LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 80

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

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5. Discussing pastoral care and leadership (visitation, applying God’s Word to parishioners’
life situations, weddings, funerals, parish catechesis, crisis situations, church
council/voters assembly meetings, elders and other boards, etc.); and
6. Discussing operational and cultural matters within the congregation (finance/budget,
volunteerism, constitution and bylaws, traditions, etc.).
All Synod pastors, regardless of route to ordination, are encouraged and expected to participate in
continuing education on a regular, annual basis. Nevertheless, continuing education experiences
outside the 40-plus hours of learning that occur between the SMP-supervising pastor and the
specific ministry pastor shall be in addition to the fulfillment of the SMP Annual Supervision Plan.
The SMP-supervising pastor shall also

2. Discontinue the use of “mentor” in SMP supervision materials and instead use the word
“supervisor/supervision” throughout Periods A, B, and C.
3. Collect from all entities (identified in items 4–6) suggested edits, additions, etc., concerning
the proposed SMP Annual Supervision Plan described above, to be received by the Pastoral
Formation Committee by December 1, 2026.
4. Update the COP Manual and all accompanying documents to reflect the use of the SMP
Annual Supervision Plan.
5. Update the CSL and CTSFW SMP manuals, webpage, resources, etc., to reflect use of the
SMP Annual Supervision Plan and the edited COP Manual.
6. Update all district resources, information, website, etc., to reflect use of the SMP Annual
Supervision Plan, edited COP Manual, and edited seminary resources.

1. Participate in the annual SMP-supervising pastors’ meeting with the district president to
report on fulfillment of the SMP Annual Supervision Plans.
2. Contact the district president if any issues arise concerning the specific ministry pastor
and/or the congregation/context of the specific ministry pastor.
3. Contact the district president in the event he can no longer fulfill his SMP-supervising
pastor responsibilities.
The Responsibility of the Specific Ministry Pastor
Regarding supervision, the responsibilities of the specific ministry pastor are to:
1. Meet with the district president upon completion of his formal SMP education and entry
into Period C and any time thereafter as requested by the district president;
2. Meet in person for a minimum of 40 hours per year with the SMP-supervising pastor in
fulfillment of the SMP Annual Supervision Plan;
3. Complete the readings and work assigned by the SMP-supervising pastor in preparation for
all in-person meetings;
4. Participate faithfully in circuit pastors’ meetings (Winkels) and district pastors’
conferences;
5. Submit a completed SMP Annual Supervision Plan to the district president at the
conclusion of each year detailing interactions between the SMP-supervising pastor and the
specific ministry pastor; and
6. Self-report the completion of the SMP Annual Supervision Plan on the continuing education
page of the Self-Information Tool (SET). Additionally, self-report 1 CEU for every 10 hours
that the specific ministry pastor 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.

NEXT STEPS
1. Adopt edits on the “Partnership Covenant for Participation in the Specific Ministry Pastor
Program” (Appendix B).
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APPENDIX A

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SMP-supervising pastor training and information concerning his role as SMP-supervising
pastor.
SMP-Supervising Pastor Position Description
Prior to SMP Graduation and Certification (Periods A and B)

The SMP-supervising pastor shall be responsible to the seminary for tutoring, advising, encouraging, and
overseeing the work of a student in the SMP program.
1. The SMP-supervising pastor shall serve as the supervisor to the student both for his studies
in the SMP coursework and for the conduct of his ministry as an SMP vicar/pastor.
2. The SMP-supervising pastor shall provide periodic reports to the seminary.
Qualifications

1. Personal:
a. The SMP-supervising pastor shall possess pastoral and academic aptitude to tutor the student
and model biblical and confessional pastoral practice.

b. The SMP-supervising pastor shall demonstrate an interest and willingness in leading the
student to grow in confessional Lutheran pastoral theology and practice.

c. The SMP-supervising pastor shall be a rostered "Minister of Religion—Ordained" of the

LCMS, with an LCMS Master of Divinity degree.
d. The SMP-supervising pastor shall have at least five years of LCMS pastoral experience in good
standing.
e. The SMP-supervising pastor shall uphold the doctrinal position of The Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod as confessed in the Scriptures and all the symbolical books
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (Book of Concord-quia subscription) (LCMS
Constitution Art. II).
f. The SMP-supervising pastor shall have the permission and support of his congregation to
serve in this capacity.
g. The SMP-supervising pastor shall agree to be trained for this role.

2. Time Commitments:
a. The SMP-supervising pastor shall expect and be willing to spend significant time in personal
conversation with the SMP vicar/pastor, tutoring him, discussing lessons learned, providing
pastoral guidance and observing SMP vicar/pastor’s vicarage and ministry.

b. The SMP-supervising pastor shall expect that a minimum of three to five hours per week
will be spent on supervising activities, to include not only in-person meetings (for a
minimum of 40 hours per year) but also personal preparation and virtual interaction.

c. The SMP-supervising pastor shall attend the in-person Seminary Orientation Seminar with his
student.

d. The SMP-supervising pastor is encouraged to join the student during on-campus intensives
at which the opportunity will be provided to spend time with the faculty and with fellow
SMP-supervising pastors.

3. Training:

The SMP-supervising pastor shall be required to complete an on-campus supervisor training course
conducted by the seminary, for which appropriate CEUs may be available.

4. Facilities and Equipment:
a. The SMP-supervising pastor shall furnish or arrange for the provision of all facilities and
equipment necessary to for meetings between himself and the student.
b. The seminary shall be responsible for updating the SMP-supervising pastor concerning
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2026 Convention Workbook

Selection
1. The president of the district from which the student is enrolled shall identify a local LCMS pastor to
serve as pastor-supervisor.
2. If the pastor is actively serving a congregation, the congregation shall provide a written and signed
statement of its support for this work to the district and the seminary.
3. The seminary shall review the assigned SMP-supervising pastor based upon the district
president's selection.
4. Should an SMP-supervising pastor behavior, theological position or lack of engagement
jeopardize the formation of the student, the district president in consultation with the seminary
shall assign a replacement.
5. When an SMP-supervising pastor accepts a call outside the circuit, the district president shall
identify a new SMP-supervising pastor in consultation with the seminary within 60 days.
Responsibilities
It shall be the responsibility of the SMP-supervising pastor to:
1. Guide the student in faith and life through frequent, intentional in-person instruction,
encouragement, support, and prayer.
2. Instruct and counsel the SMP vicar/pastor regarding pastoral practice.
3. Be familiar with the course materials and resources.
4. Offer in-person tutoring to the SMP vicar/pastor in situations where he is struggling as he pursues his
formal studies.
5. Accompany the SMP vicar/pastor as he participates in all circuit and district conferences, district
conventions, and events and discuss positive lessons from each.
6. Provide thoughtful feedback, as needed or requested, to the seminary and district including, but not
limited to:
a. Reports on vicarage progress as required and
b. Recommendation of the SMP vicar for certification or non-certification.
7. Offer support and encouragement to the SMP vicar/pastor to continue the program, remain
diligent about his studies, and subsequently consider pursuing General Pastor Certification or a
Master of Divinity degree or Residential Alternate Route certificate.
8. Provide counsel and support concerning the SMP vicar/pastor’s general state of physical and
emotional wellness, including the wellbeing of his marriage and family, if applicable.
9. Observe the SMP vicar/pastor in a variety of ministry situations, including preaching, leading
worship, Bible studies, hospital calls, outreach activities, etc., as described in the vicarage manual, and
provide pastoral instructional feedback to the SMP vicar/pastor.
10. If it becomes evident that the SMP vicar/pastor should not continue in the program, provide
honest counsel and support in coaching him out of the program.
Accountability
1. The SMP-supervising pastor shall be accountable to the SMP vicar/pastor as instructor, guide,
advisor and tutor.
2. The SMP-supervising pastor shall be accountable to the district president and to the seminary
regarding his role as the SMP vicar/pastor’s supervisor.
Compensation
1. The seminary will pay the SMP-supervising pastor an honorarium of $_____ for one SMP vicar/pastor,
per course.
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