To Participate in Building Culture of Church Work Formation and Recruitment

Official Workbook overture source text

6-76 
To Participate in Building Culture  
of Church Work Formation and Recruitment 
WHEREAS, Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers 
are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send 
out laborers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37–38); and 
W
HEREAS, Since 1847, the Synod has adopted resolutions in 
nearly every convention to form and recruit pastors, teachers, and 
other commissioned church workers to preach, teach, and share the 
Gospel of Jesus for eternal salvation in these full -time vocations; 
and 
WHEREAS, These convention resolutions urged that church work 
formation and recruitment intentionally take place in every 
congregation and school of the Synod, by pastors, teachers, 
commissioned church workers, and laity; and 
WHEREAS, These convention resolutions urged districts and 
congregations to have an active committee focused on forming and 
recruiting our youth and adults to consider full -time church work; 
and 
WHEREAS, The pastoral office is the one divinely mandated 
office by our Lord (John 20:19–23; Rom. 10:14–15; Eph. 4:11–16), 
and the seven commissioned church work vocations of the Synod 
have been established in love to support the Office of the Holy 
Ministry, namely, Lutheran teacher, director of Christian education 
(DCE), director of family life ministry, deaconess, director of parish 
2026 Convention Workbook
409PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES