Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 74

2026 Convention Workbook
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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
by the CCPM. It also clarified that translation assistance may be 
used, where needed, for the application, interview, and seminary 
entry-level competency exam.
C.3. Additional Policy Discussions
Also, during this triennium, the CCPM discussed the “academ -
ic, theological, and personal standards” for colloquy that the com-
mittee is charged with establishing (Bylaw 3.10.2.2).
1 As it contin-
ues this discussion, the CCPM desires to act in concert with our two 
seminaries—especially in regard to personal standards—since the 
seminaries, along with the CCPM, are the three LCMS certifying 
authorities for the pastoral ministry. The CCPM has been especially 
mindful of this in its discussions of divorce and applicants with 
non-LCMS wives.
In addition to standards, the CCPM is also considering placing 
a time limit for completion of assignments given by the committee. 
Finally, though it wouldn’t be a policy, the CCPM is considering a 
flowchart that would aid district presidents in determining whether 
a potential applicant clearly fits one of the two colloquy categories. 
These and other potential policy discussions continue.
C.4. Policies Versus Bylaws
Through the policy discussions mentioned above, the CCPM 
has become aware of numerous long-standing colloquy require -
ments that were removed from the bylaws to policy by the 2010 
Synod convention. The committee has been discussing a conven-
tion overture to reinsert some of these policies into the bylaws for 
the sake of greater policy stability since policies can be changed by 
the CCPM, acting alone, at any meeting, whereas bylaw changes 
require a convention vote. As of January 2026, the CCPM is hoping 
to finalize an overture for the 2026 Synod convention, though it is 
not certain that goal will be met.
D. Bylaw 3.10.2.4—A Clarification
Various CCPM members have heard numerous times during this 
triennium that Bylaw 3.10.2.4, which precludes the possibility of 
colloquy for LCMS men who have graduated from a non-LCMS 
seminary, was new in 2023. Actually, this bylaw was adopted by the 
2016 Synod convention and only clarified in 2023 to reflect better 
the original intention.
E. Bylaw 2.5.2 Concerns
The CCPM has increasingly been concerned by the number of 
colloquy applicants who are already regularly preaching and some-
times even serving in full Word and Sacrament ministry, as the de 
facto pastor of an LCMS congregation, before even coming to the 
attention of the CCPM. Bylaw 2.5.2 stipulates that congregations 
“shall call and be served only by ordained ministers who have been 
admitted to their respective ministries in accordance with the rules 
and regulations set forth in these Bylaws. …” 
The CCPM understands that there is a wide range of meanings 
for a congregation to “be served” and that there may be extenu -
ating circumstances, such as a church plant in a language other 
than English. Yet the CCPM believes that this issue is outside of 
the committee’s authority and that a larger group, such as the full 
Council of Presidents (COP), should be aware of these situations. 
A particular challenge in such situations is that they put additional 
pressure on the CCPM to approve such applicants since such men 
are already serving in a congregation and have developed strong 
ties with their congregation.
# District # District
6 Florida-Georgia 0 Atlantic 
5 Ohio 0 California-Nevada-
Hawaii
5 Pacific Southwest 0 Central Illinois
4 Southeastern 0 Iowa East
3 Minnesota South 0 Kansas
3 Rocky Mountain 0 Montana
2 English 0 Nebraska
2 Michigan 0 New England 
2 Missouri 0 New Jersey
2 South Wisconsin 0 North Dakota
2 Texas 0 North Wisconsin
1 Eastern 0 Northwest 
1 Indiana 0 Oklahoma
1 Iowa West 0 SELC
1 Mid-South 0 South Dakota
1 Minnesota North 0 Southern Illinois
1 Northern Illinois 0 Wyoming
1 Southern
Table 3: District from which general colloquy  
applications came (February 2023–January 2026)
C. Work Performed
C.1. Meeting Schedule
During this triennium, the CCPM reduced its meeting schedule 
from five to four in-person meetings per year, occasionally sup-
plemented by a video conference to consider new applications or 
discuss policy, but not to conduct regular interviews. Most in-per -
son meetings were two days with an occasional one-day meeting 
when there were fewer applicants awaiting an interview. This meet-
ing schedule is currently sufficient for keeping up with the num-
ber of applications received. In 2025, the CCPM also began using 
BoardEffect for its meeting dockets.
C.2. Policy Revision
In June 2024, after four and a half years of work, the CCPM 
adopted a significantly revised policy manual which:
•	 reduced the length from 26 to 14 pages;
•	 sharpened the definitions of the two (long-standing) collo -
quy categories;
•	 added a requirement for applicants to submit two sermons;
•	 added a requirement for applicants to take the entry-level 
competency exam for theology from either of our two Synod 
seminaries;
•	 reduced the number of required essays from two to one; and
•	 added language to allow for a follow-up video interview, in 
some cases, after assigned work was completed.
In addition, the CCPM clarified that all applications should be 
submitted in English using the one application that is maintained