Christian Rights and Privileges – Since the Christians are the
Church, it is self-evident that they alone originally possess the
spiritual gifts and rights which Christ has gained for, and given to,
His Church” and Thesis #31 states: “By the public ministry we
mean the office by which the Word of God is preached and the
Sacraments are administered by order and in the name of a
Christian congregation” (emphasis added); and
WHEREAS, Currently in the Synod, under Bylaw 3.10 (d), “The
Pastoral Formation Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that
the Synod’s objective of training pastors is fulfilled consistently
(Constitution Art. III 3)” (Bylaw 3.10.4) and “shall monitor and
receive reports from all directors and committees charged with
oversight of all routes to ordination (e.g., Specific Ministry Pastor
Committee) and shall foster coordination and collaboration among
them” (Bylaw 3.10.4.4); and
WHEREAS, There is coordination and collaboration between the
Colloquy Committee, the seminaries, Specific Ministry Pastor
(SMP) Committee and the Pastoral Formation Committee; and
WHEREAS, “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” (Bylaw
3.10.2), and “The Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry
shall establish and monitor academic, theological, and personal
standards for admission to the office of the pastoral ministry by
colloquy after consultation with the faculties of the seminaries”
(Bylaw 3.10.2.2), and “In consultation with the President of the
Synod, it shall develop all necessary policies to govern eligibility
and the process to be followed to determine qualifications and
suitability for pastoral service in the Synod” (Bylaw 3.10.2.2 [a]);
and

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WHEREAS, “Applicants for the ordained ministry recommended
by the respective district president who are eligible for colloquy
under the Colloquy Committee’s published policies may make
application to the committee. Other applicants for the ordained
ministry, such as ministers of religion—commissioned, laymen of
a special ethnic or linguistic group, and laymen who have fulfilled
at least ten years of significant service in a congregation, may make
application to a seminary for the Residential Alternate Route or any
other appropriate program” (Bylaw 3.10.2.3); and
WHEREAS, In the history of the Synod those applicants who were
considered eligible for admission to the pastoral colloquy program
included “graduates of the Synod’s teachers colleges who have had
at least five years of teaching experience and are in good standing”
(1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979 Handbooks), changed to ten
years in 1981 (1981, 1983, 1986 Handbooks) and in addition
“members in good standing of synodical congregations who are
graduates of an established non-synodical seminary; members in
good standing of synodical congregations who are over the age of
40, are college graduates, and have had considerable experience in
church work; members in good standing of a synodical
congregation who belong to a special ethnic or linguistic group,
who have a college-level education, and who have had considerable
experience in church work” (1975, 1977, 1979, 1981 Handbooks),
and minor changes with omitting college graduate members over 40
in the 1983 and 1986 Handbooks; and
WHEREAS, The 2001 Handbook declared the following as
eligible to apply for colloquy: “in exceptional cases, laymen who
have carried out the full responsibilities of the pastoral ministry for
at least 10 years, who are currently licensed for such ministry by a
District President, and who have been recommended by a
congregation holding membership in the Synod on the basis of that
congregation’s observation and experience, and with the stated
assurance that such congregation will extend a divine call asking
the recommended individual to serve as their pastor; men who are
graduates of programs of study leading to ordination of no less than
60 semester hours or the equivalent thereof, in length, and who have
been communicant members in good standing of synodical
congregations for at least two years; Other applicants for the
ministry, such as commissioned ministers of religion, laymen of a
special ethnic or linguistic group, and laymen who have fulfilled at
least 10 years of significant service in a congregation, will
participate in special theological education (alternate routes) under
the direction of the seminaries” (emphasis added); therefore be it
Resolved, That the SMP be commended for their service to the
Savior, the congregations and the Synod, and that the seminaries,
the districts, district presidents, SMP Committee and the Pastoral
Formation Committee be commended for faithfully carrying out
their respective responsibilities by order and in the name of the
congregations of the Synod for the sake of the mission; and be it
further
Resolved, That after seven years of service as a SMP he be
eligible to apply for admission to the pastoral colloquy (non-SMP
and no limitations as a “General Pastor”) program as set forth in the
bylaws resulting in a “General Pastor” minister of religion—
ordained pastoral ministry status for the sake of the mission; and be
it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 2.13.1 be amended as follows:

2019 Convention Workbook