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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 226

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

226

Seminary and University Education

Whereas, 2007 Res. 5-01B states that “specific ministries will
include such categories as church planter, staff pastor, and others as
needs arise”; and
Whereas, The SMP program has a well-thought-out curricula
consisting both of class work, taught by seminary professors, and of
field education and extended vicarage, overseen by a local pastor; and
Whereas, The seminaries retain the certification process; and
Whereas, Specific ministry pastors agree to certain conditions on
their call (e.g., they are always under supervision of another pastor,
they cannot serve as circuit counselors, they cannot serve as delegates
to Synod conventions, etc.); and
Whereas, At least one congregation in the New England District
has been blessed by an SMP program pastor serving as its assistant
pastor; therefore be it
Resolved, That the New England District commend the Specific
Ministry Pastor program; and be it further
Resolved, That the New England District memorialize the 2013
LCMS convention, encouraging it to keep the SMP program open for
various types of ministries, including “staff pastors”; and be it finally
Resolved, That the New England District encourage men to consider the SMP program as an opportunity to serve churches as pastors
within the LCMS.
New England District
5-24

To Recommend Continued Development of SMP
Program
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has been
blessed by the Lord of the Church with seminary programs and faculties that are able to effectively instruct students both on campus and
utilizing distance education methods; and
Whereas, The Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program enables
men to receive theological training from our seminaries at the same
time as they are receiving practical training under the guidance of a
mentor pastor while serving in the parish; therefore be it
Resolved, That the congregations of the Northern Illinois District
express their appreciation for and continued support of the SMP program; and be it further
Resolved, That the faculties of the seminaries be directed to work
closely with the mentor pastor to develop practical application exercises that integrate the specific ministry context with the seminary’s
curricula; and be it further
Resolved, That the seminaries be encouraged to coordinate more
closely so that the programs offered by each seminary are guided by
a similar training approach; and be it further
Resolved, That the faculties of the seminaries be directed to publish in the catalog and course syllabi any additional requirements
within SMP classes necessary to gain M.Div. credit; and be it further
Resolved, That candidates and graduates of the SMP program be
encouraged to continue their theological education; and be it finally
Resolved, That the 2012 convention of Northern Illinois District
of the LCMS send this resolution to the 2013 LCMS convention.
Northern Illinois District

2013 Convention Workbook

5-25

To Encourage Use of Specific Ministry Pastor
Program
Whereas, Mission work in our postchurched and increasingly
diverse society calls for a diversity of gifted mission leaders; and
Whereas, There is an unmet need for qualified and capable mission planters to provide the necessary leadership for this work; and
Whereas, There are ministry settings that are vacant and waiting for a worker; and
Whereas, Ministries of our districts are being blessed with the
service of workers who have come through alternate routes of ministry education, especially that of the Specific Ministry Pastor program;
and
Whereas, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:20); and
Whereas, The Eastern District by convention resolution has commended the LCMS for its bold and courageous work in addressing
real need with a real solution through the adoption of alternate route
programs such as the Specific Ministry Pastor program; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2013 LCMS convention commend the seminaries for their work in the development and execution of the Specific
Ministry Pastor program; And be it further
Resolved, That congregations, church agencies, and districts of the
LCMS be encouraged to avail themselves of the opportunity to augment the Lord’s work through the Specific Ministry Pastor program.
Eastern District
5-26

To Change Specific Ministry Pastor Title
Whereas, The LCMS has sought to provide Word and Sacrament
ministry in locations that cannot be served by an ordained pastor
since 1989; and
Whereas, The oversight committee revised the Distance
Education Leading To Ordination (DELTO) program, which resulted
in the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program in 2007; and
Whereas, The distinction between specific ministry pastors and
ordinary pastors has led to confusion in the congregations as well as
among pastors, creating a perception of two classes of pastors; and
Whereas, The Holy Christian Church has long had a venerable
office of deacon; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention replace the office of specific ministry pastor with the office of ordained deacon in the LCMS
roster of ministers of religion—ordained; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS maintain the seminaries specific ministry pastor program and rename it the deacon program; and be it further
Resolved, That the status of currently ordained specific ministry
pastors be changed to ordained deacons; and be it finally
Resolved, That authorized deacons previously trained and serving
congregations be evaluated by their district presidents for certification
as appropriate to the Council of Presidents for ordination.
Saint Paul, Susanville, CA; Circuits 4 and 19, CNH District