LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 79

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
supervising specific ministry student-vicars, specific ministry student-pastors, or specific
ministry pastors.

supervision at the district and congregational level. In other words, the current requirement
for “SMP supervision” is a very “blanket, one-size-fits-all” requirement without a clear and
consistent set of definitions behind it, thus leading to a wide spectrum of inconsistent
practices across districts.

Concerning practical realities that influence the success of ongoing Period C SMP supervision in
particular, district presidents and circuit visitors stated:
•
•
•

A key factor in Period C SMP supervision is the availability and willingness of experienced
pastors to serve as supervisors.
Congregations and pastors with a history of doctrinal fidelity and the ability to supervise
less experienced pastors must be identified and utilized.
Geographic challenges, such as those that arise when pastors (either those supervising or
those being supervised) serve dual or multiple parishes, make consistent SMP supervision
substantially more difficult.

Sharing perspectives on the need for Period C SMP supervision, district presidents and circuit
visitors stated:
•
•

•

•

There is general agreement that some form of ongoing support and accountability is
beneficial for specific ministry pastors.
Some suggest that over the term of Period C, SMP supervision might evolve from active,
regular supervision to more of a coaching or mentorship relationship, especially for SMP
pastors who have already served for several years in their ministry.
Some firmly stated that the need for ongoing supervision, coaching, or mentorship isn't
unique to SMP pastors but in fact applies to all pastors in the Synod, regardless of pastoral
formation and route to ordination.
All acknowledge that LCMS Bylaws stipulate that specific ministry pastors are to be
supervised for the entirety of their pastoral ministry after graduation and certification.
However, some question the practicality and/or utility of such Period C SMP supervision.

Concerning the variability and/or lack of a universal, across-the-Synod systemic process for Period
C SMP supervision, district presidents and circuit visitors stated:
•

•

•

The organizational structure put in place by a district for SMP oversight, supervision, and
ongoing training (per LCMS Bylaws) plays a crucial role in Period C SMP supervision. Some
noted that the quality of supervision is largely dependent on how well a district’s personnel
and other resources are arranged and managed.
Several district presidents indicated that the quality and consistency of SMP supervision
varies significantly from district to district, which is symptomatic of a lack of a unified or
consistently implemented system across the Synod.
While SMP supervision (presumably including Period C SMP supervision) is mentioned in
the COP Handbook (14.2.7, “Specific Ministry Pastor-Supervisor Position Description,” 709),
this guidance document does not provide specific details regarding the desired
characteristics and implementation of that supervisor-to-supervised relationship. Lack of
clear definitions and full consensus at a broader level (i.e., within the Council of Presidents)
is likely contributing to the variability in characteristics and implementation of SMP

79

PROPOSED
SPECIFIC MINISTRY PASTOR SUPERVISION PLAN
PERIOD C
Background Note Concerning the Work of the Pastoral Formation Committee
At the 2016 Synod convention, delegates adopted Resolution 6-01 “To Create a Pastoral Formation
Committee,” resolving, in part, that the newly formed Pastoral Formation Committee (PFC) “shall
review, assess, coordinate, support, and make suggestions for improvement of all existing
noncolloquy routes leading to ordination in the Synod, including seminary and pre-seminary
programs” (cf. Bylaw 3.10.4). The work and responsibility of the formerly constituted SMP
committee, organizationally located under the former Board for Pastoral Education, is now (that is,
is naturally understood to be) located under and overseen by (cf. Bylaw 1.2.1(p)) the PFC.
With the adoption of 2019 Resolution 6-03A (Proceedings, 159), delegates directed the COP, in
coordination with the PFC, to “draft guidelines and training to enhance the mentoring and
supervision of specific ministry pastors” [emphasis added].
With the adoption of 2023 Resolution 6-03A (Proceedings, 133), delegates directed the PFC “to
develop and present a comprehensive, uniform, synodwide Specific Ministry Supervision Plan”
[emphasis added].
Between the 2019 and 2023 conventions, Pacific Southwest District president Rev. Dr. Michael
Gibson submitted (April 2021) a “Specific Ministry Pastor Supervision Plan” to the Council of
Presidents (COP). This plan was reviewed but never formally adopted by the COP. Using
components of Gibson’s 2021 Supervision Plan with appreciation and thankfulness, the PFC
proposes the following comprehensive plan that especially focuses on Period C supervision of SMP
pastors.

A COMPREHENSIVE, UNIFORM, SYNODWIDE SPECIFIC MINISTRY SUPERVISION PLAN
2026
Preface
The SMP program was adopted “as a sincere and thoughtful attempt to address real-world needs
with an urgency for bringing the Gospel to a dying world and to do so with theological integrity with
respect to both the doctrine of the ministry and our commitment to high standards of pastoral

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education and formation.” 6 While specific ministry pastors often bring maturity and relational skills
immediately into the ministry due to their years of life experience, they do not receive a course of
pastoral formation that includes the same theological depth, ecclesiastical breadth and
formational rigor as that of a residential Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree or a Residential Alternate
Route (RAR) certificate. 2007 Resolution 5-01B recognized that an SMP pastor’s theological
education “is formed within the context of their specific ministry and does not represent the
breadth and depth of theology and ecclesiology.” 7

district president and the SMP-supervising pastor, the reception of such supervision by the
specific ministry pastor, and the SMP Annual Supervision Plan (Appendix B).
On an individual, one-on-one basis, meet annually with all district SMP-supervising pastors
to review annual SMP Annual Supervision Plans.
Immediately address any issues that arise concerning the specific ministry pastor, the
SMP-supervising pastor and/or the congregation/context of the specific ministry pastor.
Award the specific ministry pastor one continuing education credit (1 CEU) for every 10
hours he meets in person with his SMP-supervising pastor. A yearly maximum of 4 CEUs
may be awarded against the SMP Annual Supervision Plan per year.
Provide a written district SMP supervision report in the triennial district and Synod
convention workbooks.

3.
4.
5.

Bylaw 1.2.1(u) defines supervision as such: “For the purpose of these Bylaws (other than those
pertaining to ecclesiastical supervision) to have authority over, to direct actions, to control
activities.” Period C supervision of an SMP pastor has elements of mentorship, such as providing
guidance, offering support and encouragement, and developing a brotherly relationship.
Regardless of pastors’ routes to ordination, these types of mentorship activities are naturally
characteristic of any healthy, long-term pastor-to-pastor relationship in the LCMS.

The Responsibility of the SMP-Supervising Pastor

However, as intended in Bylaw 1.2.1(u), proper Period C SMP supervision, always exercised in
Christian brotherly love, includes the responsibility to instruct, set assignments and expectations,
and provide informed, constructive feedback, especially with respect to doctrine and practice. To
emphasize this solemn responsibility, Period C SMP supervision plan documents should by design
omit the words “mentor” (mentoring, mentorship, etc.) and make consistent use of the word
“supervise” (supervisor, supervising, supervision, etc.).

The SMP-supervising pastor plays a significant role in the continuing education, growth, and
refinement of pastoral skills of a specific ministry pastor over the course of his ministerial
service in Period C. Desired attributes of an SMP-supervising pastor include biblical and
confessional fidelity in doctrine and practice, personal and pastoral maturity, humility, integrity,
virtue, ability in one-on-one instruction, and peaceful harmony in life together in the Synod, as
described in the Constitution and Bylaws of the LCMS (Bylaw 1.3).

The Responsibility of the District President

The SMP-supervising pastor may be the pastor who served as the SMP student-vicar’s or SMP
student-pastor’s supervisor in Periods A or B; however, the SMP-supervising pastor in Period C
must be a member of the same or neighboring circuit as the specific ministry pastor he supervises.
The specific ministry pastor may propose a particular SMP-supervising pastor for himself, but the
final decision and assignment of the SMP-supervising pastor in Period C shall always be authorized
by the district president.

In his role as ecclesiastical supervisor, the district president supervises “the doctrine, the life, and
the official administration on the part of the ordained and commissioned ministers who are
members through his district” (LCMS Bylaw 4.4.5).
However, as set forth in LCMS Bylaw 2.13.1, the specific ministry pastor serves not only under the
direct supervision of the district president (LCMS Bylaw 4.4.5), but also under the supervision of
another pastor who is not a specific ministry pastor.
The district president is accountable to the Synod in our life together (Bylaw 4.4) for the oversight
and implementation of the SMP program in his district. Therefore, upon a specific ministry pastor’s
completion of formal SMP studies and entry into Period C, the district president shall:
1. Identify and authorize a local SMP-supervising pastor to serve the specific ministry pastor.
The supervising pastor must be an LCMS-ordained, rostered general ministry pastor who is
in good standing in the LCMS. He may be an active pastor, retired pastor, or emeritus. The
supervising pastor shall not be a specific ministry pastor (LCMS Bylaw 2.13.1).
2. Meet in person with the specific ministry pastor and his SMP-supervising pastor within 30
days of the specific ministry pastor’s completion of formal SMP studies and entry into
Period C. The meeting shall include a review of the supervisory responsibilities of the

6
7

2007 Convention Proceedings, Resolution 5-01B, p. 133.
2007 Convention Proceedings, Resolution 5-01B, p. 135.
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6.

The SMP-supervising pastor shall meet face to face with the specific ministry pastor for a minimum
of 40 hours annually. These 40 hours shall be devoted to the continuing education of the specific
ministry pastor, especially focusing on areas where the SMP-supervising pastor and SMP pastor
see opportunities for beneficial additional learning and improvement. The SMP-supervising pastor
and the specific ministry pastor will identify study topics and readings in advance of their face-toface meetings. Time spent together shall include a balance of the following:
1. Studying biblical texts (to include a Christocentric hermeneutic, Law and Gospel
distinctions and word studies that are applied to the specific ministry pastor’s preaching,
teaching, pastoral care, etc.);
2. Reading and discussing a section of the Lutheran Confessions (Book of Concord) and
applying it to preaching, Bible classes, pastoral care, etc.;
3. Discussing theological books (reading no fewer than three LCMS doctrinally reviewed
theological books annually, for review during meeting times);
4. Reviewing four sermons written and preached by the specific ministry pastor over the
course of the year (discussing preparation, Christocentricity, Law/Gospel distinctions,
continuity, pastoral approach, strengths, areas to improve, delivery, etc.);
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2026 Convention Workbook