LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — February 28–March 1, 2014, Page 8

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31. Commission on Constitutional Matters Governing Policies (14-2707)
The commission continued its consideration of governing policies for carrying out its responsibilities, to
be continued at future meetings.
32. Specific Ministry Pastor Resignation (14-2708)
With a February 19, 2014 email, a district president requested the commission’s response to questions
prompted by the resignation of a specific ministry pastor (SMP) in his district. The SMP pastor resigned
his call shortly after his ordination and installation and dropped out of the SMP program for health
reasons without completing his final two years of seminary course work. The pastor of the LCMS
congregation that the SMP pastor now attends has begun involving him in the congregation’s pastoral
ministry and has expressed interest in his retention on the ordained clergy roster of the Synod. The district
president requested the commission’s response to the following questions:
Question 1: Is this SMP pastor, who has not completed his academic responsibilities, eligible to remain
on the roster of the Synod as a pastor emeritus or other candidate status, given the “serious
physical and health problems” that prompted his resignation from his former congregation?
Opinion: No, this pastor has not completed the requirements of the SMP program. Although he received
and accepted a call and was granted roster status, that status was conditioned on his completing an entire
course of study. 2007 convention Res. 5-01B, which established the SMP program, requires: “Upon call
and ordination, the student shall complete the remainder of the Specific Ministry Pastor Program.”
Likewise, Bylaw 2.13.1 requires SMP pastors to have “completed the requirements for service as a
specific ministry pastor.” Res. 5-01B adds, “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.”
Question 2: Can this SMP pastor be used for Word and Sacrament ministry, including full vestments, in
an LCMS congregation?
Opinion: No, since this pastor can no longer continue on the roster of the Synod, he will no longer be
qualified to serve a congregation of the Synod. According to Bylaw 2.5.2, “Congregations that are
members of the Synod shall call and be served only by…ordained ministers who have been admitted to
their respective ministries in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth in these Bylaws and have
thereby become members of the Synod.”
Question 3: Does the SMP program provide opportunity for an ordained, installed, and resigned SMP
pastor to continue the SMP program at a later time?
Opinion: 2007 Res. 5-01B adopted the SMP program “in principle” and authorized the seminaries, the
Board for Pastoral Education, and the Council of Presidents “to implement it.” 2013 Res. 5-03E
specifically charged the Chief Mission Officer and one representative from each seminary, in consultation
with the Council of Presidents, to “provide leadership, coordination, and oversight for the Specific
Ministry Pastor program.” Question 3 should be directed to this committee.
Question 4: Can this SMP pastor who has resigned from his assigned congregation after two years of the
program now apply for colloquy?
Opinion: No, as a rostered pastor of the Synod removed from the Synod’s ordained minister roster, the
only option for this pastor to be restored to the roster must be via reinstatement (Bylaw 2.18.1).

CCM Minutes – Feb. 28–March 1, 2014 – Page 14