Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 430

Church history and the history of Lutheranism, Christian 
education, pastoral theology, and theology of missions 
• Residential seminars, possibly including pastoral 
formation, issues in pastoral ministry, team ministry, 
urban ministry, and spiritual formation 
• Field seminars, possibly including basic mission planter 
training, edge gathering, and advanced mission planter 
training 
and 
W
HEREAS, Steps 3 and 4, approved by resolution, provided that 
a certification, call, and ordination be allowed after completion of 
two years of successful preordination studies; and 
W
HEREAS, Step 4, approved by resolution, provided that the 
post-ordination curriculum includes “Old Testament content and 
theology, New Testament content and theology, gifts of Christ, 
body of Christ, Church history and the history of Lutheranism, 
Christian education, pastoral theology, and theology of missions, 
residential seminars, including pastoral formation, issues of pastoral 
ministry, team ministry, urban ministry, and spiritual formation. 
Field seminars included basic mission planting, edge gathering, and 
advanced mission planter training” (ibid., 135); and 
W
HEREAS, Step 4 also included the caveat that “Refusal [or 
inability] to complete the Specific Ministry Program would result 
in the pastor’s removal from the Synod roster, at which point he is 
not eligible for a call” (ibid.); and 
WHEREAS, The provision of ordination after two years, with the 
proviso that the rostered worker completes the additional two years 
of formal, required education, has led to men being removed from 
the Synod roster, and created confusion about the Office of the Holy 
Ministry; therefore be it 
Resolved, That currently enrolled SMP students (preordination 
and post-ordination) continue in the SMP track of two years toward 
ordination and two years of required post -ordination requirements; 
and be it further 
Resolved, That the program requirements of the SMP program, 
originally passed in 2007 Res. 5-01B, which allowed a student to be 
certified for call and ordination prior to the completion of the SMP 
program, be modified so that students admitted to the SMP program 
after the 2026 academic year shall be required to finish all academic 
requirements of the SMP program before ordination and placement 
on the Synod roster; and be it further 
Resolved, That students who have completed the second 
academic year be designated as vicars, who  may conduct specific 
and approved services under the supervision of their local pastor 
and with the approval of the respective seminary program director 
and district president; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the vicar may receive compensation under the 
vicarage agreement with the congregation and seminary program, 
but without admission to the Synod roster. 
Board of Directors 
Mid-South District 
Ov. 6-50 
To Encourage Further Consideration  
of Requiring Successful Completion  
of Specific Ministry Pastor Coursework before 
Ordination and Placement on Ordained Roster 
WHEREAS, The 2018 Mid- South District convention 
memorialized the 2019 Synod convention “To Request Synod to 
Move Ordination Upon Completion of SMP Four -Year Program” 
(2019 Ov. 6-07, Workbook, 451–52); and 
WHEREAS, The 2019 Synod convention considered this overture 
together with similar overtures from other districts and 
congregations; and 
WHEREAS, The 2019 Synod convention adopted Resolution 6-
03A, “To Enhance the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Program,” 
referring this matter to the Pastoral Formation Committee to “work 
to enhance the curriculum and standards of the SMP program 
between the two sem inaries” and to “review the SMP program 
regarding the optimal timing for vicarage and ordination and report 
its recommendation to the joint boards of regents at its 2020 
meeting, as well as to the Synod at large” (2019 Proceedings, 159); 
and 
WHEREAS, Res. 6 -03A further resolved “That the joint board 
[sic] of regents prepare an overture to the Synod on the timing of 
vicarage and ordination for the SMP program for consideration in 
convention in 2022” (ibid.); and 
WHEREAS, The 2023 Synod convention considered the 
recommendations of the Pastoral Formation Committee and the 
joint boards of regents of the seminaries, which are forthcoming; 
therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Mid-South District in convention reaffirm the 
importance of the Pastoral Formation Committee, the joint boards 
of regents, and the Synod’s consideration of the issues regarding the 
timing of ordination in the SMP program; and be it further 
Resolved, That the district in convention encourage the Pastoral 
Formation Committee, the joint boards of regents of the seminaries, 
and the Synod in convention to consider moving ordination and 
placement on the minister of religion—ordained roster of the Synod 
from after the completion of the first two years of the SMP program 
to after the completion of all SMP education and academic 
requirements for applicants admitted after the 2026 academic year. 
Mid-South District 
Ov. 6-51 
To Clarify Appropriate Uses of Specific Ministry 
Pastor Program in Accord with Synodical Intent 
WHEREAS, The Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program was 
established by the Synod to prepare pastors for specific ministries 
under carefully defined conditions; and 
WHEREAS, The Synod has repeatedly affirmed that residential 
seminary formation through the Master of Divinity program is the 
most complete means of preparing men for the general 
responsibilities of the pastoral office and the preferred route for 
pastoral preparation; and 
WHEREAS, The Synod has explicitly stated that the SMP route is 
to be understood and positioned as the exception and should not 
2026 Convention Workbook
395PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES