To Amend Bylaw 3.10.4.6 to Expand Pastoral Formation Committee for Broader Representation

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6-65 
To Amend Bylaw 3.10.4.6 to Expand Pastoral 
Formation Committee for Broader Representation 
WHEREAS, The Synod’s objective s include training pastors for 
Word and Sacrament ministry (Const. Art. III 3); and 
WHEREAS, The Pastoral Formation Committee (PFC) is charged 
with ensuring that objective is fulfilled consistently (Bylaw 3.10.4), 
recommending new routes to ordination (Bylaw 3.10.4.1) , and 
coordinating existing routes (Bylaw 3.10.4.3–4); and 
WHEREAS, The current voting membership of the PFC consists 
of the Chief Mission Officer of the Synod, who serves as chairman, 
and the presidents of the two seminaries; the executive director of 
the Office of Pastoral Education serv es as a nonvoting advisory 
member; and 
WHEREAS, Pastoral formation involves and impacts 
congregations, districts, and the whole Synod, and would benefit 
from the wisdom and perspective of district presidents and parish 
pastors outside of the seminaries and national staff; and 
WHEREAS, Adding representation from the Council of Presidents 
(COP) and convention‑elected pastors will strengthen transparency, 
foster collaboration across the Synod, and reflect our shared 
commitment to faithful, mission‑minded pastoral formation; 
therefore be it 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.10.4.6 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
D. Pastoral Formation Committee 
… 
3.10.4.6 The Pastoral Formation Committee shall  comprise the 
following members: 
Voting Members: 
1. The Chief Mission Officer of the Synod, chairman 
2. The presidents of the seminaries 
3. Two district presidents elected by the Council of Presidents to 
serve for the ensuing triennium 
4. Two ministers of religion — ordained, nominated by the 
Committee for Convention Nominations and elected by the 
Synod in convention for the ensuing triennium 
Nonvoting Advisory Member: 
The Executive Director of the Office of Pastoral Education 
Terms and Vacancies: 
The two district presidents shall be elected by the Council of 
Presidents at its first regular meeting following each Synod 
convention and shall serve until the close of the next regular 
Synod convention or until their successors are elected. Should a 
district president so serving cease to hold the office of district 
president, the Council of Presidents shall elect a replacement for 
the remainder of the term. The two convention‑elected pastors 
shall serve from the close of the convention at which they were 
elected until the close of the next regular Synod convention. 
Vacancies in these convention‑elected positions occurring 
between conventions shall be filled by appointment of the 
President of the Synod, in consultation with the Council of 
Presidents, until the next regular Synod convention. 
and be it further 
2026 Convention Workbook
404 PAST ORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES