Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 410
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 410

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

410

PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES

music, director of church ministries, and director of Christian
outreach (LSB Agenda, 210, 218); and
WHEREAS, In the last several years, approximately twice as many
pastors of the Synod have been exiting the pastoral office due to
retirement or death compared to newly called and ordained pastors;
and
WHEREAS, In April 2024, there were 51 unfilled calls of
congregations requesting a seminary candidate, 406 congregations
calling a sole pastor, 56 congregations calling a senior pastor, 67
congregations calling an associate pastor, and 529 congregations
vacant congregations not calling for various reasons; and
WHEREAS, In 2023, there were requests from schools of the
Synod to our Concordia universities for 455 new teachers, but there
were only 84 graduates, and there were requests for 79 other
commissioned workers, but only 64 graduates from Concordia
universities; and
WHEREAS, Set Apart to Serve was established by the 2019 Synod
convention with the overarching goal of developing a culture of
church work formation and recruitment in every congregation,
school, and entity of the Synod; and
WHEREAS, Set Apart to Serve is in full partnership and
collaboration in this church work initiative with our two seminaries
(including Christ Academy and Vocatio), all Concordia
universities, all 35 districts, Concordia Publishing House (CPH),
Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF), LCMS Youth Ministry,
LCMS School Ministry, Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral
Ministry, Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry, LCMS
Church Worker Wellness, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League, Higher Things, the Lutheran Educator’s Association, the
National Association of Directors of Christian Education, the Black
Clergy Caucus, the Hispanic Missionary League, Chinese
Lutherans in Mission Building, Concordia Plan Services, the LCMS
Foundation, and more; and
WHEREAS, Through comprehensive research, Set Apart to Serve
has identified pastors, Lutheran school teachers, DCEs, all other
commissioned workers, parents, and laity as the primary influential
adults who form, recruit, and encourage youth, from early
childhood through grade 12, to consider full-time church work; and
WHEREAS, Set Apart to Serve, especially through partnerships
with pilot congregations representing all 35 districts, has developed
many high-quality resources for pastors, commissioned church
workers, laity, and districts as they form, recruit, and encourage our
youth to consider full-time church work, and these resources are
available at resources.lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve; and
WHEREAS, The most essential experiences that have an impact
on and influence youth to consider church work include regular
attendance in the Divine Service to receive Christ’s Word and
Sacraments (“faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the
word of Christ,” Rom. 10:17), authentic relationships with
influential adults, opportunities for age-appropriate service in the
church, participating in like-minded communities (e.g., youth
group, LCMS Youth Gathering, Higher Things, Christ Academy at
Concordia Theological Seminary, Vocatio at Concordia Seminary,
LCMS camps), and engaging in conversations about godly
vocations and church work vocations; and
WHEREAS, Set Apart to Serve, in partnership with CPH and with
support from LCEF and the Concordia universities, has made
available, at no cost to schools and congregations of the Synod, a
church work formation and recruitment curriculum for early
childhood through adult; therefore be it
2026 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That the Mid-South District establish a Set Apart to
Serve church work recruitment committee (e.g. working group, task
force) to lead and assist congregations, schools, and church workers
in their efforts of church work formation and recruitment; and be it
further
Resolved, That all congregations be encouraged to establish a Set
Apart to Serve committee (e.g. working group, task force) to form,
recruit, and encourage their youth (from early childhood to grade
12) and adults to consider a full-time church work vocation; and be
it further
Resolved, That all pastors, Lutheran teachers, commissioned
church workers, and laity intentionally form, recruit, and encourage
youth to consider a full-time church work vocation; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations, schools, and entities of the Synod
make use of the many tested, high-quality Set Apart to Serve
resources available at lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve and the CPH Set
Apart to Serve curriculum available at cph.org/set-apart-to-serveschool-resource-kit; and be it further
Resolved, That district and congregation leaders and committees
enhance their financial support of individuals who are enrolled in
church work programs at our Concordia universities and
seminaries; and be it finally
Resolved, That district and congregation leaders intentionally
address the compensation and overall wellness, love, and
appreciation of all ordained and commissioned church workers in
district congregations, schools, and entities.
Mid-South District
Ov. 6-77

To Encourage Recruitment
of Commissioned Workers
WHEREAS, Jesus tells us, “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 Synod has established the Set Apart to Serve
initiative which “encourages youth and adults to consider church
work vocations primarily through their continued, faithful
involvement
within
their
congregation”
(files.lcms.org/api/file/preview/sas-faqs-general); and
WHEREAS, Lutheran education has been a substantial part of the
Synod since its foundation; and
WHEREAS, It is increasingly difficult to find qualified Lutheran
teachers and commissioned ministers to serve in our Lutheran
schools and churches; therefore be it
Resolved, That the pastors, commissioned workers, and
congregations of the Texas District identify and encourage children,
students, and adults to enter these much-needed vocations; and be
it further
Resolved, That the pastors, commissioned workers, and
congregations of the Texas District support commissioned workers
through prayer, scholarships, other financial gifts, and mentorship
to attend one of the universities of the Synod to be trained as a
commissioned minister; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Texas District memorializes the Synod in
convention to encourage congregations to do the same.
Texas District