LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 449

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Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Task Force
5.

The potential applicability of coursework for academic credit towards
an M.Div.

6. A time frame for completion of approximately 4–5 years
The Specific Ministry Pastor Program will be divided into a preordination curriculum and a post-ordination curriculum.
The preordination curriculum will equip the student in such a
way that the church has confidence that the student will preach the
Gospel in its truth and purity and conduct his ministry in conformity
with Lutheran doctrine and practice. In order to do this, the preordination curriculum will address such basic competencies as Catechism,
interpretation of Scripture, God and Christ and the work of Christ,
the Sacraments, introduction to the Book of Concord, the conduct of
worship, and preaching.
The post-ordination curriculum will address these topics in greater
depth and detail and will include such topics as 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.
In addition, the student will participate in several residential and
field seminars aimed at cultivating the requisite ministry skills for
his specific ministry context (e.g., church planters, staff pastors, and
evangelists).
•

•

Possible residential seminars might include pastoral formation,issues
in pastoral ministry, team ministry, urban ministry, and spiritual
formation.
Possible field seminars might include basic mission planter training,
edge gathering, and advanced mission planter training.

The Specific Ministry Pastor Program will utilize selected mentors in the preparation of a man for pastoral ministry with an emphasis
on the area of spiritual formation.
Step 1: Preparation for and Admission to the Program

The identification of an applicant will be carried out by the congregation and district through a comprehensive screening process.
For entry into the program, a student will need to show that he possesses the requisite social skills and passion for theology and mission,
as well as demonstrating the specific skills and competence needed
to be successful in a distanceeducation program.
For entry into the program, a student will need to pass the Entry
Level Competency Exams (ELCEs) in the areas of OT, NT, and
Catechism/Christian Doctrine. Preparation for the ELCEs may be
accomplished by taking the corresponding district-level courses,
Concordia University System or seminary-offered courses. In addition, other courses within a district’s lay training program may be
helpful, such as courses on evangelizing and catechizing.
All students will need to demonstrate competency to engage the
program in the English language and in public speaking. Based upon
completion of the above requirements and with recommendations
from congregation and district, the student’s application will be presented to the admissions committee of the seminary for action. As
part of the application process, each student, sponsoring congregation, and district will sign a covenant of commitment to complete the
entire specific ministry pastor curriculum, including all coursework
and seminars following examination and ordination.
Step 2: Preordination Curriculum

Upon entrance into the Specific Ministry Pastor Program, the student will be assigned as a vicar in a specific locality but normally will
not be authorized to administer the Sacraments. He will preach sermons prepared in collaboration with and approved by his supervisor.
At this point, he will participate in courses and seminars comparable
to those offered to residential seminary students designed to prepare
him in the following areas:

449

• Catechism, hermeneutical principles, God and Christ, work
of Christ, the Sacraments, worship, the Book of Concord, and
preaching
• Possible residential seminars: intro to pastoral formation; issues
in pastoral ministry
• Possible field seminars: basic mission planter training, etc.
Step 3: Certification/Call/Ordination

After demonstrating competence in the preordination areas, the
student must apply for an examination hearing by the seminary in
order to be certified for call and ordination.
Each student will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The examination hearing shall include a review of the student’s portfolio,
vicarage reports, an interview by the faculty, and recommendations
by the district president and circuit counselor.
After certification, call, and ordination according to the usual
order, the student is placed on the pastoral roster of the Synod as a
“specific ministry pastor.” He now may preach and administer the
Sacraments under supervision in a specific locality.
Step 4: Post-Call and Ordination Curriculum

Upon call and ordination, the student shall complete the remainder of the Specific Ministry Pastor Program. The following areas are
intended to continue development of the foundational competencies
necessary for serving as a specific ministry pastor:
•

•

•

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, possibly including pastoral formation, issues
in pastoral ministry, team ministry, urban ministry, and spiritual
formation
Field seminars, possibly including basic mission planter training, edge
gathering, and advanced mission planter training

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.
Step 5: Completion of the Specific Ministry Pastor Program

Upon completion of the program, the candidate is examined by a
committee of faculty, laity, and district representatives in order to be
recognized as eligible for calls elsewhere within his rostered status.
Apart from the usual need for continuing education, he is not required
to take any further prescribed course of studies (but see below).
Specific ministry pastors are recognized as just that: pastors certified for calls into specific ministry contexts, who serve under the
supervision not only of the district president but also of a designated
general ministry pastor. As such, they are eligible for calls into a
similar specific ministry context, where they continue under the
supervision of a general ministry pastor.
Because their theological education is formed within the context
of their specific ministry and does not represent the breadth and depth
of theology and ecclesiology that forms a basis for pastoral oversight
beyond the local level, they may not be placed into ecclesiastical roles
of exercising pastoral oversight outside the location of their specific
call (i.e., in the church-at-large), such as
a.

holding elected or appointed office at the district or Synod level that
is assigned by the Bylaws to “a pastor” or “an ordained minister”
(though they will serve in all other capacities, especially representing the ministerial contexts in which they serve);
b. serving as circuit counselors;
c. serving as a voting delegate to a national Synod convention (but they
may serve as an advisory delegate at national conventions and as a
pastoral delegate at district conventions); and
d. supervising vicars.

2013 Convention Workbook