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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 437

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 
W
HEREAS, 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 
W
HEREAS, 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