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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

WHEREAS, 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

WHEREAS, This situation has created a number of questions regarding the amount and level of supervision that shall be employed as per Synod Bylaws; and

WHEREAS, 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

WHEREAS, 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