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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 440

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Synod and the Commission 
on Handbook make any and all conforming edits elsewhere in the 
Handbook (including nominations and elections processes) to 
implement these changes and maintain internal consistency; and be 
it further 
Resolved, That the first election of the two convention‑elected 
pastors take place at this convention for terms beginning at the close 
of this convention; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the COP elect the two district presidents to serve 
for the ensuing triennium at its first regular meeting following this 
convention. 
Christ Greenfield, Gilbert, AZ; Circuit 16 (Faribault),  
Minnesota South District; Circuit 28, Pacific Southwest District 
Ov. 6-66 
To Amend Bylaw 3.10.4.6 to Revise  
Composition of Pastoral Formation Committee 
WHEREAS, Our Lord says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the 
laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest 
to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2); and 
W
HEREAS, The objectives of The Lutheran Church— Missouri 
Synod include that it shall (Const. Art. III): 
• recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional 
church workers and provide opportunity for their continuing 
growth (III 3); 
• Aid congregations by providing a variety of resources and 
opportunities for recognizing, promoting, expressing, 
conserving, and defending their confessional unity in the true 
faith (III 6); and 
• Encourage congregations to strive for uniformity in church 
practice, but also to develop an appreciation of a variety of 
responsible practices and customs which are in harmony 
with our common profession of faith (III 7);  
and 
W
HEREAS, These g odly objectives exist for the purpose of 
serving congregations in their bold witness of the Gospel through 
their Word and Sacrament ministry; and 
W
HEREAS, The Pastoral Formation Committee (PFC)  has been 
established to help carry out these objectives; and 
WHEREAS, 2013 Resolution 5- 03E, “To Provide Procedure for 
Establishing Policies Governing Specific Ministry Pastor 
Program,” established “t hat the Chief Mission Officer and one 
representative from each seminary shall, in consultation with the 
Council of Presidents, provide leadership, coordination, and 
oversight for the Specific Ministry Pastor program” and “that each 
seminary shall select its own representative” (Proceedings , 138–
39); and 
W
HEREAS, The current PFC reflects this same composition with 
the addition of the e xecutive director of the Office of Pastoral 
Education as a non -voting member of the committee (Bylaw 
3.10.4.6); and 
WHEREAS, Such composition consists of individuals very gifted 
and able, yet not directly accountable to the congregations and laity 
of the church; and 
WHEREAS, The d istrict presidents and laypeople  do have such 
accountability and are on the ground floor of congregational needs 
regarding pastors and pastoral formation; and 
W
HEREAS, The need for sound doctrine and practice is the same 
for all of the congregations in the Synod, the application of the same 
can be affected by region and individual location; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the PFC  includes a broader representation of 
those served by the committee, including those who have a more 
direct accountability to the congregations of the Synod and are 
living out the very needs that the PFC seeks to meet; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.10.4.6 be amended as follows: 
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING 
D. Pastoral Formation Committee 
3.10.4.6 The Pastoral Formation Committee shall  comprise the 
following members: 
Voting Members: 
1. The Chief Mission Officer of the Synod, chairman 
2. The presidents of the seminaries or their representatives 
3. One (1) district president from each geographical region of the 
Synod, to be selected by the district presidents within that region 
4. One (1) lay member of a member congregation of the Synod 
from each geographical region of the Synod, to be selected by the 
district presidents within that region, and from a district distinct 
from the district president representative on the committee 
Nonvoting Advisory Member: 
The Executive Director of the Office of Pastoral Education 
Trinity, Lexington Park, MD; Board of Directors, Texas District; 
Circuit 8 (Washington, South), Southeastern District 
Ov. 6-67 
To Amend Bylaw 3.10.4.6 to Expand  
Pastoral Formation Committee 
WHEREAS, The 2016 Synod convention created the Pastoral 
Formation Committee (PFC) (Res. 6 -01), in order to facilitate 
greater coordination and collaboration between the two seminaries; 
and 
W
HEREAS, The PFC consists of the presidents of the two 
seminaries, the Chief Mission Officer  (CMO) as its chair, and the 
Executive Director of the Office of Pastoral Education as non -
voting advisory member; and 
WHEREAS, In recent years changes to pastoral colloquy 
requirements and Specific Ministry Pastor admissions, and tensions 
over competing online seminaries ha ve 
raised further questions 
about not only coordination and collaboration between the two 
seminaries, but with the Synod as a whole, including its districts, 
congregations, workers, and other agencies; and 
WHEREAS, The districts, congregations, workers, and other 
agencies of the Synod have a vested interest in the formation of 
pastors and their voices should be heard; therefore be it 
Resolved, That Synod in convention expands the PFC from its 
current three voting members to five; and be it further 
Resolved, That the five -member PFC include the presidents of 
the two seminaries, the CMO as its chair , a district president 
appointed by the Council of Presidents, a faculty representative  
responsible for overseeing a pre -seminary program and appointed 
by the Institutional Advisory Council of the Concordia University 
2026 Convention Workbook
405PASTORAL MINISTRY AND SEMINARIES