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Resolved, That the President of the Synod ensure that training is provided to district presidents, supervisors, and seminary personnel for consistent application of these policies and benchmarks, and that annual public reports on SMP admissions, contexts served, completion rates, bridge progress to general pastor status, and placement outcomes be made available, so the next convention can evaluate the fruit and make further adjustments; and be it finally

Resolved, That nothing in this resolution be construed as diminishing the church’s esteem for residential M.Div. formation, which the Synod continues to commend as a precious norm, even as we vigorously supply pastors for the fields now white for harvest.

Circuit 16 (Faribault)

Minnesota South District

Ov. 6-61

To Clarify and Strengthen the Specific Ministry Pastor Program

WHEREAS, Many congregations and ministries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod lack regular pastoral care because they cannot support a full -time pastor or are in challenging mission fields; and

WHEREAS, 2007 Resolution 5- 01B, “To Establish Specific Ministry Pastor Program” ( Proceedings, 133– 38), adopted the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program as a faithful, multiple - track route to ordination for specific ministry contexts; and

WHEREAS, 2007 Res. 5 -01B explicitly envisions specific ministry pastors serving not only congregations that cannot support a full-time pastor but also as church planters and as staff or associate pastors in larger congregations and multi-staff ministries under the supervision of a general ministry pastor; and

WHEREAS, The SMP program, as established, provides supervised theological formation and appropriate limitations while recognizing specific ministry pastors as truly called and ordained ministers of Word and Sacrament; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm the original intent of the SMP program as set forth in 2007 Res. 5- 01B, including its use for specific ministry contexts such as congregations unable to support a full -time pastor, language and cultural missions, churc h plants, and service as staff or associate pastors in larger congregations under the supervision of a general ministry pastor; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage districts, congregations, and seminaries to identify and support qualified men for SMP service wherever such specific ministry needs exist, including in larger congregations and multi-site ministries; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod direct the Council of Presidents, in consultation with the seminaries and the Pastoral Formation Committee, to review current SMP enrollment policies and recommend adjustments that remove unnecessary numerical caps or other restrictions so that enrollment is guided chiefly by mission needs, candidate qualifications, and capacity for faithful formation and supervision; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage districts, congregations, and appropriate Synod entities to provide financial support so that no qualified SMP candidate is prevented from entering or completing the program solely because of financial hardship; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for the service of specific ministry pastors and their supervising pastors and take all appropriate actions to clarify and strengthen the SMP program in keeping with its original purpose, for the sake of the Gospel and the mission of Christ’s Church.

Board of Directors Southeastern District

Ov. 6-62

To Reduce Restrictions on Specific Ministry Pastors

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ established the Office of the Public Ministry by sending out His apostles to preach, teach, and baptize those they went to serve; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod since its inception has faithfully overseen and consistently provided for the education and placement of qualified men to serve in the Office of the Public Ministry for local congregations; and

WHEREAS, The Synod established the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program at the 2007 Synod convention as a distance -based, specialized program of theological education available at both seminaries (2007 Res. 5-01B); and

WHEREAS, The SMP program is available to those selected by a congregation to serve as vicars for the first two years of the program; and

WHEREAS, Upon successful completion of the first two years and certification by seminary faculty, these students are ordained and complete two additional years of instruction; and

WHEREAS, Participants have the approval and support of their home church, the faculty of the seminary at which they train, and the district they serve; and

WHEREAS, Each specific ministry pastor is supervised by an experienced pastor of the Synod during and after his program of study; and

WHEREAS, Ordained pastors trained via this program face restrictions concerning service in the pastoral ministry, including the restriction of certain voting rights and the inability to hold office at the circuit and district levels; and

WHEREAS, The roster distinction introduced for SMP graduates makes these pastors distinct from Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology graduates, Center for Hispanic Studies graduates, and Residential Alternate Route graduates who also may be ordained without an a cademic degree and who have also received a lesser level of theological training than full M.Div. graduates; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions in the Treatise of the Power and Primacy of the Pope state that before God there is no substantive difference between ordained pastors (Tr 60–65); and

WHEREAS, The difference in roster status for specific ministry pastors creates confusion among the pastorate and laity over their status as pastors, even though the Lutheran Confessions are clear that an ordained pastor is a full pastor; and

WHEREAS, All rostered pastors of the Synod serve under ecclesiastical supervision and under the mutual admonition of their fellow pastors; therefore be it

Resolved , That the Synod plan to lift specific ministry pastor restrictions on voting and holding office at the circuit and district level, and that restrictions on voting and holding office at the circuit 2026 Convention Workbook

402 PAST ORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES