To Encourage Transparency and Clarity in Pastoral Colloquy Process

Official Workbook overture source text

6-12 
To Encourage Transparency and Clarity  
in Pastoral Colloquy Process 
WHEREAS, The Augsburg Confession (AC) teaches “so that we 
may obtain [the  faith that God counts for righteousness] , the 
ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments 
was instituted” ( AC V 1 ), and also “ that no one should publicly 
teach in the Church, or administer the Sacraments, without a rightly 
ordered call” (AC XIV); and 
WHEREAS, Bylaws provide that the Colloquy Committee for the 
Pastoral Ministry (CCPM), in consultation with the President of the 
Synod, shall develop all necessary policies to govern eligibility and 
the process to be followed to determine qualifications and 
suitability for pastoral service in the Synod, and that decisions to 
certify applicants shall be at the sole discretion of the committee 
(Bylaw 3.10.2.2 [a–b]); and 
WHEREAS, Bylaws further specif y eligibility and routes, 
including that applicants recommended by a district president and 
eligible for colloquy under the CCPM’s published policies may 
make application to the committee, while “the LCMS laymen and 
commissioned ministers who complete a program of study leading 
to ordination or its equivalent at a non-LCMS seminary are not 
eligible for colloquy on that basis,” and that men not meeting those 
eligibility requirements shall be directed to the seminaries for 
consideration in other programs  (Bylaws 2.5.2; 3.10.2.3– 3.10.2.5;
 
and 
WHEREAS, Congregations shall call and be served only by those 
who have been admitted to ministry according to the Bylaws of the 
Synod (Bylaw sections 2.6–2.8, 2.10; Bylaw 3.10.2.3) , candidates 
qualified for first call, or ministers from church bodies in fellowship 
when agreements are in place; and 
WHEREAS, The Synod continues to monitor pastoral formation 
and routes to ordination through the Pastoral Formation Committee, 
which reviews, coordinates, and reports on non-colloquy routes and 
considers long term strategy for pastoral formation; and 
W
HEREAS, Transparency and clarity in published policies, 
criteria, interview standards, and benchmarks foster trust, 
strengthen mission partnership, and help congregations walk in 
good order; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the CCPM, in 
consultation with the President of the Synod and its seminaries, to 
publish and maintain on the Synod’s website a concise, plain 
language summary of pastoral colloquy eligibility categories, 
required documentation, interview standards, and theological 
benchmarks, with cross references to Bylaws 3.10.2.2–3.10.2.5 
together with a simple process flow and typical timeline; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That the Synod in c onvention request the Council of 
Presidents to provide an annual summary to the congregations and 
rostered workers of the  Synod regarding pastoral colloquy 
procedures, application volume, certification numbers, and any 
policy updates, by means of regular Synod communications and 
pre-convention publications; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod in c onvention encourage district 
presidents, congregations, and rostered workers to support men 
pursuing colloquy by offering mentorship, theological guidance, 
and appropriate congregational endorsement in harmony with the 
Handbook provisions cited above; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the Synod in c onvention give thanks to God for 
the men He is raising up to preach Christ crucified and risen, and 
pray for renewed zeal to identify, encourage, and form such men for 
service in Christ’s Church. 
Christ Greenfield, Gilbert, AZ; Circuit 16 (Faribault),  
Minnesota South District; Circuit 28, Pacific Southwest District 
Ov.