Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 157
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 157.
This page reproduces text from the 2023 LCMS Handbook for study and navigation. Readers should verify procedural, legal, parliamentary, or governance questions against the official LCMS Handbook and appropriate LCMS authorities.
3.10.3.1 The Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry shall consist of the
First Vice -President of the Synod as chairman, a representative of Concordia University System, and two presidents of affirmed colleges or universities of the Synod that operate a program or programs that are affirmed by the Synod to qualify graduates for commissioned ministry appointed by the President of the Synod, and three faculty members of the same, who are involved in colloquy appointed by the president of Concordia University System.
3.10.3.2 The committee shall direct the Synod’s activity in matters of colloquies for
commissioned ministers.
(a) The committee shall maintain policies specifying, for each category of commissioned ministry , the prerequisites for colloquy application, required courses of study, and internship expectations.
(b) The committee shall also establish and monitor academic and theological standards for each of the colloquy programs. The committee shall consult the Concordia University System and its Advisory Council when establishing or reviewing the standards.
(c) The committee shall render a report on the commissioned ministry colloquy activities to each convention of the Synod.
3.10.3.3 The committee shall additionally facilitate the examination, remediation,
and qualification for first call of suitable candidates from disaffirmed or discontinued programs applying under Bylaw 2.8.4.1.
D. Pastoral Formation Committee
3.10.4 The Pastoral Formation Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that
the Synod’s objective of training pastors is fulfilled consistently (Constitution Art. III 3).
3.10.4.1 The committee shall recommend any new routes leading to ordination for
approval by resolution of the Synod. Such a recommendation shall follow consultation with the two seminary boards of regents in their annual joint meeting.
3.10.4.2 Seminaries will implement new routes to ordination only upon approval
by resolution of the Synod.
3.10.4.3 The committee shall review, assess, coordinate, support and make
suggestions for improvement of all existing noncolloquy routes leading to ordination in the Synod, including seminary and pre -seminary education programs.
3.10.4.4 The committee shall monitor and receive reports from all directors and
committees charged with oversight of all routes to ordination and shall foster coordination and collaboration among them.
3.10.4.5 The committee shall consider the long term strategic direction of pastoral
formation within the Synod and facilitate discussion of the same with the two seminary boards of regents in their annual joint meeting.
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 Nonvoting Advisory Member:
