Official Workbook PDF page source text

2026 Convention Workbook

30 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPOR TS

C. Theology Professors Conference The Theology Professors Conference (TPC) is a biennial event.

It is directed toward our Synod’s valued theology professors serving at the LCMS colleges, universities, and seminaries. The LCMS, the formation of pastors, and the teaching of theology in our Synod’s higher education institutions have all been strengthened because of these conferences.

This conference brings together the Synod’s theology professors to think carefully about God’s Word, the Lutheran Confessions, the Church, and society. This is the only event that gathers all those teaching theology to future church workers and students prepar - ing for various God-given vocations at the Synod’s universities and seminaries. This conference is a prized opportunity for our Synod’s theology professors to examine Scripture, the ecumenical creeds and Confessions of the LCMS, church history, and worldview to address life in both of God’s kingdoms, church and state.

The 2024 TPC was held at Concordia University Ann Arbor, May 20–22. The conference theme each year is focused on a por - tion of the Lutheran Confessions. The 2024 conference focused on AC XIV and XV , “Order in the Church” and “Church Ceremonies.” Four plenary speakers presented on “Pastoral Formation in Lutheran Orthodoxy: New Ideas on How to Better Prepare Future Pastors,” “From Boethius to Bladerunner: A Trinitarian Response to Constituting Personhood,” “The rite vocatus of AC XIV in the Lutheran Church of the Nineteenth Century,” and “Don’t Freak Out: Disability and the Resurrection Body in Light of the Fiction of Flannery O’Connor.” Other features of the conference included 15 sectionals, professors meeting by theological disciplines (exegeti - cal, historical, practical/pastoral, systematics), and fellowship and conversation.

The 2026 conference will be on the campus of Concordia University, St. Paul, May 18–20, under the theme “God’s Gift of Or - der” (AC XV and XVI) and a secondary theme, “The Work of the Holy Spirit: Calls, Gathers, Enlightens, Sanctifies.” D. Preach the Word Preach the Word (PTW) was developed to help pastors work together to hone the craft of preaching through video modules and accompanying resources. PTW also enables pastors to interact with seminary professors and fellow preachers, the authors of these modules. PTW was designed for pastors to gather with brother pastors to watch and discuss the modules and to learn with and from each other. PTW is an excellent resource for continuing education for pastors.

Since 2017, 10 modules have been completed. After a threeyear pause, the PTW steering committee reconvened in fall 2025.

The steering committee is working to give PTW a refresh with new modules and a new podcast format to encourage continued growth for pastors in their vocation of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Committee members are Dr. Carl Fickenscher (chair), Dr. David Fleming, Rev. Timothy Mech, Dr. Richard Stuckwisch, Dr. David Schmitt, and Rev. Jonathan Manor. PTW resources are available at resources.lcms.org/preach-the-word/.

E. Support of Our Seminaries through the Synod The people of the Synod cherish our two seminaries, which supply the LCMS with faithful pastors. Many of these people support the seminaries through their prayers and gifts. Often, this support is FAQs, Talking Points for Encouraging Second-Career Church Work, Routes to the Office of the Ministry booklet, Pastor’s Guide to Mentoring Future Second-Career Pastors, Encouraging Men to Consider a Second Career as a Pastor, Teacher Colloquy 101, testimonial booklet for Second-Career Pastors, and testimonial booklet for Second-Career Teachers. View all SAS resources at lcms.org/ set-apart-to-serve.

View the 2025 annual report at files.lcms.org/file/preview/ sas-annual-report-2025.

B. Post Seminary Applied Learning and Support Post Seminary Applied Learning and Support (PALS) was created by the Council of Presidents and the LCMS Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support in 1998, thus going for 28 years.

The purpose of PALS is to support and encourage pastors, and their wives and families, as they transition from seminary to parish life for the first three years of the pastor’s ministry.

PALS utilizes geographic cohorts. Each cohort is facilitated by an experienced pastor and his wife. The pastor facilitates the men and the pastor’s wife facilitate the women. PALS cohorts meet six days per year. Pastors can self-report up to six PALS continuing education units each year on their district Self Evaluation Tool.

PALS also serves the purpose of the pastor’s first years of continuing education. Each time a PALS cohort meets, they participate in worship, a study topic, support and casuistry, and fellowship. Cohorts can use either curriculum developed by the PALS office or a study topic of the group’s choice.

PALS is a rich partnership between the LCMS, districts, congregations, and pastors. The FY26 PALS budget is $259,987. This includes PALS administration, facilitator contacts and expenses, seminary presentation dinners to concluding-year seminarians entering PALS, conference expenses, and books and materials. Par - ticipating districts contribute $500 per participating pastor per year.

LCMS PALS more than matches that amount. It could be said that the Synod invests more than $1,000 per year per pastor to facilitate a successful transition into the pastoral ministry.

In the last three years, there has been an average of 22 active PALS groups across the Synod. Approximately 136 pastors and 102 wives have been active in PALS over this past triennium. We encourage congregations calling candidates from the seminary to support and expect their pastors to participate in PALS. Such par - ticipation is of great benefit to both the pastor and the congregation for many years to come. Currently, 23 of the 35 LCMS districts participate in the PALS program. The director of PALS, Rev. Jonathan Manor, strongly encourages all 35 districts to participate in PALS for the benefit of the pastor, his wife and family, the congregation he serves, and the district and Synod at large.

In this past triennium, an online PALS (Post-Certification Applied Learning and Support) for deaconesses was developed. PALS for deaconesses was developed to support and encourage deaconesses as they transition from graduation and certification to fulltime deaconess service in the church. There are three online cohorts facilitated by an experienced deaconess. Each cohort meets six times per year for one to two hours each time. Seventy-five percent of eligible deaconesses participate in PALS.

To learn more about PALS, including PALS courses, annual report, and Facebook page, go to lcms.org/pals.