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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 494

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

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

494

Resolved, That the Synod take up this “dialog” by a renewed
study of the Holy Scriptures’ teaching concerning the church and
its ministries, focusing on God’s will for those who serve and teach
His people, and on the proper terms to describe this, reexamining
the changes in terminology that the Synod has made over time; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Synod recognize that using biblical
terminology to refer to pastors, ministers, teachers, and other
workers in the church is in harmony with the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Synod, and may be used in the Constitutions and
Bylaws of the Synod’s districts and congregations instead of the
terminology that is used by the government; and be it further
Resolved, That, in an effort to remove confusion over the use of
the term pastor or minister, the Synod encourage congregations to
issue Divine Calls to “retired” pastors, who are willing and able to
perform Word and Sacrament ministry in the absence of (or in an
assisting capacity to) full-time pastors, in order to reinforce the
biblical teaching that those who are “apt to teach” are actually
authorized to do so by means of a call or appointment to a
congregation or mission, not only by certification by the Synod as
someone qualified to do so; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention hereby overturn CCM
Op. 25-3053 and 25-3053A and any others, insofar as they have
expressed a preference for the terminology of the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Synod over the historical and biblical use of the term
pastor and avoidance of calling other church workers ministers; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod go back to using biblical terminology
wherever possible in its Constitution and Bylaws, choosing more
biblically accurate ways to refer to church workers, keeping in mind
how we may explain our terminology and practices to a government
that does not share our biblical faith or use biblical terminology. For
example, if we wish to retain two categories, they could be: pastors
and other approved/appointed/authorized church workers; pastors
could be divided into the categories of pastors/overseers/doctors
and pastors with limitations (including current specific ministry
pastors, candidates without call, retired pastors, and chaplains
authorized for Word and Sacrament ministry outside of
congregations); approved/appointed/authorized church workers
could include parochial school teachers who meet the requirements
to teach the Bible and Lutheran theology (current “called” teachers),
directors of Christian education, deaconesses, cantors, and other
church musicians who would be authorized to pick the texts of
music sung in Divine Services.
Zion, Taylor Ridge, IL;
Board of Directors, Central Illinois District
Ov. 9-49

To Clarify Multipoint and Multicampus Parish
WHEREAS, The creating or planting of new multi-point parishes,
campus locations, or outreach locations across circuit lines, or
without clear communication among area or affected congregations
and ministries, causes unneeded tension; and
WHEREAS, There are currently no clear guidelines about how to
deal with cross-circuit or district lines of these locations; and
WHEREAS, There are no current Synod or district tools to deal
with these growing issues; therefore be it

2026 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That the Nebraska District in convention request that
the Synod study the interactions between multi-campus, multiparish, and regular congregations in order to offer guidance on how
such congregations may best work together in planting,
consolidating, and establishing satellite campuses with respect to
circuit boundaries; and be it further
Resolved, That in the meantime, the district encourages multicampus and multi-point congregations to communicate and
collaborate with brother pastors and congregational leaders of
congregations or ministries that may be affected by expansion in
their area; and be it finally
Resolved, That a congregation planning new multi-point campus
locations, outreach locations, or a new parish, communicate with
the district’s Missions and Revitalization Office and the local
circuit.
Nebraska District
Ov. 9-50

To Adopt Dual Title of Bishop and President
for District Presidents
WHEREAS, The English District, Atlantic District, and
Southeastern District of the Synod have adopted the dual title of
bishop and president utilizing president in administrative and board
settings and bishop in congregational and pastoral contexts; and
WHEREAS, The Greek term episcopos, often translated as bishop
appears in scriptural passages such as 1 Timothy 3; 6 and Titus 1,
describing one who watches over and provides care for the flock of
Christ; and
WHEREAS, The role of a bishop has traditionally been understood
as the pastor to pastors, serving as spiritual caregiving and shepherd
to those entrusted with the care of Christ’s people; and
WHEREAS, The historical use of the term bishop dates back to the
Council of Nicaea and has been regularly applied to men serving as
leaders within the Christian church; and
WHEREAS, The designation of bishop emphasizes the spiritual
and pastoral nature of the office in contrast to the corporate title
president, which aligns with legal and administrative functions; and
WHEREAS, The term bishop carries significant weight and is
recognized as a respected spiritual office by many in our church
communities and broader Christian world, facilitating a contextual
understanding that is both spiritually grounded and relational; and
WHEREAS, The title bishop is associated with a pastoral, caring
approach distinguishing from more administrative connotations
associated with the term president; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod strongly encourage districts to adopt
and implement the title bishop for the district president when
serving in spiritual and pastoral capacities among congregations,
while retaining president for administrative and corporate purposes;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod strongly encourage districts to adopt
and implement the title bishop and president emeritus for former
district presidents.
Board of Directors
Eastern District