To Celebrate and Encourage Variety of Routes to Pastoral Formation in the Synod

Official Workbook overture source text

6-39 
To Celebrate and Encourage Variety of Routes  
to Pastoral Formation in the Synod 
WHEREAS, Jesus’ words still ring true such that there remains an 
urgent need for sending workers into the harvest fields where, “the 
harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2; Matt. 
9:37); and 
WHEREAS, Among the main objectives listed in the Constitution 
is the preparation of such workers: “Recruit and train pastors, 
teachers, and other professional church workers and provide 
opportunity for their continual growth” (Const. Art. III 3); and 
WHEREAS, Another main objective in the Constitution is to 
“encourage congregations to strive for uniformity in church 
practice, but also to develop an appreciation of a variety of 
responsible practices and customs which are in harmony with our 
common profession of faith” (Const. Art. III 7); and 
WHEREAS, The Pastoral Formation Committee, working with the 
two seminaries of our Synod, Concordia Seminary (CSL) and 
Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW), makes provision for 
both that uniformity and the appreciation of variety in 
recommending new routes leadi ng to ordination (Bylaw 3.10.4.1); 
and 
WHEREAS, New routes to ordination may only be implemented 
after “approval by resolution of the Synod” (Bylaw 3.10.4.2); and 
WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has implemented a variety 
of routes of pastoral formation leading to ordination, which include 
the residential pathways of Master of Divinity and alternate route 
seminary education, and the non- residential pathways of the 
Specific Ministry Pastor program, Cross-Cultural Ministry Center, 
the Center for Hispanic Studies, and the Ethnic Immigrant Institute 
of Theology; and 
WHEREAS, This is in keeping with the history of our Synod which 
in the nineteenth century already instituted variety in its routes for 
training pastors, offering a more practical seminary in Springfield, 
Ill., and a more theological seminary in St. Louis, Mo., while 
2026 Convention Workbook
388 PAST ORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES