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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

WHEREAS, 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

WHEREAS, 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

WHEREAS, 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

WHEREAS, 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

WHEREAS, 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

WHEREAS, 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