Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2023 · 68th Convention, Milwaukee › Page 337
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 337

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

PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES
who did not complete any program of residential study, much less
a two-year residential program, at either of the Synod’s
seminaries—a cohort of men that includes even past Synod
presidents and past and present professors of the Synod’s
seminaries; and
WHEREAS, The Committee’s published policies do not
universally require participation in a RAR program for colloquy
applicants who are active pastors from other Christian church
bodies or who are from other Christian church bodies and have
prepared for pastoral ministry but are not in active service as
pastors—meaning that of those applicants for colloquy who hold
the Master of Divinity or equivalent, the most burdensome
requirements would under this interpretation of Bylaw 3.10.2.4 be
imposed necessarily only on those who have remained faithful
members of the Synod throughout their seminary studies; and
WHEREAS, The absence of such a universal requirement for the
other categories of applicants just mentioned confirms that
participation in a RAR program is, even according to other current
policies, not considered universally necessary for adequate
formation for pastoral ministry; and
WHEREAS, The Bylaws of the Synod state that “Decisions to
declare applicants qualified for the pastoral ministry and to certify
for placement shall be at the sole discretion of the committee”
(Bylaw 3.10.2.2 [b]); in the absence of Bylaw 3.10.2.4 the
committee could still choose to require applicants to participate in
the RAR program when appropriate; and the men selected to serve
on the committee have been selected on account of their
demonstrated ability to carry out such discretion on behalf of the
Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That while the Synod continue “To Promote
Residential Seminary Education as the Preferred Option for the
Preparation of Men for Pastoral Ministry” (2019 Res. 6-02,
Proceedings, 158–59), at the same time the Synod resume its
historic recognition that proper formation for pastoral ministry can
vary in certain circumstances, depending on the specific details of
each applicant; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod therefore reaffirm clearly the
traditional discretional authority of the Colloquy Committee for the
Pastoral Ministry to determine colloquy requirements as
appropriate on a case-by-case basis, by removing the
aforementioned Bylaw added by the 2016 convention, Bylaw
3.10.2.4, and renumbering Bylaw 3.10.2.5 to 3.10.2.4:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
B. Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry
…
3.10.2.4
The LCMS laymen and commissioned ministers who
receive a Master of Divinity or equivalent degree from a non-LCMS
seminary may seek certification for call and placement in the Synod
by participating in the Residential Alternate Route program of one
of the seminaries of the Synod, if otherwise eligible for admission to
the seminary.
3.10.2.54 All men desiring the ordained ministry who do not meet
the eligibility requirements of the foregoing bylaws shall be directed
to the seminaries for consideration in other programs.

Zion
Orange, Connecticut

337

Ov. 6-28

To Expand Roles and Leadership of All Existing
Ordained Ministers of Word and Sacraments
WHEREAS, Article V of the Augsburg Confession acknowledges
the Scriptural mandate and call for the institution of the office of the
public ministry for the administration of the Word and Sacraments;
and
WHEREAS, All those ordained by the Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod into this ministry are equipped and trained by
institutions approved and overseen by the Synod; and
WHEREAS, The need to fill vacant ministry roles has led the
Synod to have forethought in planning and developing programs to
support a well-equipped vocational presence where needed; and
WHEREAS, Ministerial needs are rapidly growing in scope in the
areas of parish ministry as well as institutional leadership,
necessitating greater ecclesiastical partnership and participation;
and
WHEREAS, Synod-approved programs such as Specific Ministry
Pastor (SMP) program and other alternate route vocations are
established and supervised to fulfill Word and Sacrament vocational
needs; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod, in partnership with the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations and vocational training
institutions, develop policies, including continuing education
opportunities, supportive of greater roles and increased
participation of all Word and Sacrament ministers, including, but
not limited to service in the local congregation, leadership roles in
the circuit, district, and the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That this would include making the most use of the
God-given gifts, talents, and abilities of our SMP program pastors;
and be it finally
Resolved, That this would include an examination of the
effectiveness of candidate status and a recommendation toward a
policy change that employs the gifts of qualified and capable pastors
otherwise unable to serve.
Southern District
Ov. 6-29

To Work to Resolve Issue of Qualified Ordained
Candidates Remaining Without Calls
WHEREAS, The 65th Regular Convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod approved Resolution 3-10A, “To
Appoint a Task Force to Study the Call Process for Returning
Missionary and Military Chaplains and Other Rostered Church
Workers without a Call” by a vote of 884 to 25; and
WHEREAS, The task force duly appointed in fulfillment of the
above resolution stated in its report, “Short of changing Synod’s
bylaws that will accommodate the placement of candidate status
ministers as they do for first call graduates, we must continue to
follow the existing call processes” (2016 Report R60, Workbook,
232); and
WHEREAS, Despite the diligent efforts of district presidents and
others to encourage congregations to call ordained ministers on
candidate status, the current process has proven inadequate to
remedy the issue of qualified candidates without calls; therefore be
it

2023 Convention Workbook