To Address Pastoral Formation and Routes to Ministry

Official Workbook overture source text

6-33 
To Address Pastoral Formation  
and Routes to Ministry 
WHEREAS, Jesus instructs us that the “harvest is plentiful, but the 
workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out 
workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:2 NIV); and 
WHEREAS, The means and methodologies of teaching and 
learning have greatly changed in recent decades; and 
WHEREAS, Technology has greatly changed the delivery methods 
of education and the shaping of higher education in the same period; 
and 
W
HEREAS, Younger students are more comfortable with blended 
forms of education, using more non-traditional methods, including 
video conferencing, computer interaction, and other distance 
learning, rather than exclusively brick and mortar forms of 
instruction; and 
W
HEREAS, There are some students, potential candidates for the 
pastoral office, who need greater flexibility in acquiring the best 
possible theological education and formation; and 
W
HEREAS, The Pastoral Formation Committee (PFC) has already 
examined many of the existing pieces for creating a distance 
education program leading to ordination; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage the Council 
of Presidents , the Office of the President, and the PFC, in 
conjunction with the two s eminaries of our Synod, to examine 
current best practices in educational methodologies and outcomes  
and to produce a plan , to be presented to the 2029 Synod 
convention, for blended distance education methods leading to 
ordination; and be it further 
Resolved, That prior to implementation of distance education, 
each district of the Synod have the opportunity to discuss and 
comment on the program or programs. 
Board of Directors 
Nebraska District 
Ov.