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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 408

reporter.lcms.org/2025/lcms-addresses-unauthorized-non-
lcms-pastoral-formation-programs/) 
and 
WHEREAS, The conditions of membership (Const. Art. VI) for all 
members of the Synod, both rostered workers and congregations, 
require the “renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every 
description” and the “regular call of pastors” (which is defined in 
Bylaw sections 2.7–2.8); and 
WHEREAS, The faculties of the Synod seminaries have the 
responsibility to certify graduates for eligibility for placement and 
ordination and would have no provision for certifying non- Synod 
seminary graduates (Bylaw 2.8.1 [a, c]; 3.10.5.7.10 [h]); and 
W
HEREAS, The Synod colloquy program is not permitted to 
certify for ministry in the Synod any Synod laymen or 
commissioned ministers who complete a program of study leading 
to ordination or its equivalent at a non-LCMS seminary (Bylaw 
3.10.2.4); therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod gathered in convention be encouraged 
to rise and sing the Te Deum  in thankfulness to the Lord for His 
gracious preservation of CTSFW and CSL, and for the faithful 
ministry of the nine generations of graduates to the congregations 
of the Synod, through whom as “fellow workers” (1 Cor. 3:9) the 
Lord has preserved the faith among us; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod gathered in convention be called upon 
to affirm the residential M.Div. education, formation, and training 
of the future pastorate as the standard within the Synod; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That the non-residential tracks toward ordination be 
utilized to the extent that is consistent with their design, purpose, 
and consistency with the doctrines, confession, and unity provided 
by the faculty from the authorized seminaries of the Synod; and be 
it further 
Resolved, That Synod congregations and rostered workers pray 
with heartfelt fervor and regularity to the Lord of the harvest to send 
laborers into His harvest (Matt. 9:38); and be it further 
Resolved, That Synod congregations and rostered workers 
vigorously pursue recruitment of able and apt men for the pastorate 
of the Synod (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1) under the Synod’s Set Apart to 
Serve initiative, and encourage and support prospective students to 
apply for the residential M.Div. program at CTSFW or CSL; and be 
it further 
Resolved, That Synod congregations and their members 
generously support the work of CTSFW and CSL in providing a 
theologically rich, residential M.Div. program for the education, 
formation, and training of future pastors of the Synod; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That pastors, congregations, and officials of the Synod 
encourage men interested in ministry to seek theological education, 
formation, and training in one of the recognized ministry tracks for 
the pastoral office at CTSFW or CSL; and be it further 
Resolved, That the district presidents with ecclesiastical 
oversight over the congregations and rostered workers advocating 
for, recruiting for, or teaching in LHOS and the CMPL admonish 
those congregations and rostered workers for placing at risk their 
own and the Synod’s faithfulness to Holy Scripture, the Confessions 
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the holy things of God; for 
breaking unity and fraternity by intentionally working against the 
Synod and its seminaries to recruit and train pastors, which harms 
unity by militating against all things being done in order (1 Cor. 
14:40); and for inviting false doctrine from and ecclesial association 
with heterodox church bodies, which militates against the Lord’s 
will that the church be kept in unity of faith and co nfession (Rom. 
16:17); and be it further 
Resolved, That, unless the congregations and rostered workers 
recruiting for, teaching in, and receiving church workers from 
LHOS and the CMPL heed the admonition of the district president 
under whose ecclesiastical supervision they stand, such rostered 
workers be  subject to application of Bylaw 2.13.4, as having 
violated the conditions of membership (Const. Art. VI); and be it 
further 
Resolved, That district presidents follow through on their 
ecclesiastical responsibility in the processes surrounding Bylaw 
2.13.2; and be it finally 
Resolved, That, if the district presidents fail to fulfill their duty 
to the B ylaws on behalf of the Synod toward those who persist in 
receiving church workers from LHOS and the CMPL or recruiting 
students for the same with the prospects of such reception, the 
President of the Synod exercise his duty under Const. Art. XIII and 
Bylaw section 2.15. 
Pastors’ Conference 
Mid-South District 
Ov. 6-18 
To Affirm Exclusive Use of Synod Seminaries  
to Prepare Men for Office of Holy Ministry 
WHEREAS, The Lord Christ has called His Church to faithfulness 
in the things of God (John 8:31), which is sustained in the Church 
by the faithful transmission of the faith to and through the future 
pastors of the Church; and 
WHEREAS, The Lord Christ has called His Church to love toward 
one another (John 13:35), which is exercised by the creation of 
agreed-upon modes of undertaking corporate action; and 
WHEREAS, The Lord Christ has called His C hurch to a unity of 
faith that is identical with and tantamount to continuing steadfast in 
the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42), all the teachings of Holy 
Scripture and their expression in the Lutheran Book of Concord, that 
is, “the Gospel, in all its articles” (LCMS, A Statement of Scriptural 
and Confessional Principles , [adopted 1973], Article IV ; see also  
John 17:20–21; Eph. 4:4–6; FC SD X 31); and 
WHEREAS, Constitution Article III 1 reflects our Lord’s will by 
stating that The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod (LCMS) shall 
“conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor. 
1:10), work through its official structure toward fellowship with 
other Christian church bodies, and provide a united defense against 
schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy”; and 
WHEREAS, In Article III 3, in pursuance of the aforementioned 
objective and in love, the Synod names and reserves for itself, on 
behalf of the members (that is, the rostered workers and 
congregations) of the Synod, the recruitment and training of pastors; 
and 
W
HEREAS, Likewise in pursuit of the o bjectives of the Synod, 
bylaws reserve for the two seminaries of the Synod, namely 
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne  (CTSFW), and 
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL), the duty, to the exclusion of 
other seminaries, to educate, form, and train the pastors of the 
2026 Convention Workbook
373PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES