Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 405
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 405

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

PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Synod and the Commission
on Handbook make any and all conforming edits elsewhere in the
Handbook (including nominations and elections processes) to
implement these changes and maintain internal consistency; and be
it further
Resolved, That the first election of the two convention‑elected
pastors take place at this convention for terms beginning at the close
of this convention; and be it finally
Resolved, That the COP elect the two district presidents to serve
for the ensuing triennium at its first regular meeting following this
convention.
Christ Greenfield, Gilbert, AZ; Circuit 16 (Faribault),
Minnesota South District; Circuit 28, Pacific Southwest District
Ov. 6-66

To Amend Bylaw 3.10.4.6 to Revise
Composition of Pastoral Formation Committee
WHEREAS, Our Lord says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the
laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest
to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2); and
WHEREAS, The objectives of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod include that it shall (Const. Art. III):
• recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional
church workers and provide opportunity for their continuing
growth (III 3);
• Aid congregations by providing a variety of resources and
opportunities for recognizing, promoting, expressing,
conserving, and defending their confessional unity in the true
faith (III 6); and
• Encourage congregations to strive for uniformity in church
practice, but also to develop an appreciation of a variety of
responsible practices and customs which are in harmony
with our common profession of faith (III 7);
and
WHEREAS, These godly objectives exist for the purpose of
serving congregations in their bold witness of the Gospel through
their Word and Sacrament ministry; and
WHEREAS, The Pastoral Formation Committee (PFC) has been
established to help carry out these objectives; and
WHEREAS, 2013 Resolution 5-03E, “To Provide Procedure for
Establishing Policies Governing Specific Ministry Pastor
Program,” established “that the Chief Mission Officer and one
representative from each seminary shall, in consultation with the
Council of Presidents, provide leadership, coordination, and
oversight for the Specific Ministry Pastor program” and “that each
seminary shall select its own representative” (Proceedings, 138–
39); and
WHEREAS, The current PFC reflects this same composition with
the addition of the executive director of the Office of Pastoral
Education as a non-voting member of the committee (Bylaw
3.10.4.6); and
WHEREAS, Such composition consists of individuals very gifted
and able, yet not directly accountable to the congregations and laity
of the church; and

405

WHEREAS, The district presidents and laypeople do have such
accountability and are on the ground floor of congregational needs
regarding pastors and pastoral formation; and
WHEREAS, The need for sound doctrine and practice is the same
for all of the congregations in the Synod, the application of the same
can be affected by region and individual location; therefore be it
Resolved, That the PFC includes a broader representation of
those served by the committee, including those who have a more
direct accountability to the congregations of the Synod and are
living out the very needs that the PFC seeks to meet; and be it
further
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.10.4.6 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
D. Pastoral Formation Committee
3.10.4.6
The Pastoral Formation Committee shall comprise the
following members:
Voting Members:
1. The Chief Mission Officer of the Synod, chairman
2. The presidents of the seminaries or their representatives
3. One (1) district president from each geographical region of the
Synod, to be selected by the district presidents within that region
4. One (1) lay member of a member congregation of the Synod
from each geographical region of the Synod, to be selected by the
district presidents within that region, and from a district distinct
from the district president representative on the committee
Nonvoting Advisory Member:
The Executive Director of the Office of Pastoral Education

Trinity, Lexington Park, MD; Board of Directors, Texas District;
Circuit 8 (Washington, South), Southeastern District
Ov. 6-67

To Amend Bylaw 3.10.4.6 to Expand
Pastoral Formation Committee
WHEREAS, The 2016 Synod convention created the Pastoral
Formation Committee (PFC) (Res. 6-01), in order to facilitate
greater coordination and collaboration between the two seminaries;
and
WHEREAS, The PFC consists of the presidents of the two
seminaries, the Chief Mission Officer (CMO) as its chair, and the
Executive Director of the Office of Pastoral Education as nonvoting advisory member; and
WHEREAS, In recent years changes to pastoral colloquy
requirements and Specific Ministry Pastor admissions, and tensions
over competing online seminaries have raised further questions
about not only coordination and collaboration between the two
seminaries, but with the Synod as a whole, including its districts,
congregations, workers, and other agencies; and
WHEREAS, The districts, congregations, workers, and other
agencies of the Synod have a vested interest in the formation of
pastors and their voices should be heard; therefore be it
Resolved, That Synod in convention expands the PFC from its
current three voting members to five; and be it further
Resolved, That the five-member PFC include the presidents of
the two seminaries, the CMO as its chair, a district president
appointed by the Council of Presidents, a faculty representative
responsible for overseeing a pre-seminary program and appointed
by the Institutional Advisory Council of the Concordia University
2026 Convention Workbook