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that forms pastors who confess, teach, and practice theology in full accord with them; and

WHEREAS, The unity of the Church is preserved when pastors are formed to interpret Scripture and conduct ministry within the shared doctrinal framework of the Confessions; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has consistently affirmed quia subscription to the Lutheran Confessions as foundational to pastoral formation and ecclesial trust; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm and encourage the seminaries of the Synod to maintain and deepen comprehensive, integrated instruction in the Book of Concord throughout the curriculum; and be it further

Resolved, That confessional formation not be treated as a discrete academic subject alone, but as a hermeneutical and theological framework shaping all pastoral instruction; and be it further

Resolved, That the seminaries be encouraged to form pastors whose preaching, teaching , and practice flow from a robust quia commitment to the Lutheran Confessions and to ensure that all pastors certified for ordination demonstrate knowledge of and glad reception of the Lutheran Confessions; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for the Lutheran Confessions and pray for pastors who confess them faithfully in doctrine and life.

Board of Regents Concordia Seminary

Ov. 6-07

To Uphold Deep and Broad Study of Book of Concord in Synod Seminaries

WHEREAS, The Book of Concord sets forth the Lutheran Confessions as faithful expositions of Holy Scripture and provides doctrinal clarity and unity for the Synod; and

WHEREAS, Seminary formation integrates confessional study to prepare pastors who subscribe to the Lutheran Confessions without reservation; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has consistently affirmed the Lutheran Confessions as the doctrinal basis for theology and practice within the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Formula of Concord identifies the Lutheran Confessions as the Church’s binding doctrinal standard ( FC Ep, Summary Content); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its commitment to deep and broad study of the Book of Concord in its seminaries; and be it further

Resolved, That the faculty of the Synod’s seminaries continue to integrate confessional theology throughout the curriculum; and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod be encouraged to support confessional education within the Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for the confessional heritage entrusted to His Church.

Good Shepherd Lincoln, NE

Ov. 6-08

To Require Theological Competency Standards for Eligibility to Exercise Ecclesiastical Oversight De Iure Humano Rationale One of the historic strengths of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod (LCMS) has been its theologically competent clergy. From the earliest days of its history the Synod has developed and utilized a variety of avenues for the preparation of its pastors, each with a focus upon theological competency in providin g pastoral care to God’s people. From the log cabin seminary in Perry County to the establishment of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, from the early work of Wyneken and Loehe to Concordia Springfield and Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, theological competency has been a hallmark of our work together. (For more on this see the white paper, “An Ordained LCMS Pastor for Every Synod Congregation: Nine Recommendations for Forming and Providing Pas tors in the LCMS,” posted May 2, 2024, nowlcms.org/resources/pastoral-formation-paper/; John C.

Wohlrabe Jr., “The Role of the Seminaries in the LCMS, 1847 – 2001,” Concordia Theological Quarterly 85, nos. 3– 4 [July/Oct.

2021]: 215– 39, ctsfwmedia.s3.us-east- 1.amazonaws.com/CTQ/CTQ%2085.3-4.pdf.)

One of the challenges before the Synod over the past few decades has been to meet the need of identifying, training, forming, and certifying enough men for the pastoral office in order to serve the congregations of the Synod. This has required a continuation of our historical pastoral formation legacy coupled with creative development of newer routes and programs. Recent studies have demonstrated that this need has become acute (see James A.

Baneck, “A White Paper on the Current Context of Pastoral Formation,” LCMS Pastoral Education, May 12, 2020, files.lcms.org/file/preview/0EjuRAbQuTtWmQiglpaMvaazkDv7L5 ng).

In order to meet the demand for ministers of religion— ordained the Synod has considered a number of routes to the pastoral office.

Currently the Synod has at least seven programmatic routes for pastoral formation. These are:

• Residential Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

• Residential Alternate Route (RAR)

• Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP)

• Specific Ministry Pastor to General Pastor Certification (GPC)

• Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS)

• Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT)

• Cross-Cultural Ministry Center (CMC)

Of these many routes, some are certificated programs and some award graduate degrees. They can result in differing rostered status with differing opportunities for service. All are committed to the formation of certified men for the pastoral office.

While all varied routes yield competent and certified men to serve in the pastoral office, the theological depth of formation varies from program to program. This overture is concerned with developing a mechanism or standard by which those ordained pastors called upon to supervise other ministers of religion—o rdained will possess and demonstrate higher levels of theological acumen. Such offices of 2026 Convention Workbook

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