LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 74

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

congregations they will serve to steer them toward the fuller initial preparation of the residential
M.Div. program.
The Synod must wrestle with a simple but vital question: “How do we train men to serve as
pastors according to God’s institution of the office for the sake of His church?” Since AC IV,
“Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or
works. People are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are
received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made
satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight (Romans 3 and 4
[3:21–26; 4:5])” 14 forms the material principle of our confession, AC V confesses a vital truth
for our Synod: “So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and
administering the Sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through
instruments, the Holy Spirit is given [John 20:22]. He works faith, when and where it pleases
God [John 3:8], in those who hear the good news.” The Office is given to the church for
delivering the Gospel through the Means of Grace by “a worker who has no need to be ashamed,
rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
Many desire that pastors should be better trained in business and relational acumen. Yet
leadership and business skills, as valuable as they might be, are not essential characteristics or
roles of the office. (Indeed, just as the members of a body do not and cannot do the same thing,
the many members of the Body of Christ should and do make up for what is missing in any one
member [Rom. 12:4–8]). These strengths are noted with the consistent observation of
accompanying biblical and theological deficiencies compared to residentially formed pastors.
Yet the office is given precisely for the Word and Sacraments. The church does not desire for her
pastors to be under-formed or less formed in reading and interpreting God’s Word, in preaching
and teaching the full counsel of God as taught in the Scriptures and confessed in the Book of
Concord, in administering the Sacraments according to our Lord’s own institution and will.
Scripture and theology cannot be replaced with emotional intelligence or cultural understanding
as the main qualification for the clergy of the LCMS.
Jesus gave His church the gift of the pastoral office (Eph. 4:11) to make disciples of all nations
through Word and Sacrament (Matt. 28:19), to forgive sins (Matt. 16:19; John 20:23), to preach
His Gospel (2 Cor. 5:20), and to administer His Sacraments (1 Cor. 4:1). This ministry takes
place in the midst of God’s people and within various cultural manifestations. God’s Word alone
instructs the church on what is essential for the Office to be the Office as our Lord desires and
gave it to the church. Each man called into a concrete situation must learn how to preach and
teach God’s Word to the people in that setting. This will always require growth in understanding
the unique challenges and joys of that community. Yet the essence of the call is not visionary
leadership or community understanding, not budget administration or congregational
organization. The essence of the call remains the Word of God and the primary duty of the
Office is the preaching of the Word and administration of the Sacraments. And the church must
seek men who are well-trained in that Word, those who can stand against the devil’s schemes
(Eph. 6:10–17) and proclaim Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 1:23). In so doing the pastor will
provide salvation for all who hear (1 Tim. 4:16). Relationships, friendliness, leadership,

organization, cultural awareness or whatever other human qualifications and abilities may be
found in or desired in a man called to the Office must all exist in service to the ministry of Word
and Sacraments. When human qualities become the primary qualification or even desired
characteristics of one in the Office, the church places herself in danger of losing not just the
Office, but the very Word of the Gospel itself.
Many describe our current culture as post-Christian or post-Constantinian, as one dominated by
normal nihilism or characterized by “nones.” Into such a setting, God continues to call men as
His undershepherds to care for His flock (John 21:15–17), which He purchased with His own
blood (Acts 20:28). The care His lambs need the most is that which comes through and from
God’s Word (Rom. 10:17), the only source of eternal life (John 6:68). Those called to be pastors
must be fully trained (as much as possible) in this Word of God. Pastors must know deeply the
confessions of the church and the history of that confession. Let us not listen to the itching ears
of this world, seeking pastors who are earthly leaders who employ earthly strategies to “grow”
the church. Let us trust our Lord’s own will and direction, that His church will continue in the
steadfast confession that He is Lord, which comes through His Word (Rom. 10:9–17). Let us
never tire in our meditating on that Word (Psalm 1) and thus rejoicing in God’s gracious
justification through faith in Christ alone (Rom. 3:24–25).
Pastoral training must focus on instruction in the Word, trusting that the Word of Christ is the
only means through which God’s people receive salvation, deliverance from death and the power
of the devil. God gave His Word to us in Hebrew and Greek. Those called to proclaim that Word
must be equipped to read and interpret His Word fully and with complete confidence, confessing
the Lutheran Confessions with boldness. Where this theological knowledge and ability is
lacking, the Synod must seek to better equip and train, for faith in God’s own promises in the
efficacy of His Word (Isaiah 55:10–11) thus compels us (2 Cor. 5:14–15).
The organizational and functional needs of congregations cannot be fully taught in the seminary,
but are learned in part during vicarage and in fieldwork. These skills are often learned more fully
through experience in each unique setting. Pastors in the field should be encouraged to pursue
learning in various fields to best serve their congregation. Pastors may acquire such skills and
knowledge through official continuing education through the universities of the Concordia
University System working with the seminaries, or by learning from laypeople who are experts
in leadership, budgeting and other organizational elements. Such continuing education must be
available to all pastors regardless of their route to ordination.
Growth in understanding the Word of God will continue until Christ returns, as Paul encourages
the church to “Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly” (Col. 3:16). Therefore, the LCMS
provides continuing education opportunities for her clergy, where they can gather to study God’s
Word and address today’s concerns in accord with the confession of the church based on the
Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord has described the blessed life as one marked by day
and night mediation upon His Word (Psalm 1).
Our Lord bid His disciples to pray the Lord of the harvest for workers (Matt. 9:38). He promised
that the harvest is plentiful (Matt. 9:37). And so we pray, and we trust. We pray that the Lord

All references to the Lutheran Confessions are from Paul T. McCain et al., eds, Concordia: The Lutheran
Confessions, 2nd ed. (St Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2005).
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continue to give His church faithful shepherds, and we trust that His Word will continue to
accomplish exactly what He intends and desires (Isaiah 55:10–11; John 8:31–32).

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2026 Convention Workbook

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