Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 65

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 serv-
ing at the LCMS colleges, universities, and seminaries. The LCMS, 
the formation of pastors, and the teaching of theology in our Syn-
od’s higher education institutions have all been strengthened be-
cause 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 Ceremo-
nies.” 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 Uni-
versity, 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 pas-
tors 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 three-
year 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 sup-
ply 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, testi-
monial 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 cre-
ated 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 con-
tinuing education. Each time a PALS cohort meets, they participate 
in worship, a study topic, support and casuistry, and fellowship. Co-
horts 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, con-
gregations, and pastors. The FY26 PALS budget is $259,987. This 
includes PALS administration, facilitator contacts and expenses, 
seminary presentation dinners to concluding-year seminarians en-
tering 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 par-
ticipate 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  Ap-
plied Learning and Support) for deaconesses was developed. PALS 
for deaconesses was developed to support and encourage deacon-
esses as they transition from graduation and certification to full-
time 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 re-
port, and Facebook page, go to lcms.org/pals.