Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 60
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 60.
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.
for commissioned ministry (Bylaw 2.6.1.1) for which the college or university is specifically and currently affirmed by Concordia University System.
2.8.4.1 A graduate of such a program that was affirmed by Concordia University
System at the time of matriculation but no longer affirmed or no longer in existence at the time of qualification for a first call may apply to the Colloquy Committee for Commis sioned Ministry for examination, any necessary remediation, and certification. The institution offering such a program shall share records with the Colloquy Committee as necessary to assess the candidate’s preparation and fitness for commissioned ministry.
2.9 Assignment of First Calls
2.9.1 The Council of Presidents, acting as the Board of Assignments, shall
regularly assign to qualified graduates of Synod seminaries and Synod - affirmed programs of Synod colleges and universities, and to workers available from colloquy programs as “first calls” those calls that have been duly extended to fill active member positions as identified in Bylaw 2.11.1 for ordained and commissioned ministers if positions for which candidates are qualified are available.
(a) The placement officers of the respective institutions shall be consulted before assignments are made.
(b) The president of the district in which a candidate is to be placed shall be consulted, and his concurrence shall be an essential part of the final recommendation to the Board of Assignments.
2.10 Ordination, Commissioning, and Initial Installation
2.10.1 Candidates for the office of ordained minister and candidates for the office
of commissioned minister shall be ordained or commissioned and initially installed according to this bylaw.
Prerequisites
2.10.2 Candidates for the offices of ordained or commissioned minister shall have
(a) been declared to be qualified as provided in Bylaw sections 2.7 and
2.8;
(b) received and accepted a call through an assignment by the Board of Assignments pursuant to Bylaw section 2.9;
(c) submitted a request for ordination or commissioning to the respective district president, who shall grant the request and schedule the ordination or commissioning when he is satisfied that all requirements for such have been fulfilled; and
(d) evidenced an intent to accept membership in the Synod promptly after the assignment of first calls and prior to ordination or commissioning by signing and filing with the president of the district in which membership will be initially held a statement to b e supplied by the district president which acknowledges subscription to the Constitution of the Synod and which, upon installation and following ordination or commissioning, shall be deemed equivalent to the member having signed the Synod’s Constitution.
