Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 4. pp. 378-380. Revised published proposal.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 6-12B
Canonical number: 6-12
Committee: Pastoral Ministry and Seminaries
Source: Today's Business, Issue 4
Printed pages: pp. 378-380
PDF pages: 10-12
Version: revised, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 4, pp. 378-380
Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 4, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.
Page 378
- To Amend Bylaws to Reinsert 2007 Pastoral Colloquy Bylaws from Policy Manual
- RESOLUTION 6-12B
- Overtures 6-11–13 (CW, 367–70)
- WHEREAS, The 2010 Synod convention removed numerous pastoral colloquy bylaws and added Bylaw 3.10.2.2 (a)
- (Res. 8 -08A, “To Realign National Synod Ministries around Two Mission Boards”), which directs the Colloquy
- Committee for the Pastoral Ministry (CCPM) to develop, instead, policies that are now in the Policy Manual for
- Admission to the Pastoral Ministry of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod by Colloquy (CCPM Policy Manual,
- files.lcms.org/dl/f/pastoral-colloquy-policy-manual); and
- WHEREAS, For 61 years prior to the 2010 Synod convention (i.e., from 1949–2010), the Synod Bylaws for pastoral
- colloquy, as contained in the Handbook, reflected the more fulsome details of policy and procedure that existed in the
- Bylaws; and
- WHEREAS, In response to the 2010 Synod convention action, the CCPM placed the removed bylaws into its policy
- manual; and
- WHEREAS, These former bylaws (now policies) have changed a little bit in the 16 years since then, though a large
- percentage of the material remains unchanged; and
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- 7/2
- the four-member CCPM; and
- WHEREAS, There are many important requirements for pastoral colloquy that have been in place for many years and
- it would be wise to involve a larger representative body in a more deliberate process with regard to changes; and
- WHEREAS, The well-known Handbook is a more accessible place to house these important requirements for pastoral
- colloquy rather than the lesser-known CCPM Policy Manual; and
- WHEREAS, This overture does not seek or intend to introduce to the Bylaws any substantial changes to the
- requirements for pastoral colloquy as contained in the CCPM Policy Manual ; therefore be it
- Resolved, That Bylaw 3.10.2.2 be amended as follows:
- PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
- B. Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry
- …
- 3.10.2.2 The Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry shall establish and monitor academic, theological, and
- personal standards for admission to the office of the pastoral ministry by colloquy after consultation with
- the faculties of the seminaries. It may consider and approve those applicants who meet the requirements
- for eligibility as specified in this bylaw and concerning whom no valid objection is made pursuant to
- paragraph (c). In consultation with the President of the Synod, it shall develop any necessary additional
- policies to govern eligibility and the process to be followed to determine qualifications and suitability for
- pastoral service in the Synod.
- (a) In consultation with the President of the Synod, it shall develop all necessary policies to
- govern eligibility and the process to be followed to determine qualifications and suitability for
- pastoral service in the Synod.Only such male applicants shall be considered eligible to apply for
- colloquy who are:
- (1) ministers in good standing in other Christian church bodies (or independent
- congregations), are graduates of programs of study leading to ordination of no less than 60
- semester hours or the equivalent thereof in length from accredited institutions, and have
- served at least three years in a recognized ministry of their church body, unless granted an
- exception to either of these last two requirements by the colloquy committee; or
- (2) graduates of programs of study leading to ordination of no less than 60 semester hours
- or the equivalent thereof in length from accredited institutions, who become communicant
- members in good standing of congregations of the Synod and are members for at least two
- years immediately prior to the time of application (unless granted an exception to either of
- these last two requirements by the colloquy committee), and whose congregations adhere to
- Bylaw 2.5.2; or
- (3) pastors emeriti from other church bodies. If certified by the committee, they may be placed
- on the roster of the Synod according to Bylaw 2.7.5.
- (b) Applicants for colloquy shall be directed to the president of the district where the applicant resides.
- (1) The district president shall refer the applicant to a district interview committee, who shall
- give a report and recommendation to the district president.
- (2) The district president shall recommend qualified applicants to the chairman of the colloquy
- committee. Such recommendations shall be processed according to the policies and procedures
- adopted by the Colloquy Committee for the Pastoral Ministry.
- (c) The colloquy committee shall publish notice of its intent to interview an applicant in an official
- periodical of the Synod unless the applicant requests such notice be delayed until after his interview.
- (1) If no valid objection is received by the committee within 30 days after the publication of such
- notice, the applicant may be interviewed.
- (2) If the applicant was interviewed first, notice shall then be published and upon publication 30
- days be given for valid objections to be received.
- (3) The committee, in its sole discretion, shall decide whether an objection is valid. Its decision
- shall not be the subject of any appeal.
- (d) The colloquy committee shall arrange for an in -person colloquy, or discussion, with qualified
- applicants. The decision on each applicant shall be made on the basis of the colloquy application and
- examination and shall be the sole prerogative of the colloquy committee.
Page 380
- (e) The criteria by which the colloquy committee shall determine an applicant’s readiness for
- certification are to be based upon adopted standards, including, but not limited to:
- (1) areas of general education;
- (2) understanding of and agreement with the scriptural and doctrinal positions of The Lutheran
- Church—Missouri Synod;
- (3) familiarity with the history and polity of the Synod;
- (4) studies in theology assuring a well -rounded education in the major fields of theological
- discipline;
- (5) positive experience in the work of the pastoral ministry; and
- (6) demonstrated moral character (“above reproach”).
- (f) The colloquy committee, at its sole discretion, shall determine the content and amount of academic
- work, personal study programs, or supervised ministry that may be required prior to certification. To
- this end, the committee may assign residential and/or online seminary coursework, mentored readings,
- and/or a formal vicarage or a shorter informal internship.
- (g) The committee, at its discretion, may require a second colloquy interview following the
- completion of such study and/or supervised ministry.
- (bh) Decisions to declare applicants qualified for the pastoral ministry and to certify for placement
- shall be at the sole discretion of the committee.
- (i) The committee shall:
- (1) certify for placement those applicants against whom no valid objection has been made and
- who have satisfactorily completed the colloquy interview and any other requirements as assigned
- by the colloquy committee;
- (2) report this action to the applicant, the Office of Pastoral Education of the Synod, and to the
- appropriate district president; and
- (3) publish a report of its favorable action in an official periodical of the Synod.
- (cj) Every applicant whom the committee declares qualified shall be assigned his first call by the
- Council of Presidents acting as the Board of Assignments.
- (k) The colloquy committee shall report to the Synod in convention.
- 9. STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
