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WHEREAS, Subsequent convention actions (2013 Res. 5-03E, 5 - 04B; 2019 Res. 6-02, 6 -04; 2023 Res. 6-02A, 6 -03A, 6-06A)

directed that the parameters for the SMP program be refined, but did not authorize the imposition of overly burdensome restrictions that limit acc essibility, such as minimum age requirements or mandatory funding pledges, which exceed the original intent and hinder the program’s flexibility, and impose administrative burdens, deter smaller or resource-limited congregations, and treat the SMP program as a secondary or discouraged route rather than a valid alternative, contrary to the 2007 vision of urgency and adaptability; and

WHEREAS, Constitution Article III calls for conserving and promoting the unity of the true faith through flexible means of pastoral formation, and past conventions have emphasized recruitment and support without overly prescriptive limits, making it prudent to restore the SMP program’s original scope to better serve the harvest field (Matt. 9:37–38) and ensure broader access to the Office of the Holy Ministry, lest these restrictions risk exacerbating the Synod’s pastor shortage by narrowing the applicant pool and discouraging participation; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention declare null and void the PFC’s November 2025 policy requirements for the SMP program’s admission, administration, and supervision, including policies one through eight and associated exceptions, as they exceed the directives of prior conventions and impose undue restrictions; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod direct the PFC, in consultation with the seminaries and Council of Presidents, to revert the SMP program to its original parameters as established in 2007 Res. 5 -01B, emphasizing flexibility in applicant eligibility, voluntary rather than mandatory consultations and funding commitments, and supervision focused on initial formation without lifelong formalized documentation mandates; and be it further

Resolved, That the seminaries be encouraged to maintain the SMP program’s curriculum focus on Lutheran theology and pastoral skills, while allowing broader access to ensure the program’s vitality in addressing mission needs; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod affirm the value of all routes to ordination, including the SMP program, as equal means of fulfilling the divine call, and encourage ongoing recruitment efforts like Set Apart to Serve to increase the number of pastors without artificial barriers.

Christ Milford, MI

Ov. 6-56

To Remove Age Requirement from Specific Ministry Pastor Admission, Administration, and Supervision Policy

WHEREAS, The Synod’s Pastoral Formation Committee (PFC)

issued Policy Requirements for the Specific Ministry Pastor Program: Admission, Administration and Supervision (files.lcms.org/dl/f/smp-policy-requirements) in November 2025;

and

WHEREAS, The policy, as written, contains a prescriptive minimum age requirement of 40 years old that is only supported by a premise statement (Premise 9) that states “Evidence shows greater completion rates … for men over 40,” and the premise statement does not provide sufficient details to justify this claim, nor defines the completion rates broken down by age of admissions; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions consistently teach that the pastoral office depends on the call, the ability to teach the Gospel, and having the right doctrine in accordance with the Scriptures; the Lutheran Confessions never mention age; and within the Augsburg Confession (AC XIV) there are no age requirements; and

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture itself mentions no age requirements for pastoral ministry. For example, Jesus chose young men to be His disciples and the Apostle Paul entrusted ministry responsibilities to Timothy, who was perhaps in his late teens or early 20s, saying “let no one despise you for your youth” (1 Tim. 4:12); and

WHEREAS, The wider history of the Christian Church—including the Early Church, the Reformation, and the history of the Synod— shows no pattern of an age requirement to serve in the pastoral office. For example, St. Augustine was ordained around 36 –37 years old (New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, “St. Augustine of Hippo,” newadvent.org/cathen/02084a.htm, accessed March 18, 2026), Martin Luther was ordained around 23– 24 years old (Hans J. Hillerbrand, “Martin Luther,” Britannica , Feb. 14, 2026, britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther), and C.F.W. Walther was around 25 years old (Molly Lackey, “Our Great Heritage:

C.F.W. Walther,” The Lutheran Witness , Aug. 14, 2024, witness.lcms.org/2024/CFW-Walther); and

WHEREAS, As the Synod faces a pastoral shortage, with Synod documentation (LCMS Pastoral Vacancy Report, Nov. 1998– Feb.

2026, lcms.org/how-we-serve/education/pastoral/pre-seminary), reporting more than 800 pastoral vacancies, including both calling and non- calling congregations and a shrinking membership (Joe Isenhower, Jr., “Reversing the LCMS Membership Decline: Not Just by Having More Children,” Reporter Online, Feb. 28, 2017, reporter.lcms.org/2017/reversing-lcms-membership-decline), we should be encouraging men to seek the pastoral office if so led;

while there should be well- defined requirements for those seeking the pastoral office, a prescriptive age should not be one of those requirements; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod Board of Directors direct the PFC to remove the age requirement from the Policy Requirements for the Specific Ministry Pastor Program: Admission, Administration and Supervision and amend any related bylaws or other policies of the Synod to reflect the above.

Christ Greenfield, Gilbert, AZ; Faith, Rochester, NY

Ov. 6-57

To Support the Specific Ministry Pastor Program and Remove Its Age Requirement

WHEREAS, The Synod continues to face significant pastoral shortages, particularly in rural, urban, ethnic, and mission-start contexts; and

WHEREAS, Many congregations of the Synod struggle to secure full-time seminary-trained pastors, leading to extended vacancies, limited Word and Sacrament ministry, and challenges in congregational vitality and growth; and

WHEREAS, The Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program has provided a faithful, rigorous, and supervised path for the formation and ordination of pastors to serve in specific ministry contexts under the oversight of the seminaries and districts; and 2026 Convention Workbook

398 PAST ORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES