To Encourage the Council of Presidents to Prioritize Assignment of Seminary Candidates to Sole Vacancies over Associate Positions

Official Workbook overture source text

6-75 
To Encourage the Council of Presidents  
to Prioritize Assignment of Seminary Candidates 
to Sole Vacancies over Associate Positions 
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod (LCMS) 
currently has a shortage of pastors for open pulpits and altars; and 
WHEREAS, The difficulty of open pulpits and altars will only get 
worse due to pastors in the baby boomer segment of the population 
retiring; and 
W
HEREAS, Each year, the Synod’s seminaries are graduating 
fewer seminarians than the number of pastors needed by LCMS 
congregations; and 
WHEREAS, For proper administration of the Sacrament of the 
Altar, a local church needs to have a pastor or share a pastor; 
therefore be it 
Resolved, That the 2025 North Dakota  District convention 
encourage the Council of Presidents and s eminary placement 
offices to prioritize the assignment of ready seminary candidates to 
sole vacancies over associate vacancies. 
North Dakota District 
Ov.