LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 32

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
a nonvoting member of the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations.

The First Vice-President serves along with the five regional
vice-presidents and the President on the Praesidium (Report R3).
In addition to the duties listed above, during this triennium, the
President also appointed the undersigned to serve as a regent for
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. In that capacity, he also served on
the Academic Committee.
The summary paragraph above, along with the detail provided
in the three reports immediately following this one, encapsulates
most of the First Vice-President’s activity during this triennium. A
significant aspect of his work that isn’t covered elsewhere in these
reports is that the First Vice-President often serves as a liaison between various Synod leaders and the Synod President. This is especially true of his work with the district presidents. In this role, the
First Vice-President assists the President through:
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regular communication with the chairman of the Council of
Presidents;

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regular communication with district presidents regarding
colloquy applicants;

•

regular communication with district presidents, especially
newer ones, to answer questions and assist them in the conduct of their office;

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regular communication with district presidents regarding
matters of concern involving their districts that are brought
to the attention of the Synod President (as well as assisting
with responses to those who reach out to the Synod President);

•

communication with district presidents regarding attendance
at district conventions by the Synod President and vicepresident(s);

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a triennial orientation of new district presidents, together
with the Synod President and others, on the nature and conduct of their office (Bylaw 3.3.1.3 [b]);

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a triennial orientation of new district presidents, together
with the Synod President, on how to conduct a district convention;

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regular reports to the Council of Presidents on colloquy and
other matters; and

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annual presentations to the district presidents’ administrative
assistants, especially on colloquy matters.

Preparation for the Synod convention is another major area of
work for the First Vice-President. This work begins approximately
18 months before the convention by working with the Secretary of
the Synod to prepare district presidents for the circuit exception
process (Bylaw 3.1.2). As circuit data and exception requests come
into the Office of the President, the First Vice-President assists the
President, who ultimately decides on these exception requests (Bylaw 3.1.2 [b]). Assisting the President with floor committee assignments (Bylaw 3.1.7) and the orientation of floor committee chairs
and vice-chairs to their work is another aspect of the First VicePresident’s duties. The First Vice-President also helps review all
overtures to the convention (Bylaw 3.1.6.2 [c]). Finally, he is responsible for writing a report on his work (Report R2), the work of
both colloquy committees (Reports R2.1 and R2.2), and the work
of the Praesidium (Report R3).
2023 Convention Workbook

Lastly, the First Vice-President participates in frequent meetings of the Office of the President and regular meetings of the Administrative Team (Bylaw 3.5.1.1).
Though the work of the First Vice-President is largely
administrative, he strives to stay diligent in the daily study and
hearing of God’s Word and to proclaim that Word as time and opportunity allow. And, with all who serve in the Synod’s national office, he is honored to support the congregations, schools, agencies,
and organizations of the Synod in giving bold witness by word and
deed to the love and work of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
“We Preach Christ Crucified!”
Peter K. Lange, First Vice-President
R2.1

Colloquy Committee for Pastoral Ministry
Pastoral colloquy is the process by which a man who has served
as a pastor in another church body or trained for the pastoral ministry in a non-LCMS seminary while being a member of another
church body can be declared qualified for a first call in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Colloquy is not intended to
be a route to train men for the pastoral office. Such pastoral formation leading to ordination is the task of seminaries.
The word colloquy (from the Latin colloquium) means “a conversation.” In its narrow sense, the term refers specifically to the
theological interview, which is central to the colloquy process and
also explores the applicant’s background in order to determine his
fitness for ministry and whether to certify him for a first call into the
pastoral ministry of the LCMS. In its wider sense, the term refers to
the entire process defined above. Pastoral colloquy has had a place
in our Synod’s constitution and bylaws since the beginning. Today
it is primarily Bylaws 3.10.2–3.10.2.5 that govern the pastoral colloquy process. [1]
By means of colloquy, the Synod vets and provides pastors for
the congregations of the LCMS—above and beyond those men
trained by our seminaries—thus indirectly supporting the third objective of the LCMS (Constitution Article III 3) to “recruit and train
pastors … and provide opportunity for their continuing growth.”
Colloquy is also one way that the Synod “work[s] in support of
and on behalf of congregations to assist them in carrying out their
ministries” (Bylaw 1.1.1). Lastly, colloquy supports the first, second, and fourth of the seven mission priorities that the 2019 Synod
convention adopted for this triennium (Resolution 4-03A), namely
to “plant, sustain, and revitalize Lutheran churches,” to “support
and expand theological education,” and to “collaborate with the
Synod’s members and partners to enhance mission effectiveness.”
The Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry (CCPM)
administers the colloquy process by establishing policy, receiving and reviewing applications, conducting an in-person interview
with each applicant, and making a determination for each applicant
based on the application and interview. Applicants can be certified
immediately, declined certification, or assigned one or more of the
following: supplemental seminary coursework, mentored readings,
a traditional vicarage, or a shorter-term internship. The composition of the CCPM is stipulated in Bylaw 3.10.2.1. Throughout this
triennium, the committee has consisted of the undersigned (ex officio chair); Southern Illinois District President Timothy Scharr
as the elected representative of the LCMS Council of Presidents
(COP) (since 2012); Dr. Glenn Nielsen representing the president