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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 403

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES
and district level be lifted upon completion of the entire four-year
SMP course of study; and be it further
Resolved, That we give thanks for the faithful and dedicated
ministry of all pastors of the Synod.
Florida-Georgia District
Ov. 6-63

To Implore Council of Presidents
to Fulfill 2019 Resolution 6-03A
re Supervision of Specific Ministry Pastors
WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 2.13.1 states that every specific
ministry pastor “shall serve under the supervision of his district
president and another pastor who is not a specific ministry pastor”;
and
WHEREAS, The term “supervision” is left largely undefined apart
from the general definition that supervision is “to have authority
over, to direct actions, to control activities” (Bylaw 1.2.1 [u]) and is
therefore open to a variety of interpretations; and
WHEREAS, There is a great variety of specific ministry pastors
serving in a wide variety of contexts and with a great variety of
education, years of service, and gifts; and
WHEREAS, This situation has created a number of questions
regarding the amount and level of supervision that shall be
employed as per Synod Bylaws; and
WHEREAS, The 2019 Synod convention adopted Resolution 603A, “To Enhance the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Program,”
which includes the resolve, “That the Council of Presidents in
coordination with the Pastoral Formation Committee draft
guidelines and training to enhance the mentoring and supervision of
specific ministry pastors, taking into account the wide variety of
abilities of pastors and the contexts in which they serve, to assist
district presidents, circuit visitors, and supervising pastors in
supporting the SMP pastors under their care” (2019 Proceedings,
159); and
WHEREAS, These guidelines and training either have not been
completed or have not been widely promulgated throughout the
Synod; and
WHEREAS, The number of specific ministry pastors continues to
increase, thereby creating a growing and continuing need for such
guidance and training; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention implore the Council of
Presidents (COP) to complete this important assignment with the
due and swift attention that is needed; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank the COP for their
service and efforts.
SELC District

403

WHEREAS, The BPE, in addition to acting as a resource for advice
and coordination, had significant and substantive governance
authority over the seminaries, including the right to approve
seminary master plans; to approve new programs; to establish
guidelines for distribution of Synod grants; to grant prior approval
of faculty; to approve capital projects; to recommend consolidation,
relocation, or divestiture of a seminary; to oversee pastoral
colloquy; to set policies that were binding upon each seminary’s
board of regents; and to appoint members of the seminary boards of
regents for vacancies in Synod-elected positions; and
WHEREAS, Two convention cycles after abolishing the BPE, the
Synod in convention created the Pastoral Formation Committee
(PFC) by adopting 2016 Resolution 6-01, which was based on the
recommendation of the 2013 Res. 5-14A task force “that there be
an entity ensuring that the seminaries do coordinate and collaborate
with respect to” the various routes to ordination in the Synod; and
WHEREAS, The PFC’s responsibilities do not include any of the
substantive governance responsibilities listed above as previously
held by the BPE; and
WHEREAS, The PFC consists of only three voting members, none
of whom is elected by the Synod in convention: namely, the two
seminary presidents and the Chief Mission Officer of the Synod,
together with the executive director of the Office of Pastoral
Education, who is a non-voting advisory member. Consequently,
only two individuals, both serving in similar contexts, can direct the
course of the PFC’s actions; and
WHEREAS, To the extent the PFC is “responsible for ensuring
that the Synod’s objective of training pastors is fulfilled
consistently” (Bylaw 3.10.4) and is directed to “review … seminary
and pre-seminary education programs” (Bylaw 3.10.4.3) and to
“monitor and receive reports from all directors and committees
charged with oversight of all routes to ordination” (Bylaw 3.10.4.4),
its structure creates a circular process, the two seminary presidents
effectively reviewing and monitoring their own performance and
that of their institutions—a function that belongs to the respective
boards of regents (under Bylaws 3.10.5.1 and 3.10.5.6.1) and, for
broader policy matters, to the Synod in convention; and
WHEREAS, Because the PFC lacks the substantive governing
authority, broad membership, and direct accountability to
convention of the former BPE, and because the PFC creates a
redundant level of monitoring and review of seminary-related
activities by a committee controlled by the seminary presidents
(“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged” [1 Cor.
11:31 KJV]), it is an unnecessary addition to the seminary
governance structure. As such, we should give thanks for the work
done to date and sunset the PFC; therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.4.3.8 be removed as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Chief Mission Officer

Ov. 6-64

To Give Thanks for the Work of,
and To Amend Bylaws to Conclude,
the Pastoral Formation Committee
WHEREAS, Prior to the restructuring implemented by the 2010
Synod convention, there existed a 14-member Board for Pastoral
Education (BPE), all of whose voting members were elected by the
Synod in convention (see 2007 Bylaw 3.8.2f.); and

3.4.3
The Chief Mission Officer shall be responsible to the
President of the Synod for the mission, ministry, and any
programmatic and coordinative functions which are implemented
according to the policies adopted by the Board for National Mission
and the Board for International Mission.
…
3.4.3.8
The Chief Mission Officer shall, on behalf of the President,
provide leadership, coordination, and oversight for pre-seminary
education programs, seminary education, and post-seminary
continuing education, and by providing advocacy for pastoral

2026 Convention Workbook