Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 438

and district level be lifted upon completion of the entire four -year 
SMP course of study; and be it further 
Resolved, That we give thanks for the faithful and dedicated 
ministry of all pastors of the Synod. 
Florida-Georgia District 
Ov. 6-63 
To Implore Council of Presidents  
to Fulfill 2019 Resolution 6-03A  
re Supervision of Specific Ministry Pastors 
WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 2.13.1 states that every specific 
ministry pastor “shall serve under the supervision of his district 
president and another pastor who is not a specific ministry pastor”; 
and 
WHEREAS, The term “supervision” is left largely undefined apart 
from the general definition that supervision is “to have authority 
over, to direct actions, to control activities” (Bylaw 1.2.1 [u]) and is 
therefore open to a variety of interpretations; and 
W
HEREAS, There is a great variety of specific ministry pastors 
serving in a wide variety of contexts and with a great variety of 
education, years of service, and gifts; and 
W
HEREAS, This situation has created a number of questions 
regarding the amount and level of supervision that shall be 
employed as per Synod Bylaws; and 
W
HEREAS, The 2019 Synod convention adopted Resolution 6-
03A, “To Enhance the Specific Ministry Pastor  (SMP) Program,” 
which includes the resolve, “That the Council of Presidents in 
coordination with the Pastoral Formation Committee draft 
guidelines and training to enhance the mentoring and supervision of 
specific ministry pastors, taking into account the wide variety of 
abilities of pastors and the contexts in which they serve, to assist 
district presidents, circuit visitors, and supervising pastors in 
supporting the SMP pastors under their care” (2019 Proceedings , 
159); and 
W
HEREAS, These guidelines and training either have not been 
completed or have not been widely promulgated throughout the 
Synod; and 
WHEREAS, The number of specific ministry pastors continues to 
increase, thereby creating a growing and continuing need for such 
guidance and training; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention implore the Council of 
Presidents (COP) to complete this important assignment with the 
due and swift attention that is needed; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank the COP for their 
service and efforts. 
SELC District 
Ov. 6-64 
To Give Thanks for the Work of,  
and To Amend Bylaws to Conclude,  
the Pastoral Formation Committee 
WHEREAS, Prior to the restructuring implemented by the 2010 
Synod convention, there existed a 14-member Board for Pastoral 
Education (BPE), all of whose voting members were elected by the 
Synod in convention (see 2007 Bylaw 3.8.2f.); and 
WHEREAS, The BPE, in addition to acting as a resource for advice 
and coordination, had significant and substantive governance 
authority over the seminaries, including the right to approve 
seminary master plans; to  approve new programs; to establish 
guidelines for distribution of Synod grants; to grant prior approval 
of faculty; to approve capital projects; to recommend consolidation, 
relocation, or divestiture of a seminary; to oversee pastoral 
colloquy; to set policies that were binding upon each seminary’s 
board of regents; and to appoint members of the seminary boards of 
regents for vacancies in Synod-elected positions; and 
WHEREAS, Two convention cycles after abolishing the BPE, the 
Synod in convention created the Pastoral Formation Committee 
(PFC) by adopting 2016 Resolution 6- 01, which was based on the 
recommendation of the 2013 Res. 5- 14A task force “that there be 
an entity ensuring that the seminaries do coordinate and collaborate 
with respect to” the various routes to ordination in the Synod; and 
WHEREAS, The PFC’s responsibilities do not include any of the 
substantive governance responsibilities listed above as previously 
held by the BPE; and 
WHEREAS, The PFC consists of only three voting members, none 
of whom is elected by the Synod in convention: namely, the two 
seminary presidents and the Chief Mission Officer of the Synod, 
together with the executive director of the Office of Pastoral 
Education, who is a non- voting advisory member. Consequently, 
only two individuals, both serving in similar contexts, can direct the 
course of the PFC’s actions; and 
WHEREAS, To the extent the PFC is “responsible for ensuring 
that the Synod’s objective of training pastors is fulfilled 
consistently” (Bylaw 3.10.4) and is directed to “review … seminary 
and pre -seminary education programs” (Bylaw 3.10.4.3) and to 
“monitor and re ceive reports from all directors and committees 
charged with oversight of all routes to ordination” (Bylaw 3.10.4.4), 
its structure creates a circular process, the two seminary presidents 
effectively reviewing and monitoring their own performance and 
that of their institutions— a function that belongs to the respective 
boards of regents (under Bylaws 3.10.5.1 and 3.10.5.6.1) and, for 
broader policy matters, to the Synod in convention; and 
WHEREAS, Because the PFC lacks the substantive governing 
authority, broad membership, and direct accountability to 
convention of the former BPE, and because the PFC creates a 
redundant level of monitoring and review of seminary-related 
activities by a committee c ontrolled by the seminary presidents 
(“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged” [1 Cor. 
11:31 KJV]), it is an unnecessary addition to the seminary 
governance structure. As such, we should give thanks for the work 
done to date and sunset the PFC; therefore be it 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.4.3.8 be removed as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
Chief Mission Officer 
3.4.3 The Chief Mission Officer shall be responsible to the 
President of the Synod for the mission, ministry, and any 
programmatic and coordinative functions which are implemented 
according to the policies adopted by the Board for National Mission 
and the Board for International Mission. 
… 
3.4.3.8 The Chief Mission Officer shall, on behalf of the President, 
provide leadership, coordination, and oversight for pre- seminary 
education programs, seminary education, and post -seminary 
continuing education, and by providing advocacy for pastoral 
2026 Convention Workbook
403PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES