Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 64

LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 64

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

64
to ordination in the Synod.
•

•

Monitor and receive reports from all directors and committees charged with oversight of all routes to ordination and
foster coordination and collaboration between such directors
and committees.
Consider the long-term strategic direction of the Synod’s
pastoral formation, and facilitate discussion of the same with
the seminaries’ boards of regents in their annual joint meeting.

Over the 2023–26 triennium, the PFC convened consistently
(and far more frequently than Bylaw 3.10.4.7’s minimum annual meeting requirement), via face-to-face and internet conference
meetings, in order to carry out its above-listed duties, including
consultations and facilitation of discussions with the seminaries’
boards of regents in their annual joint meetings.

2023 Convention Assignments
Beyond such regular duties, most notable over the triennium
was the PFC’s ongoing work to fulfill assignments given to it under
2023 Resolution 6-03A (Proceedings, 162–63):
•

Prepare a report that analyzes and assesses ministerial or
pastoral formation programs that have emerged within the
Synod over the past several years, especially those preparing
persons to perform the distinctive functions of the Office of
the Holy Ministry, which lack approval of the Synod under
its current Constitution and Bylaws and are not included in
the current list (i.e., M.Div., RAR/AR, Specific Ministry
to General Pastor Certificate, SMP, Specific Ministry Pastor-Espanol/English Program, Ethnic Immigrant Institute of
Theology, Center for Hispanic Studies, Cross-Cultural Ministry Center) of the Synod-approved routes to ordination.

•

Prepare a report that examines and compares approaches and
outcomes of residential (i.e., in-person) 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.

•

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.

•

Develop and present a comprehensive, uniform, synodwide
Specific Ministry Supervision Plan.

Reports R13.3–6 address the PFC’s assignments from the
above-referenced convention resolution.
In May 2025, the PFC posted “Frequently Asked Questions:
Unauthorized Non-LCMS Pastoral Formation Programs.” This
document was released at the same time President Harrison,
Dr. Egger (CSL), and Dr. Bruss (CTSFW) issued statements regarding unauthorized, non-LCMS pastoral formation programs
(reporter.lcms.org/2025/lcms-addresses-unauthorized-non-lcmspastoral-formation-programs/).
Daniel M. Galchutt, Interim Chief Mission Officer
R13.1

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri
Concordia Seminary serves church and world by providing
2026 Convention Workbook

theological education and leadership centered in the Gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ for the formation of pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars, and leaders in the name of the Synod.
The mission of Concordia Seminary flows from the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. God has sent His own Son into the world to redeem
sinners by His death and resurrection. The Good News of repentance, forgiveness, and eternal life in His name is being preached
to the ends of the earth. Concordia Seminary is a part of this beautiful, salvation-bringing work of our Triune God. As grateful heirs
of the Reformation, we teach, preach, and confess in accord with
the scriptural, Christ-centered witness of the Lutheran Confessions.
The primary mission of Concordia Seminary, now in its 187th
year, is to prepare men for the Holy Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the LCMS. The Seminary also prepares women for service to the church through its Deaconess Studies programs, offers
advanced degree programs to qualified students of theology, and
serves as a center for theological research, scholarship, and continuing education of the clergy and laity. Since its founding in 1839,
Concordia Seminary has provided more than 13,000 workers for
the church.
Concordia Seminary is aligned with and assists the Synod in
achieving key objectives, including to: “conserve and promote the
unity of the true faith” (Constitutional Article III, Objective 1);
“strengthen congregations and their members in giving bold witness” (Objective 2); “recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other
professional church workers and provide opportunity for their continuing growth” (Objective 3); “aid congregations by providing a
variety of resources” (Objective 6); and “strive for uniformity in
church practice, but also … an appreciation of a variety of responsible practices and customs” (Objective 7).
The greatest strength of Concordia Seminary is our outstanding
faculty—learned, dedicated, experienced, pastoral, faithful men. To
our already strong roster, we have been blessed with a number of
top-notch new professors over the last triennium: Dr. Sam Eatherton, the Rev. Dr. James Fickenscher, the Rev. Joel Fritsche, the Rev.
Dr. John Genter, the Rev. Dr. Adam Hensley, the Rev. Dr. Jason
Lane, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Pietsch, and the Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti.
We have also been recently blessed with an outstanding new Director of Deaconess Studies, Dcs. Dr. Jennie Asher.
In the spring and fall of 2023, respectively, Concordia Seminary received regular accreditation visits from the Higher Learning
Commission and the Association of Theological Schools. Both accrediting organizations gave Concordia positive reviews and full
10-year reaccreditation.
Church worker recruitment remains a key priority, and enrollment at Concordia Seminary has increased over the last triennium.
As of the Fall 2025 census, Concordia Seminary serves 641 students across all academic programs, our highest enrollment in 17
years. We give thanks to God and to His Church for three consecutive years of growth in our residential pastoral formation programs,
a clear sign of renewed momentum and confidence in preparing
future pastors. This growth reflects the faithful partnership of pastors, congregations, districts, and leaders across the Synod, along
with the tireless work of our enrollment team, who continue to recruit, encourage, and walk alongside those preparing for service.
The Synod’s Set Apart to Serve initiative is bearing fruit, and strong
current enrollment in the pre-seminary programs of our Concordia
Universities is very encouraging. Concordia Seminary continues to
partner with Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, in re-