LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 163

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6. PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES
Pastor to General Pastor Certification, SMP, Specific
Ministry Pastor-Español/English Program, Ethnic
Immigrant Institute of Theology, Center for Hispanic
Studies, Cross-Cultural Ministry Center) of Synodapproved routes to ordination;
2. to prepare a report that examines and compares
approaches and outcomes of residential (i.e., inperson) and non-residential (i.e., distance learning)
routes to ordination as these relate to the Synod’s
commitment to a well-formed clergy for the sake of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ; and
3. to identify and evaluate options and rationales and
prepare a report to the 2026 Synod convention, which
proposes a beneficial, clear, and concise definition of
appropriate contexts for the ministry of SMP pastors;
and
4. to develop and present a comprehensive, uniform,
synodwide Specific Ministry Supervision Plan.
and be it finally
Resolved, That all pastors continue to be encouraged and
expected to engage in continuing education throughout their
pastoral ministry and self-report all continuing education
experiences on their Self Evaluation Tool (2019 Res. 6-04,
Proc., 160–61).
Action: Adopted (8)

An amendment was proposed but failed to strike from the first
resolve the word “strongly” and to modify the second item
under the third resolve thus: “2. the SMP route and all Synodapproved routes to ordination be understood as the exception
and not become the principal rule with respect to the Synod’s
available routes necessary for the Synod and for the preparation
and ordination of her pastors.” With twenty minutes of debate
elapsed, debate was closed; the resolution was adopted [Yes: 856;
No: 92].

To Affirm and Provide Guidance
for the Service of Laity
RESOLUTION 6-04
Overtures 6-25–27, 30–33 (CW, 334–37, 338–40)
WHEREAS, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may
proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9); and
WHEREAS, The 2018 Commission on Theology and Church
Relations report (The Royal Priesthood: Identity and Mission, 38–
39) reminds us of the blessings of the priesthood of all
believers:
1. The royal priesthood is a biblical way to identify, teach
and confess the “one, holy, catholic (Christian), and
apostolic Church.” That is to say, the royal priesthood
Resolutions

is all believers, “from every tribe and language and
people and nation” whom God has made a kingdom
and priests (Rev. 5:9–10) by working in them faith in
Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. Individuals become priests of the royal priesthood, the
Church, by the saving promises of Baptism into Christ,
where we receive the washing of rebirth, the
forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (John
3:5; Acts 2:38–39; Titus 3:5).
3. The royal priesthood finds its identity only in Christ,
the Great High Priest and only mediator between God
and man. Royal priests are in turn called to lives of
priestly mediation between God and the world. They
offer living sacrifices of thanksgiving—not sacrifices of
merit or atonement. In prayer they intercede on behalf
of all people. They make known the excellencies of God
in Christ—sharing His Word, gifts, and blessings with
all nations. (See 1 Tim. 2:5; Rom. 12:1; Phil. 4:6; 1 Peter
2:9.)
4. As the people of God, both corporately and
individually, we mediate God’s truth of salvation and
life to the world around us. Every individual believer is
called to confess the faith to others since the mission of
the whole church, that is, the entire royal priesthood,
is to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19–20).
Members of the royal priesthood share in that calling
as they give a defense for the hope that is within them
in their daily lives (1 Peter 3:15).
5. Each royal priest is to exercise the functions of the
royal priesthood—sacrifice, prayer, proclamation—in
a way that accords with his or her vocations within the
three estates of home, church, and society. (See
Ephesians 5–6; Colossians 3; 1 Timothy 2.)
6. The Holy Spirit is at work wherever the saving work of
God in Christ is made known, whether that message is
delivered by a layman or a pastor. The Gospel alone is
the power of salvation (Rom. 1:16). This means that the
proclamation of the Gospel by members of the royal
priesthood as they speak of Christ to others, at home,
with fellow believers, and in society, is an effective
means of grace by which the Holy Spirit creates and
nurtures saving faith (Acts 11:19–24).
7. The royal priesthood does not undermine or negate the
Office of the Public Ministry, which Christ gives to the
Church. Members of the royal priesthood, in various
ways, choose individuals from among them who are
equipped to teach and called in an orderly manner to
hold the Office of Public Ministry and to perform its
distinctive functions. (See 1 Cor. 4:1; 12:28–29; Eph.
4:11; James 3:1; Titus 1:5.)
and
WHEREAS, It is “Our Lord’s will that the diversities of gifts
should be for the common profit. 1 Cor. 12:4–31.” (Constitution
Preamble 2); and

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 163