To Nullify Restrictive Policies Imposed on Specific Ministry Pastor Program and Restore Its Original Scope

Official Workbook overture source text

6-55 
To Nullify Restrictive Policies Imposed  
on Specific Ministry Pastor Program  
and Restore Its Original Scope 
WHEREAS, The Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program was 
established by the 2007 Synod convention to address urgent needs 
for Gospel proclamation in specific ministry contexts where full -
time residential seminary formation was not feasible, emphasizing 
flexibility to serve small congregations, missions, and emerging 
needs without undue restrictions on applicants’ age, prior 
membership duration, or mandatory consultations that could deter 
participation (2007 Res. 5 -01B, “To Establish Specific Ministry 
Pastor Program”); and 
WHEREAS, The SMP program has faithfully produced called and 
ordained pastors who serve valid ministries, as affirmed in the 
Pastoral Formation Committee’s (PFC) recent premises (PFC, 
Policy Requirements for the Specific Ministry Pastor Program: 
Admission, Administration and Supervision , Nov. 2025, 
files.lcms.org/dl/f/smp-policy-requirements), and has been a 
blessing to the church by providing basic theological and pastoral 
formation under supervision, honoring the Divine Call while 
adapting to real -world economic and contextual pressures (2007 
Res. 5-01B; cf. PFC Premise 3); and 
2026 Convention Workbook
397PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES