LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 257

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RESOLUTIONS
17

Preaching and Church Worker
Continuing Education
To Enhance Clergy Continuing Education
RESOLUTION 17-01
Overture 17-01 (CW, p. 477)
Whereas, Pastors are called to “preach the word; be ready in
season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2) and to “continue in what
you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom
you learned it …” (2 Tim. 3:14); and
Whereas, Our Synod is blessed with excellent seminaries where
the foundation for pastoral formation is properly laid and the theological grounding so necessary for pastoral ministry is established.
In the tradition of Luther, however, our Synod also recognizes that
pastoral formation is a lifelong endeavor and that the early years
of ministry are a critical time in that learning process and a time
of significant and critical transition for them and for the congregations they serve; and
Whereas, The Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support (PALS) initiative was designed as a collaborative partnership
between The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) districts
and the Synod to support new pastors and their wives in their first
few years in the ministry, facilitating the transition from seminary
life to parish ministry and offering opportunities for new pastors
to apply their seminary education as they begin ministry with a
unique flock in a specific place; and

Whereas, One can never know the Scriptures and Lutheran
Confessions too well or study and practice ways to apply this knowledge and skills in specific ministry contexts too much; and
Whereas, In 2013, the Synod in convention adopted Res. 5-08B
“To Establish a Standard for Continuing Education of Pastors” and
also adopted Res. 5-02A “To Support and Encourage Participation in Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support Initiative” in
follow-​up to similar resolutions passed in 2010, 2007, 2004, 2001,
and 1998, calling for continued study and how best to certify clergy
and encourage continuing education; and
Whereas, A task force composed of members of the seminary
faculties and Council of Presidents has met over the past three
years to begin developing a list of qualified continuing education
resources and activities allowing for a seamless process for continuing education that will be utilized by pastors following seminary
graduation; therefore be it
Resolved, That every pastor in the LCMS be encouraged to
develop a continuing education portfolio which may be recorded
under question 27 of the Council of Presidents’ Self Evaluation
Tool (SET) from the time he graduates from the seminary until
he retires, thus modeling for his members a discipline of lifelong
learning; and be it further
Resolved, That pastors be encouraged to participate in at least
one continuing education experience annually and that each pas-

Whereas, During the PALS meetings, the new pastors worship, study, and discuss new ministry experiences in the company
of an experienced pastor. They choose topics to study and ministry
skills to hone that are most pertinent to their and their congregation’s specific needs; and
Whereas, Our culture and society have become increasingly
secularized and hostile to the faith. Our pastors need more than
ever to be engaged in a process of lifelong education and development to be best prepared to raise up disciples for Christ by teaching
the faithful, reaching the lost, and sharing Christ’s love through
care and acts of mercy for this generation and generations to come;
and
Whereas, While presently over 200 pastors are involved in
PALS, over 500 pastors are involved in continuing education events
hosted by the seminaries, and another 70 pastors are enlisted as
Doctor of Ministry students each year; and

“17. Preaching and Church Worker Continuing Education”

Committee 17 Chairman Brian Saunders
U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

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