Official Workbook report source text
Official Workbook source-navigation report record. No analysis has been added.
- Report number/id
- R2.1
- Report title
- R2.1 Colloquy Committee for Pastoral Ministry
- Workbook start page
- 38
- Workbook end page
- 40
- Source pages
- 38, 39, 40
- Source status
- source_checked
- Committee
- Not available
R2.1 Colloquy Committee for Pastoral Ministry Pastoral colloquy is the process by which a man who has served as a pastor in another church body or trained for the pastoral min- istry in a non-LCMS seminary while being a member of another church body can be declared qualified for a first call in the Synod. By means of colloquy, the Synod vets and provides pastors for the LCMS—over and above those men trained by our two semi- naries—thus indirectly supporting the third objective of the LCMS to “recruit and train pastors … and provide opportunity for their continuing growth” (Constitution Article III 3). Colloquy is also one way that the Synod “work[s] in support of and on behalf of congregations to assist them in carrying out their ministries” (By- law 1.1.1). Lastly, colloquy supports the first, second, and fourth of the seven mission priorities that the 2023 Synod convention adopt- ed for this triennium (Resolution 4-03), namely, to “plant, sustain, and revitalize Lutheran churches,” to “support and expand theo- logical education,” and to “collaborate with the Synod’s mem- bers and partners to enhance mission effectiveness.” The Colloquy Committee for Pastoral Ministry (CCPM) admin- isters the colloquy process by establishing policy, receiving and reviewing applications, conducting in-person interviews, and deciding on each applicant based on the application and interview. Bylaw 3.10.2 governs the process. Applicants can be certified imme- diately, declined certification, or assigned one or more of the fol- lowing: supplemental seminary coursework, mentored readings, a traditional vicarage, or a shorter, less-formal internship. A. Committee Composition and Turnover The composition of the CCPM is stipulated in Bylaw 3.10.2.1, which states that, in addition to the LCMS First Vice-President, the committee “shall consist of … a district president appointed by the Council of Presidents, and the presidents of the seminaries or their representatives.” This triennium saw significant turnover on the committee, with three of its four members replaced. Concordia Seminary President Dr. Tom Egger replaced Dr. Glenn Nielsen in September 2023, Concordia Theological Seminary President Dr. Jon Bruss replaced Dr. Detlev Schulz in June 2024, and Southern Illinois District (SID) President Rev. Heath Curtis replaced outgoing SID President Tim- othy Scharr in December 2025. This is the first time since 2005 that both LCMS seminary presidents have regularly participated on the committee. 2026 Convention Workbook 39 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS by the CCPM. It also clarified that translation assistance may be used, where needed, for the application, interview, and seminary entry-level competency exam. C.3. Additional Policy Discussions Also, during this triennium, the CCPM discussed the “academ - ic, theological, and personal standards” for colloquy that the com- mittee is charged with establishing (Bylaw 3.10.2.2). 1 As it contin- ues this discussion, the CCPM desires to act in concert with our two seminaries—especially in regard to personal standards—since the seminaries, along with the CCPM, are the three LCMS certifying authorities for the pastoral ministry. The CCPM has been especially mindful of this in its discussions of divorce and applicants with non-LCMS wives. In addition to standards, the CCPM is also considering placing a time limit for completion of assignments given by the committee. Finally, though it wouldn’t be a policy, the CCPM is considering a flowchart that would aid district presidents in determining whether a potential applicant clearly fits one of the two colloquy categories. These and other potential policy discussions continue. C.4. Policies Versus Bylaws Through the policy discussions mentioned above, the CCPM has become aware of numerous long-standing colloquy require - ments that were removed from the bylaws to policy by the 2010 Synod convention. The committee has been discussing a conven- tion overture to reinsert some of these policies into the bylaws for the sake of greater policy stability since policies can be changed by the CCPM, acting alone, at any meeting, whereas bylaw changes require a convention vote. As of January 2026, the CCPM is hoping to finalize an overture for the 2026 Synod convention, though it is not certain that goal will be met. D. Bylaw 3.10.2.4—A Clarification Various CCPM members have heard numerous times during this triennium that Bylaw 3.10.2.4, which precludes the possibility of colloquy for LCMS men who have graduated from a non-LCMS seminary, was new in 2023. Actually, this bylaw was adopted by the 2016 Synod convention and only clarified in 2023 to reflect better the original intention. E. Bylaw 2.5.2 Concerns The CCPM has increasingly been concerned by the number of colloquy applicants who are already regularly preaching and some- times even serving in full Word and Sacrament ministry, as the de facto pastor of an LCMS congregation, before even coming to the attention of the CCPM. Bylaw 2.5.2 stipulates that congregations “shall call and be served only by ordained ministers who have been admitted to their respective ministries in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth in these Bylaws. …” The CCPM understands that there is a wide range of meanings for a congregation to “be served” and that there may be extenu - ating circumstances, such as a church plant in a language other than English. Yet the CCPM believes that this issue is outside of the committee’s authority and that a larger group, such as the full Council of Presidents (COP), should be aware of these situations. A particular challenge in such situations is that they put additional pressure on the CCPM to approve such applicants since such men are already serving in a congregation and have developed strong ties with their congregation. # District # District 6 Florida-Georgia 0 Atlantic 5 Ohio 0 California-Nevada- Hawaii 5 Pacific Southwest 0 Central Illinois 4 Southeastern 0 Iowa East 3 Minnesota South 0 Kansas 3 Rocky Mountain 0 Montana 2 English 0 Nebraska 2 Michigan 0 New England 2 Missouri 0 New Jersey 2 South Wisconsin 0 North Dakota 2 Texas 0 North Wisconsin 1 Eastern 0 Northwest 1 Indiana 0 Oklahoma 1 Iowa West 0 SELC 1 Mid-South 0 South Dakota 1 Minnesota North 0 Southern Illinois 1 Northern Illinois 0 Wyoming 1 Southern Table 3: District from which general colloquy applications came (February 2023–January 2026) C. Work Performed C.1. Meeting Schedule During this triennium, the CCPM reduced its meeting schedule from five to four in-person meetings per year, occasionally sup- plemented by a video conference to consider new applications or discuss policy, but not to conduct regular interviews. Most in-per - son meetings were two days with an occasional one-day meeting when there were fewer applicants awaiting an interview. This meet- ing schedule is currently sufficient for keeping up with the num- ber of applications received. In 2025, the CCPM also began using BoardEffect for its meeting dockets. C.2. Policy Revision In June 2024, after four and a half years of work, the CCPM adopted a significantly revised policy manual which: • reduced the length from 26 to 14 pages; • sharpened the definitions of the two (long-standing) collo - quy categories; • added a requirement for applicants to submit two sermons; • added a requirement for applicants to take the entry-level competency exam for theology from either of our two Synod seminaries; • reduced the number of required essays from two to one; and • added language to allow for a follow-up video interview, in some cases, after assigned work was completed. In addition, the CCPM clarified that all applications should be submitted in English using the one application that is maintained 2026 Convention Workbook 40 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS pastors possible for the congregations of the Synod. The active par- ticipation of both seminary presidents on the CCPM, the revised policy, application, and procedures, together with all the CCPM work described above, are together serving to proclaim the good news that Christ Is Risen Indeed! Peter K. Lange, First Vice-President Endnotes 1. This bylaw mandate was established in 1956. In 1995, the phrase “and personal” was added. Also in 1995, the bylaws began specifying four standards with the language, “including but not limited to…” In 2010, these four specific standards were transferred from the bylaws to policy, and two more standards were added. 2. 1992 Bylaw 6.97 (a) required one full academic year of residential training at an LCMS seminary, plus a vicarage, for colloquy candidates from other Lutheran church bodies; and Bylaw 6.97 (b) required “not less than two and up to three full academic years of instruction” at an LCMS seminary, plus a vicarage, for colloquy candidates from non-Lutheran Christian church bodies.