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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 331

Resolved, That the BIM conduct this work with appropriate 
consultation and submit a written summary of its findings and any 
recommendations to the 2029 Synod convention. 
Board for International Mission 
Ov. 2-04 
To Promote Divine Call Opportunities for Ethnic 
Immigrant Institute of Theology Pastors 
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod pastors who 
are trained through the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology 
(EIIT), but who do not have a Masters of Divinity (M.Div.), often 
do not qualify for job positions as foreign missionaries (including 
to their c ountry of origin) that are created by the Board for 
International Mission (BIM); and 
W
HEREAS, It is the responsibility of the Office of International 
Mission (OIM) to recruit and recommend candidates to the BIM for 
divine calls (Bylaw 3.8.3); and 
W
HEREAS, Scripture teaches us that it is our Lord’s desire to 
increase the number of workers sharing the Gospel: “And [Jesus] 
said to them, ‘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’” (Luke 10:2); and 
W
HEREAS, Scripture also teaches us that the sending of God’s 
laborers is indeed a global outreach: “you will be my witnesses in 
Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” 
(Acts 1:8); and 
W
HEREAS, We as a Synod confess that to do so effectively 
requires that pastors are sent in a proper manner: “Our churches 
teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church, or administer 
the Sacraments, without a rightly ordered call” (AC XIV); and 
WHEREAS, EIIT trained pastors possess the unique cultural 
knowledge and language skills to serve with great impact amongst 
their native peoples; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the BIM be encouraged to develop inclusive job 
descriptions (where appropriate) for missionaries that would allow 
EIIT trained pastors not yet possessing an M.Div. to qualify for 
more opportunities to engage in Word and Sacrament ministry with 
overseas populations; and be it further 
Resolved, That the OIM be encouraged to recruit broadly from 
among all categories of ordained pastors in good standing and 
recommend them to the BIM for divine calls. 
Our Savior 
Laurel, MD
 
Ov. 2-05 
To Amend Bylaws to Protect  
Divine Calls of Missionaries 
WHEREAS, One of the objectives of Synod is to “extend [the] 
Gospel witness into all the world” (Const. Art. III 2); our Lord 
states: “behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the 
fields; for they are white already to harvest.” (John 4:35 KJV); and 
WHEREAS, The sending and support of missionaries is therefore 
a vital objective of our Synod; and 
WHEREAS, It is also an objective of the Synod to “Provide 
protection for congregations, pastors, teachers, and other church 
workers in the performance of their official duties and the 
maintenance of their rights” (Const. Art. III 9); and 
WHEREAS, Called pastors at local congregations are protected by 
the doctrine of the Divine Call, explained by the Commission on 
Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) to mean that a pastor can 
be removed rightfully from his call only for teaching false doctrine, 
offensive conduct (which may include, among other things, neglect 
of, or inability to perform, official duties), or scandalous life 
(LCMS CTCR, Theology and Practice of “the Divine Call ” 
[adopted February 2003], 25); and 
WHEREAS, The CTCR has also recognized in its report that due 
process must be followed in removing a man from a call; 
additionally, pastors serving in certain capacities —for example, as 
seminary professors— are granted express protection in the Synod 
Bylaws against arbitrary removal from their calls without just cause 
(Bylaw 3.10.5.7.5); and 
W
HEREAS, Missionaries serving the Synod, called by the Board 
for International Mission (BIM), are not granted express bylaw 
protection, nor do the current BIM policies provide for due process 
for missionaries before the BIM can terminate their calls and 
effectively end their mission service; and 
WHEREAS, Consistent with 1 Peter 2, Matthew 18, and other 
Scripture passages, the mission boards of the Synod should set a 
good example in their conduct and treatment of their called 
missionaries, and institute a formal requirement for good cause 
before terminati ng the call of any missionary, and ensuring due 
process, fairness, and an opportunity to be heard before any such 
decision is implemented, with appropriate right of appeal through 
the Synod’s dispute resolution process; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod grant called missionaries serving the 
BIM protection in their Divine Calls by revising the Synod Bylaws 
to require good cause before terminating the call of any missionary, 
and ensuring due process, fairness, and an opportunity to be heard 
before any such decision is implemented, with appropriate right of 
appeal through the Synod’s dispute resolution process; 
and be it 
further 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention overturn any part of the 
CTCR Report, Theology and Practice of “the Divine Call ,” that 
holds that the Divine Call of a missionary in service to the Synod is 
of lesser tenure or protection than the call of a local parish pastor. 
St. Paul, Brookfield, IL; Circuit 24 (Sedalia), Missouri District 
Ov. 2-06 
To Give Thanks for  
LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces 
WHEREAS, From the Civil War through both World Wars, Korea, 
Vietnam, and more recent areas of conflict, Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod (LCMS) pastors, serving honorably and with 
distinction as military chaplains, bring the Good News of Jesus 
Christ to those protecting our great nation; and 
WHEREAS, Some chaplains serve on forward bases in harm’s 
way; others, onboard ships maintaining vigilant watch over the 
seven seas; yet others walk the flight line on isolated air bases, 
engaging airmen as they load fighter aircraft for combat operations 
on matters of faith and family; and 
2026 Convention Workbook
296 INTERNATIONAL  WITNESS