Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 3. p. 331. Revised published proposal.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 6-06A
Canonical number: 6-06
Committee: Pastoral Ministry and Seminaries
Source: Today's Business, Issue 3
Printed pages: p. 331
PDF pages: 23
Version: revised, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 3, p. 331
Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 3, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.
Page 331
- To Affirm and Support Established Parameters of Specific Ministry Pastor Program
- RESOLUTION 6-06A
- Report R13.5 (CW, 75–76); Overtures 6-46–63 (CW, 392–403)
- WHEREAS, The Synod established the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program to address pastoral needs in
- specific contexts where calling a residentially-formed pastor is not feasible; and
- WHEREAS, Specific ministry pastors provide essential service in ministries that would not otherwise receive
- pastors, keeping congregations from closing and enabling many of them to flourish under their leadership; and
- WHEREAS, Specific ministry pastors make significant sacrifices, often serving bi -vocational ministries while
- working other jobs to support their families; and
- WHEREAS, The SMP program was intentionally designed as a limited and contextual pathway, distinct from
- the Master of Divinity program; and
- WHEREAS, The Synod has consistently affirmed that alternative pastoral formation programs exist to serve
- exceptional circumstances and are not intended to replace residential seminary education; and
- WHEREAS, The Policy Requirements for the Specific Ministry Pastor Program (Report R13.5 [CW, 75– 76])
- have been unanimously approved by the boards of regents (BOR) of both seminaries and establish policies born of
- two decades of SMP experience and churchwide discussion, including provision for warranted exceptions; and
- WHEREAS, The presidents and BOR of both seminaries, in consultation with the Council of Presidents (COP),
- provide ongoing oversight of pastoral formation pathways to ensure faithfulness to Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions,
- and Synod policies; therefore be it
- Resolved, That district presidents and congregations adhere faithfully to the approved SMP policies, so that they
- should be given opportunity to demonstrate their effectiveness and impact, emphasize the benefits of residential
- seminary formation, and prioritize residential seminary formation whenever possible; and be it further
- Resolved, That the presidents and BOR of both seminaries, in consultation with the COP, be encouraged to continue
- regular oversight and evaluation of the SMP program to ensure it remains consistent with its original purpose and stated
- intent; and be it further
- Resolved, That these contextual limits do not diminish the dignity of the one Office of the Holy Ministry into which
- specific ministry pastors are ordained; and be it finally
- Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for faithful specific ministry pastors who serve under call for the sake
- of Christ’s Church.
Published Proposed Amendments
This amendment is printed as a proposal and is not incorporated into the current resolution text unless official convention action confirms adoption. The printed amendment may reference an earlier version of the resolution.
Published Proposed Amendment to Resolution 6-06A
Issue 3, p. 357, Issue 3, p. 357, lines 10-20, status: Proposed
Submitted by David Oberdieck, Pastoral Delegate, Missouri District
To Affirm and Support Established Parameters of Specific Ministry Pastor Program AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION 6-06A Resolution 6-06A (TB,3:331) To insert, at TB 3:331, after line 27 (the second resolved), the following two resolved statements: Resolved, That the Synod encourage the seminaries to significantly reduce the cost of the SMP program ; and be it further Resolved, That the seminaries report to the Synod at its next convention what they have determined to do to reduce the cost and why they have made their decision, and provide all relevant financial details behind this decision; and be it further David Oberdieck Pastoral Delegate, Missouri District
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