Official Workbook report source text
Official Workbook source-navigation report record. No analysis has been added.
- Report number/id
- R2.2
- Report title
- R2.2 Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry (CCCM)
- Workbook start page
- 40
- Workbook end page
- 43
- Source pages
- 40, 41, 42, 43
- Source status
- source_checked
- Committee
- Not available
R2.2 Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry (CCCM) Colloquy programs for commissioned ministry are not just about theological education! They are that, but they are much more. These programs exist also for the purpose of vetting applicants to ensure that they are fit to serve as ministers of religion—commis - sioned in the congregations, schools, and agencies of the Synod (Bylaws 3.10.3 [a–b]). Commissioned colloquy programs are for men and women who are not graduates of Synod-affirmed pro- grams for the various commissioned ministries that are available through our Concordia University System (CUS) universities yet who still desire, or are required by their congregations or schools, to be called and rostered as commissioned ministers in the LCMS (Bylaw 2.8.1 [a]). Though the vast majority of those who colloquize as commis- sioned ministers do so as teachers (92 percent during the last tri- ennium), there are nevertheless seven distinct colloquy programs for commissioned ministry: teacher, director of Christian educa - tion (DCE), director of Christian outreach (DCO), director of family life ministry (DFLM), director of parish music (DPM), deaconess, and director of church ministries (Bylaw 2.6.1.1). 1 Each CUS university offers some of these colloquy programs, though no CUS university offers all of them. For additional information about commissioned colloquy programs and how to apply, see lcms.org/ colloquy-ministers-of-religion-commissioned. “Colloquy” for “schoolteachers” has been a part of the Synod’s bylaws since its second constitution (1854). Still today, the Synod’s commissioned colloquy programs address the third objective of the LCMS—to “recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other profes- sional church workers and provide opportunity for their continu - ing growth” (Constitution Article III 3) as well as the second and sixth of the Synod’s seven mission priorities for this triennium to “support and expand theological education” and to “enhance ear - ly childhood education, elementary and secondary education, and youth ministry.” For this reason, the CCPM intends to be more proactive in dis- cussing this issue with a wider circle so that it better understands if and how Bylaw 2.5.2 should factor into colloquy decisions. F. Licensed Lay Deacons (LLDs) With 2016 Resolution 13-02A, the Synod ended the ongoing li- censing of lay deacons for Word and Sacrament ministry. The only exception to that is for a small group of LLDs who were already trained and licensed when the resolution was adopted. For these deacons only an annual exception to continue to serve in Word and Sacrament ministry may be requested of and granted by the CCPM and the COP. Every fall, both the CCPM and the COP vote on these annual exceptions. In 2019, the number of those exceptions was 51. With retirements, etc., that number decreases each year. During the three years of this triennium, the number of exceptions granted was eight in 2023, six in 2024, and five in 2025, with the average age of the five being 74. G. Challenges Two of the greatest challenges for the CCPM are (1) having to discern an applicant’s readiness to serve in the LCMS based only on the written application packet and one 90-minute interview and (2) the limitation (at least perceived) on the seminary coursework that can be assigned by the committee for what it considers to be necessary remedial work. Because of this second challenge, espe- cially, the CCPM often feels it is left with no choice other than to deny colloquy since it has insufficient tools at its disposal. There are two primary reasons for this second challenge. First, over the last 30 years, a culture or expectation has developed that it is only reasonable for the committee to assign a few courses (per - haps one to three, with four being the rare absolute maximum). Second, because residential seminary coursework is no longer the norm for colloquy (as it was from 1959–95), the committee is largely limited to the smaller selection of online SMP courses, perhaps with an occasional residential intensive. Related to this is the complicating factor that colloquy candidates have historically not received seminary financial aid for colloquy coursework, partly because such coursework is not eligible for federal financial aid since colloquy is neither a degree nor a certificate program. As it grappled with these challenges during this triennium, the committee undertook a study of the history of pastoral colloquy in the LCMS since the mid-20th century, and especially the significant change that was made in 1995, prior to which one to three year(s) of residential seminary coursework was required of all colloquy candidates. 2 One opportunity that the committee has begun discussing is the possibility of offering seminary financial aid as one element of an increased partnership between pastoral colloquy and our two Synod seminaries. H. Strengths and Threats The committee has been increasingly mindful of how the use of artificial intelligence can impact essays and sermons for colloquy applications. One safeguard to this is the required in-person inter - view where what an applicant writes can be probed to ascertain better whether the applicant “thinks like a Lutheran.” The strengths of the colloquy process are many. Numerous ap- plicants have thanked the CCPM and LCMS for our great care in vetting colloquy applicants with a view toward maintaining the high standards of the LCMS ministerium and providing the best 2026 Convention Workbook 41 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS liefs. These areas of study have been specified in the LCMS Bylaws or the CCCM policy manual since 1960. In addition to these six core courses, each of the seven colloquy programs also requires other coursework that is necessary for that particular type of com- missioned ministry. CUEnet is authorized to offer the six core courses online to col- loquy students in any of the seven colloquy programs. As far as the remaining “program-specific” courses, CUEnet offers those only for teacher colloquy. 2 Colloquy students in the other six commis- sioned colloquy programs must take their program-specific course- work through one of the CUS colleges or universities. CCCM Composition The general composition of the CCCM is stipulated in Bylaw 3.10.3.1. Specific members are listed in the Convention Workbook’s Directory—Officers, Boards, and Commissions of the Synod. This triennium, Concordia University, Nebraska, President Dr. Bernard Bull replaced Dr. John Nunes, who resigned in early 2021, and Concordia University, Irvine, Professor Dr. Cari Chittick was add- ed as a third CUS university faculty member because of a 2023 change to Bylaw 3.10.3.1. Work Performed The CCCM met 13 times since the writing of its last convention report—10 times via internet conference, and the three most recent in person. Going forward, the committee plans to meet in person at least half of the time. In 2025, the CCCM began using BoardEffect for its meeting dockets. Most of our meeting time has consisted of discussion and de- cisions on policy revisions, though requests for policy exceptions (or clarifications) have also consumed a fair amount of time. These requests for exceptions and clarifications have resulted in continu - ing conversation on recent policy changes with an eye toward a relatively minor update in the next triennium. Policy Update After almost five years of work, the CCCM adopted a signifi- cantly revised policy manual on Sept. 30, 2024. Significant features of this revision include • replacing the former pre-requisite for teacher colloquy: “past or present state certification, or an advanced degree in the field of education from a regionally accredited institution” with the following new language: “past completion of an education program from an accredited institution OR three years of experience in the field of education;” • removing, for the six non-teacher colloquy programs, the prerequisite that one had to be “trained to do the work of [that specific type of ministry, e.g., DCE] through an accred- ited institution that offers an equivalent degree” and replac - ing it with the prerequisite of “three years of experience in the field of [that specific type of ministry]” as one way of giving “evidence of being a competent worker in the field of [that specific type of ministry],” per Bylaw 3.10.3 (b); • clarifying the length of LCMS membership required for col- loquy, namely one year prior to application and two years prior to final interview and certification; • requiring applicants and colloquy directors to forward appli- cations to LCMS district offices at the beginning of colloquy coursework; Statistics During the three years prior to this report, 295 colloquy applica- tions were forwarded to the Office of First Vice-President (OFVP) by the Concordia University Education Network (CUEnet) and the CUS colloquy directors. Two hundred seventy-two of these were for teacher colloquy. Teacher colloquy applications increased 67 percent during the third year of the triennium compared with the second year, with a similar percentage increase in comparison with the first year of the triennium. As far as the human component of this great blessing, this can likely be attributed to Set Apart to Serve efforts, the policy and application overhaul, and great work on the part of CUEnet and the CUS colloquy directors. Table 1: Commissioned Colloquy Applications Received February 2023–January 2026 Colloquy Partners Though the CCCM “directs” the Synod’s activity in matters of colloquy (Bylaw 3.10.3.2), it cannot carry out the Synod’s commis- sioned colloquy programs by itself. Rather, the Synod’s colleges and universities, assisted by the CUS, are key partners in adminis - tering commissioned colloquy programs on behalf of the Synod as part of their bylaw responsibility for the “preparation of commis - sioned ministers for service in the Synod” (Bylaw 3.6.6). In doing so, the Synod’s colleges and universities, as well as the CCCM, rely on the valuable assistance of CUEnet. CUEnet was founded in 1996 as a service organization of the CUS. In 2001, CUEnet began offering the Concordia Online Teach- er Colloquy Program. The relationship between CUEnet, the col- leges and universities of the Synod, the CCCM, and commissioned colloquy is explained further at lcms.org/colloquy-ministers-of- religion-commissioned#cuenet. As of this writing, the full cost before scholarships for teacher colloquy through CUEnet is $8,014, which includes the following: • $7,792 – tuition for eight courses ($974 per course) • $172 – Concordia Electronic Theological Library • $50 – endorsement processing It is important to note, however, that tuition assistance is avail - able through a generous grant that CUEnet has received for the last several years—a gift that CUEnet anticipates will continue. Cur - rently, the tuition grant for students is just over 40 percent of tuition costs. In addition, most students also receive financial assistance from their congregation, school, and district. A more detailed report from and about CUEnet can be found in the CUS report (Report R14). Program of Study Common to all seven commissioned colloquy programs are six core courses—Old Testament, New Testament, History of Theolo- gy, Lutheran Confessions, Christian Doctrine, and Varieties of Be- 2026 Convention Workbook 42 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS “lowering the bar” too much, especially with regard to collo- quy admission requirements; • Understanding what the phrase “currently serving in minis- try roles” means (Bylaw 3.10.3), as well as the term “minis- try” in the phrase “complete dedication to the ministry” (By- law 2.8.1 [b]) (This question is important for understanding whether Lutheran school administrators, other than princi - pals, should be eligible for teacher colloquy; the same ques- tion applies to counselors at Lutheran schools.); • Interpreting and applying the new policy that “three years of experience in the field of [teacher, DCE, etc.] ministry” is one way of fulfilling the bylaw requirement of giving “evi - dence of being a competent worker in the field of [teacher, DCE, etc.] ministry” (Bylaw 3.10.3 [b] and CCCM Policies X.1.1.5.2) (For example, is three years of helping out with a congregation’s youth ministry for several hours per month “three years of experience in DCE ministry”?); • The fact that several important colloquy prerequisites and requirements, that were formerly in the Synod Bylaws, were reassigned to the policy manual by the 2010 Synod conven- tion; • The amount of time that sometimes elapses between sub- mission of application and the OFVP’s ability to publish the applicant’s name in the Reporter; and • The temporary inability to offer director of family life min- istry (DFLM) colloquy due to recent changes at CUWAA. 4 Future Priorities CCPM priorities for the coming triennium include the following: • Continuing to clarify questions that have arisen from the re- cent policy revision, especially the “three years in the field of [one of the seven types of commissioned] ministry,” as explained above; • Continuing to improve the application and application pro- cess; • Seeking to define or understand better the word “ministry” as it is used in Bylaws 3.10.3 and 2.8.1 (b); • Developing “academic and theological standards for each of the colloquy programs” as directed in Bylaw 3.10.3.2 (b), yet in concert with the commissioned ministry program standards that are currently being developed by the CUS per Bylaw 3.6.6.4 (c); • Working with the CUS university faculty examining com- mittees for colloquy to strive for greater consistency in those assessments; and • Considering a convention overture for the 2029 Synod con- vention to move some things back from policy to bylaw that were removed from the bylaws in 2010. Conclusion The committee is honored to serve the Synod in this important work. We are thankful for the improvements that have been made, the tremendous increase in colloquy applications that we have seen, and the great working relationships with others throughout the commissioned colloquy system. And we pray that, through the min- istry of the commissioned ministers who are rostered through the colloquy process, the people of God in the congregations, schools, • adding a (recent) background check as an admission require- ment; and • adding a policy section to “facilitate the examination, reme- diation, and qualification for first call of suitable candidates from disaffirmed or discontinued programs applying under Bylaw 2.8.4.1,” per Bylaw 3.10.3.3. This new bylaw and policy directive were required by 2023 Resolution 7-04B as a result of the situations with Concordia University Texas and the CUS colleges and universities that have closed in recent years. 3 Application Update In addition to revising the policy manual, the CCCM also sig- nificantly revised the application and application process. Most significant was consolidating to a single colloquy application de- signed to be used by all CUS schools and CUEnet for any of the seven commissioned colloquy programs. Previously, CUEnet and at least several CUS universities had their own applications, and there were no applications that were specifically designed for use with non-teacher colloquy programs. Second, the new application is now a fillable PDF. Other Work In addition to the major policy and application revision, the CCCM, primarily through its chairman, the LCMS First Vice-Pres- ident and his office, also accomplished the following: • Revamped the commissioned colloquy website; • Conducted annual Zoom meetings with the Conference for [LCMS District] Education Executives (CONFEDEX); • Conducted annual Zoom meetings with the CUS colloquy directors; and • Collaborated with the LCMS Office of Pastoral Education and Standing Partnership on a Set Apart to Serve initiative for second career teachers. See the Oct. 15, 2025, webi- nar, available at lcms.org/colloquy-ministers-of-religion- commissioned, at which a colloquy mapping PowerPoint was unveiled and discussed. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities The major strengths of the CCCM are • a very capable and dedicated committee; • an excellent working relationship with CUEnet and the CUS colloquy directors; and • a very capable and efficient executive administrative assis- tant in the OFVP. Possible weaknesses are • limits on meeting time due to the other primary duties of committee members; and • limits on work that can be undertaken due to the other duties of the LCMS First Vice-President, who chairs the CCCM. A definite opportunity exists to educate, vet, and roster many more teachers and other commissioned workers through colloquy. Challenges Challenges that the CCCM has identified include the following: • Carrying out its work without unduly undermining the com- missioned minister programs at our CUS schools or without 2026 Convention Workbook 43 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS region, together with the President and/or the First Vice-President, as travel schedules allow. At these conventions, the President and/ or vice-presidents preach at the primary worship service, report on the state of the Synod, observe convention sessions, visit with at- tendees, and install the district president. During this triennium, President Harrison attended all or part of 25 district conventions, and various vice-presidents attended a total of 33 district conventions. Of the 35 district conventions, 22 of them took place during June 2025. District Visitations Another duty of the vice-presidents is to assist the President with district visitations as part of the President’s responsibility of ecclesiastical supervision (Bylaw 1.2.1 [j] and 2013 Res. 7-01A). In recent years, these visitations have mostly been with district boards of directors, though in the past, they have also focused on district pastors’ conferences, circuit visitors’ conferences, etc. During this triennium, over the course of all district visitations, the vice-pres - idents were present 38 times (cumulatively). In some cases, two vice-presidents participated in the same visitation. In other cases, one vice-president alone conducted the visitation, representing the President. Board Appointments Appointed membership to the boards of various agencies of the Synod is another way in which vice-presidents may serve. One vice-president is designated by the President of the Synod for each seminary board of regents (Bylaw 3.10.5.2 [2]). This triennium, • Vice-President Lange served as a regent for Concordia Sem- inary, St. Louis (Bylaw 3.10.5.2 [2]); • Vice-President Murray served as a regent for Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne; he also chairs the board; • Vice-President Ball was appointed by the Praesidium to serve as a regent for Concordia University, Nebraska (Bylaw 3.10.6.2 [5]); • Vice-President Esget concluded his service as a regent for Concordia College —New York; • Vice-President Wohlrabe continued his service as president of the Concordia Historical Institute Board of Governors and editor-in-chief of Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly; and • Vice-President Murray served as a member of the board of directors of the International Lutheran Society of Witten - berg. Appointments Besides these regular and ongoing types of service, there are numerous occasional ways in which vice-presidents represent or assist the President at his request. During this triennium, various vice-presidents • served on floor committees for the 2026 Synod convention (in some cases serving as chair or vice-chair); • installed several district presidents; • preached at numerous services and taught or presented in numerous venues; • attended the inaugurations of one Synod seminary president and one Synod university president; and agencies of our Synod may be given joyful hope for the future because Christ Is Risen Indeed! Peter K. Lange, First Vice-President Endnotes 1. There is no longer a parish assistant colloquy program, though parish assistants who were previously rostered retain that roster status. See later in this report for an explanation of director of family life ministry colloquy. 2. For teacher colloquy, there are two program specific courses, namely Lutheran Teacher I & II. 3. Fifteen individuals have inquired of the OFVP re. this (CCCM Policy 4.4) process—all graduates of CTX. Ten of the 15 are currently in the pro- cess, with seven certified to date: three teachers, two DCEs, and two DPMs. 4. As of this report date, the CUS, with the approval of the CCCM, has cleared the way for master’ s level DFLM programs at two of our CUS uni- versities, which would, once again, make DFLM colloquy a possibility.